Honoré II, Prince of Monaco

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Honoré II
Hercule, Lord of Monaco
MotherMaria Landi

Honoré II (24 December 1597 – 10 January 1662) was

Lord of Monaco
.

Early life

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

From adulthood, Honoré started to criticize Spain and turned to France for support.

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

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

  • Ercole Grimaldi, Marquis of Baux (1623 – 2 August 1651); married on 4 July 1641 to Maria Aurelia Spinola
    (d. 29 September 1670)
    • Louis (25 July 1642 – 3 January 1701)
    • Marie Hippolyte (8 May 1644 – 8 October 1694)
    • Jeanne Marie (b. 4 June 1645)
    • Thérèse Marie (4 September 1648 – 20 July 1723) ancestress of Maria Teresa Cybo-Malaspina

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

Death and legacy

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.

References

  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
Hercule
Lord of Monaco

1604–1612 		Succeeded by
Himself as
Sovereign Prince of Monaco
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