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Honoré II, Prince of Monaco

(Redirected from Honore I, Prince of Monaco)

Honoré II (24 December 1597 – 10 January 1662) was Prince of Monaco from 1604 to 1662. He was the first to be called Prince (in 1612), but started his reign as Lord of Monaco.

Honoré II
Portrait by Philippe de Champaigne
Prince of Monaco
Reign1612 – 10 January 1662
PredecessorHimself (as Lord of Monaco)
SuccessorLouis I
Lord of Monaco
Reign21 November 1604 – 1612
PredecessorHercule
SuccessorHimself (as Prince of Monaco)
Born(1597-12-24)24 December 1597
Monaco
Died10 January 1662(1662-01-10) (aged 64)
Monaco
Burial
Saint Nicholas Cathedral
SpouseIppolita Trivulzio
IssueHercules, Marquis of Baux
HouseGrimaldi
FatherErcule, Lord of Monaco
MotherMaria Landi

Early life

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Honoré II was born on 24 December 1597. He was the son of Hercule, Lord of Monaco (24 September 1562 – 21 November 1604) and Maria Landi. His father was murdered when he was six, and he succeeded under the regency of his uncle, Frederico Landi, 4th Prince of Val di Taro. Landi was a loyal ally and friend of Spain and allowed the country to be occupied by Spanish troops in 1605. The inhabitants of Monaco were prohibited to carry arms and the prince and his two sisters were moved to Milan. The Council of Monaco tried to limit Spanish power, but the occupation lasted until 1614, and a strong Spanish influence remained until 1633, when it recognized Honoré as a sovereign prince.

Adulthood

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From adulthood, Honoré started to criticize Spain and turned to France for support. Louis XIII gave him the support he needed and this resulted in the Treaty of Péronne. This ended Spanish rule and put Monaco under French protection, recognizing and guaranteeing Monegasque sovereignty. As a consequence Honoré lost his Spanish and Italian possessions, but was compensated by King Louis XIII of France with the marquisate Les Baux and the title of Duke of Valentinois.

During his reign he did much to extend, rebuild and transform the Genoese fortress that was the Grimaldi's stronghold into what is today Monaco's Princely Palace.

Marriage and family

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On 13 February 1616 he married Ippolita Trivulzio (d. 1638). The couple had one son.

After Hercules (Ercole, age 27) was killed in firearms accident, Louis became Honoré's heir at the age of 9.[1]

Death and legacy

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Honoré died on 10 January 1662. He was interred in the Cathedral of St. Nicholas (it stood on the location of the current cathedral) in Monaco.

A collector's silver coin has been issued by the Treasury of Monaco portraying Honoré II on the occasion of the 400th anniversary (1612 – 2012) of the use of the title "Sovereign Prince." The silver coin has a €10 face value.

Ancestors

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References

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  1. ^ The Mad Monarchist (10 April 2012). "Whatever Happened to Hercules". Mad for Monaco. madformonaco.blogspot.com. Retrieved 17 September 2012.
Preceded by
Himself
as Lord of Monaco 		Sovereign Prince of Monaco
1612–1662 		Succeeded by
New Creation Duke of Valentinois
1642–1662
Preceded by Lord of Monaco
1604–1612 		Succeeded by
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