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François Grimaldi

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François Grimaldi
Lord of Monaco
Fresco with François Grimaldi, nickname "Malizia", on a wall of the rue Comte Félix Castaldi in Monaco
Bornc. 12??
Genoa,Republic of Genoa
Died1309
Ventimiglia,Republic of Genoa
Noble familyHouse of Grimaldi
Spouse(s)Aurelia del Carretto
FatherGuglielmo Grimaldi
MotherGiacoba

Francesco Grimaldi(French:François;English:Francis), calledil Malizia(fromItalian:"the malicious") was theGenoeseleader of theGuelphswho captured theRock of Monacoon the night of 8 January 1297. He was the son of Guglielmo Grimaldi by his wife Giacobina or Giacoba, a Genoese noble.

Capture of Monaco

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The capture of Monaco happened at a time during a long conflict in medieval Italy between theGuelphs and Ghibellines.The Guelph and Ghibelline members were of two opposing factions in German and Italian politics during the Middle Ages, which sparked conflict that would last centuries and contributed to chronic strife within the cities of Northern Italy spanning over the course of the 13th and 14th century.[1]The house Grimaldi was one of the most influential and powerful families in Genoa having allegiance to the Pope, against Ghibelline support of the Holy Roman Emperor. In 1295, Guelph forces fromLigurialed by Francesco Grimaldi, were routed by a successful advance from the Ghibbeline army and were forced to take refuge on the Rock of Monaco.[2]The assault culminated two years later on January 8, 1297, where Grimaldi, dressed as aFranciscanfriar, lead a small contingent of followers and was greeted at the gates ofMonaco's castle,only then to seize the castle with his cousinRainier I,Lord ofCagnes.[3][citation needed]The event is commemorated on theMonegasque coat of arms,represented as two friars brandishing swords with the motto "Deo Juvante"which translates as" With the Help of God. "

The citadel of Monaco was held for four years until the Ghibbeline stronghold was compromised over time under prolonged Genoese attack. Francesco thus failed to establish the Grimaldis' rule overMonaco,in this instance, but this was the first attempt to do so. The Grimaldi family subsequently resolved to regain the territory due to its advantageous potential as a base for the maritime trade business; responsible for the family's generational affluence.[citation needed]

Family

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The Grimaldi lineage descended fromGrimaldo Canella.Originating from Genoa, Grimaldo was a twelfth-century statesman and served as Consul of Genoa several times, whose forename adorned his predecessors; becoming the family's accepted surname.[4]

Francesco was married in 1295 to Aurelia del Carretto, widow of his cousin, Lanfranco Grimaldi. The marriage was childless, thus the modern Grimaldis are therefore not descendants of Francesco.[5]After his death, in 1309, he was succeeded by his cousin (and stepson),Rainier I of Monaco, Lord of Cagnes.[6][citation needed]

His cousin's descendants, theGrimaldifamily, still rule Monaco today. Over one hundred years after the coup, the Grimaldis purchased Monaco from thecrown of Aragonin 1419, and became the official and undisputed rulers of "theRock of Monaco".[7]Rainier Il's three sons-Ambroise, Antoine and Jean purchased Monaco in the name of Grimaldi from its then owner, QueenYolande of Aragon.

References

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  1. ^"Guelf and Ghibelline".britannica /.
  2. ^Southern Europe: International Dictionary of Historic Places. (2013). United Kingdom: Taylor & Francis.
  3. ^"François Grimaldi, also known as" Malizia "".en.gouv.mc/.
  4. ^"The Grimaldi dynasty: a presence in Monaco for over seven centuries".monaconow /.31 January 2020.
  5. ^"Family tree of Rainier Ier GRIMALDI".en.geneastar.org/.
  6. ^"Rainier I – the First Lord of Monaco".hellomonaco.25 January 2018.
  7. ^"Monaco – The Principality of Monaco".Monaco.me.Retrieved28 May2012.

Sources

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  • Françoise de Bernardy,Princes of Monaco: the remarkable history of the Grimaldi family,ed. Barker, 1961.
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Media related toFrançois Grimaldiat Wikimedia Commons