Honoré I, Lord of Monaco
Encyclopedia
Honoré I was Lord of Monaco
from August 22, 1523 to October 7, 1581.
Honoré was the youngest child of Lucien Grimaldi
(1487–1523) and Jeanne de Pontevès-Cabanes. He became Lord of Monaco at the age of 9 months, upon the assassination of his father on August 22, 1523. A regent was appointed for the young Lord in the form of his uncle, Augustine Grimaldi
(1482–1532). Under Honoré’s father, Monaco
had been a subject of France
and its King, Francis I
. Augustine Grimaldi severed this relationship, and in the signing of the Treaties of Burgos
and Tordesillas
(1524), swore Monaco’s allegiance to Spain
, and its King, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V
. Monaco was therefore a protectorate of Spain
, allowing the country to focus more on advancing and less on defending. The alliance with Spain would last until 1641, and weigh heavily on the financial situation of Monaco
.
Augustine Grimaldi died on April 14, 1532, while Honoré was still a minor, and another regent was chosen for the young Lord. Nicholas Grimaldi held the position of regent for only 9 days. Étienne (Stephen) Grimaldi (died 1561), from Genoa
and known as “the Governor”, was chosen as regent on April 23, 1532. Etienne remained regent until December 16, 1540, when Honoré reached his majority, and was responsible for restorations made to the Church of St. Nicholas.
The reign of Honoré I was relatively calm and peaceful, and Honore was remarkable for his bravery, wisdom and valour.
Monaco
Monaco , officially the Principality of Monaco , is a sovereign city state on the French Riviera. It is bordered on three sides by its neighbour, France, and its centre is about from Italy. Its area is with a population of 35,986 as of 2011 and is the most densely populated country in the...
from August 22, 1523 to October 7, 1581.
Honoré was the youngest child of Lucien Grimaldi
Lucien, Lord of Monaco
Lucien became Lord of Monaco on 11 October 1505, having murdered his predecessor and brother, Jean II, and held that sovereignty until his death.-Family and Marriage:...
(1487–1523) and Jeanne de Pontevès-Cabanes. He became Lord of Monaco at the age of 9 months, upon the assassination of his father on August 22, 1523. A regent was appointed for the young Lord in the form of his uncle, Augustine Grimaldi
Augustine Grimaldi
Augustine Grimaldi was Regent of Monaco , Bishop of Grasse, Abbot of Lérins, and founder of the village of Valbonne.-Family:...
(1482–1532). Under Honoré’s father, Monaco
Monaco
Monaco , officially the Principality of Monaco , is a sovereign city state on the French Riviera. It is bordered on three sides by its neighbour, France, and its centre is about from Italy. Its area is with a population of 35,986 as of 2011 and is the most densely populated country in the...
had been a subject of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and its King, Francis I
Francis I of France
Francis I was King of France from 1515 until his death. During his reign, huge cultural changes took place in France and he has been called France's original Renaissance monarch...
. Augustine Grimaldi severed this relationship, and in the signing of the Treaties of Burgos
Burgos
Burgos is a city of northern Spain, historic capital of Castile. It is situated at the edge of the central plateau, with about 178,966 inhabitants in the city proper and another 20,000 in its suburbs. It is the capital of the province of Burgos, in the autonomous community of Castile and León...
and Tordesillas
Tordesillas
Tordesillas is a town and municipality in the province of Valladolid, Castile and León, central Spain.It is located 25 km southwest of the provincial capital, Valladolid at an elevation of 704 meters. The population was c. 9,000 in 2009....
(1524), swore Monaco’s allegiance to Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, and its King, Holy Roman Emperor
Holy Roman Emperor
The Holy Roman Emperor is a term used by historians to denote a medieval ruler who, as German King, had also received the title of "Emperor of the Romans" from the Pope...
Charles V
Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V was ruler of the Holy Roman Empire from 1519 and, as Charles I, of the Spanish Empire from 1516 until his voluntary retirement and abdication in favor of his younger brother Ferdinand I and his son Philip II in 1556.As...
. Monaco was therefore a protectorate of Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, allowing the country to focus more on advancing and less on defending. The alliance with Spain would last until 1641, and weigh heavily on the financial situation of Monaco
Monaco
Monaco , officially the Principality of Monaco , is a sovereign city state on the French Riviera. It is bordered on three sides by its neighbour, France, and its centre is about from Italy. Its area is with a population of 35,986 as of 2011 and is the most densely populated country in the...
.
Augustine Grimaldi died on April 14, 1532, while Honoré was still a minor, and another regent was chosen for the young Lord. Nicholas Grimaldi held the position of regent for only 9 days. Étienne (Stephen) Grimaldi (died 1561), from Genoa
Genoa
Genoa |Ligurian]] Zena ; Latin and, archaically, English Genua) is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria....
and known as “the Governor”, was chosen as regent on April 23, 1532. Etienne remained regent until December 16, 1540, when Honoré reached his majority, and was responsible for restorations made to the Church of St. Nicholas.
The reign of Honoré I was relatively calm and peaceful, and Honore was remarkable for his bravery, wisdom and valour.
Marriage & Issue
In 1545 he married Isabella Grimaldi (died 1583). The couple had 4 sons;- CharlesCharles II, Lord of MonacoCharles II was Lord of Monaco from October 7, 1581 to May 17, 1589.Charles was the eldest son of Honoré I and Isabella Grimaldi...
(1555 – 17 May 1589) - Francois (1557–1586)
- Horace (1558–1559)
- HerculesHercule, Lord of MonacoErcole was Lord of Monaco from May 17, 1589 to November 29, 1604.Ercole was the youngest of four sons of Honoré I and Isabella Grimaldi. His eldest brother Charles II became Lord of Monaco on the death of their father in 1581. Ercole's two elder brothers Francois and Horace died in childhood...
(24 September 1562 – 21 November 1604)
Notable Facts
- During Honoré’s reign, extensive renovationRenovationRenovation is the process of improving a structure. Two prominent types of renovations are commercial and residential.-Process:The process of a renovation, however complex, can usually be broken down into several processes...
s and enlargements were made to the Palace of MonacoPrince's Palace of MonacoThe Prince's Palace of Monaco is the official residence of the Prince of Monaco. Built in 1191 as a Genoese fortress, during its long and often dramatic history it has been bombarded and besieged by many foreign powers. Since the end of the 13th century, it has been the stronghold and home of the...
.
- Charles VCharles V, Holy Roman EmperorCharles V was ruler of the Holy Roman Empire from 1519 and, as Charles I, of the Spanish Empire from 1516 until his voluntary retirement and abdication in favor of his younger brother Ferdinand I and his son Philip II in 1556.As...
paid a visit to MonacoMonacoMonaco , officially the Principality of Monaco , is a sovereign city state on the French Riviera. It is bordered on three sides by its neighbour, France, and its centre is about from Italy. Its area is with a population of 35,986 as of 2011 and is the most densely populated country in the...
in 1529.
- Pope Paul IIIPope Paul IIIPope Paul III , born Alessandro Farnese, was Pope of the Roman Catholic Church from 1534 to his death in 1549. He came to the papal throne in an era following the sack of Rome in 1527 and rife with uncertainties in the Catholic Church following the Protestant Reformation...
visited MonacoMonacoMonaco , officially the Principality of Monaco , is a sovereign city state on the French Riviera. It is bordered on three sides by its neighbour, France, and its centre is about from Italy. Its area is with a population of 35,986 as of 2011 and is the most densely populated country in the...
, on his way to the Council of NiceNiceNice is the fifth most populous city in France, after Paris, Marseille, Lyon and Toulouse, with a population of 348,721 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Nice extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of more than 955,000 on an area of...
, during Honoré’s reign.