Francesco Grimaldi (
François, in French) called
il Malizia ("
the Cunning"), was the
GenoeseGenoa is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria. The city has a population of about 610,000 and the urban area has a population of about 900,000...
leader of the
GuelphThe Guelphs and Ghibellines were factions supporting, respectively, the Pope and the Holy Roman Emperor in central and northern Italy during the 12th and 13th centuries...
s who captured the
Rock of MonacoThe Rock of Monaco is a 141 meter tall monolith on the Mediterranean coast of the Principality of Monaco.-History:The Rock has been a coveted possession from the beginning of the ancient Massilian colony of Monoïkos , named for the Ligurian tribes who occupied the area and vied for control of it;...
on the night of January 8, 1297. He was the son of Guglielmo Grimaldi by his wife Giacoba.
Dressed as a Franciscan monk, François was greeted at the gates of
Monaco's castleThe Prince's Palace of Monaco is the official residence of the Prince of Monaco. Founded 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...
, only then to seize the castle with his cousin
Rainier IRainier I of Monaco was the first sovereign Grimaldi ruler of the area now known as Monaco. He also held the title of Lord of Cagnes...
, Lord of Cagnes, and a group of men behind him.
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Francesco Grimaldi (
François, in French) called
il Malizia ("
the Cunning"), was the
GenoeseGenoa is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria. The city has a population of about 610,000 and the urban area has a population of about 900,000...
leader of the
GuelphThe Guelphs and Ghibellines were factions supporting, respectively, the Pope and the Holy Roman Emperor in central and northern Italy during the 12th and 13th centuries...
s who captured the
Rock of MonacoThe Rock of Monaco is a 141 meter tall monolith on the Mediterranean coast of the Principality of Monaco.-History:The Rock has been a coveted possession from the beginning of the ancient Massilian colony of Monoïkos , named for the Ligurian tribes who occupied the area and vied for control of it;...
on the night of January 8, 1297. He was the son of Guglielmo Grimaldi by his wife Giacoba.
Dressed as a Franciscan monk, François was greeted at the gates of
Monaco's castleThe Prince's Palace of Monaco is the official residence of the Prince of Monaco. Founded 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...
, only then to seize the castle with his cousin
Rainier IRainier I of Monaco was the first sovereign Grimaldi ruler of the area now known as Monaco. He also held the title of Lord of Cagnes...
, Lord of Cagnes, and a group of men behind him. The event is commemorated on the
Monegasque coat of armsThe Royal Arms of His Serene Highness Prince Albert II are his arms of dominion in right of Monaco.-Interior:The central shield is "blazoned" , fusily argent and gules.-Exterior:...
, where the supporters are two monks armed with swords. He held the citadel of Monaco for four years before being chased out.
He was married in 1295 to Aurelia del Carretto; the marriage was childless. After his death, in 1309, he was succeeded by his cousin (and stepson), Rainier I, Lord of Cagnes.
His cousin's descendants, the
GrimaldiThe House of Grimaldi is associated with the history of the Republic of Genoa and of the Principality of Monaco.-History:The Grimaldi family descends from Grimaldo, a Genovese statesman at the time of the early Crusades. He was the son of Otto Canella, a Consul of Genoa in 1133, and in turn...
family, still rule Monaco today, with
Prince Albert IIAlbert II, Sovereign Prince of Monaco is the head of the House of Grimaldi and the current ruler of the Principality of Monaco. He is the son of Rainier III, Prince of Monaco and his princess consort, Grace Kelly...
, the head of the House of Grimaldi.