Rainier I of Monaco, Lord of Cagnes
Encyclopedia
Rainier 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. Cagnes
being the town where in 1309 he established a stronghold, today known as the Chateau Grimaldi
.
The eldest of the three sons of Lanfranco Grimaldi, French Vicar of Provence, by his wife, Aurelia del Carretto (who later remarried with her late husband's nephew, François Grimaldi
), Rainier joined his stepfather and a group of men to take the castle
on the Rock of Monaco
; the event is commemorated on the Monegasque coat of arms
, where the supporters are two monks armed with swords (because Francois dressed as monk and opened the gates of Monaco's castle). Rainier held the citadel of Monaco for four years before departing on April 10, 1301. In 1304 he was appointed admiral of France
after winning the Battle of Zierikzee
.
He married twice; firstly, Salvatica, daughter of Giacomo del Carretto, Margrave of
Finale
. They had four children:
Secondly, Rainier I married Andriola Grillo. This marriage was childless.
House of Grimaldi
The 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 Genoese statesman at the time of the early Crusades. He might have been a son of Otto Canella, a consul of the Republic of Genoa in...
ruler of the area now known as 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...
. He also held the title of Lord of Cagnes. Cagnes
Cagnes-sur-Mer
Cagnes-sur-Mer is a commune of the Alpes-Maritimes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.-Geography:It is the largest suburb of the city of Nice and lies to the west-southwest of it, about from the center.-History:...
being the town where in 1309 he established a stronghold, today known as the Chateau Grimaldi
Château Grimaldi (Cagnes)
See also Château Grimaldi for other Châteaux of the same nameThe Château Grimaldi at Cagnes-sur-Mer in the département of Alpes-Maritimes, in France, is built on the site of an earlier fortress occupied by the Greeks and then the Romans...
.
The eldest of the three sons of Lanfranco Grimaldi, French Vicar of Provence, by his wife, Aurelia del Carretto (who later remarried with her late husband's nephew, François Grimaldi
François Grimaldi
Francesco Grimaldi called il Malizia , was the Genoese leader of the Guelphs who captured the Rock of Monaco on the night of 8 January 1297...
), Rainier joined his stepfather and a group of men to take the castle
Prince's Palace of Monaco
The 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...
on the Rock of Monaco
Rock of Monaco
The 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;...
; the event is commemorated on the Monegasque coat of arms
Coat of arms of Monaco
The 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 (because Francois dressed as monk and opened the gates of Monaco's castle). Rainier held the citadel of Monaco for four years before departing on April 10, 1301. In 1304 he was appointed admiral 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...
after winning the Battle of Zierikzee
Battle of Zierikzee
The battle of Zierikzee was a naval battle between a Flemish fleet and an allied Franco-Hollandic fleet which took place on 10 and 11 August 1304. The battle, fought near the town of Zierikzee, ended in a Franco-Holland victory...
.
He married twice; firstly, Salvatica, daughter of Giacomo del Carretto, Margrave of
Marquisate of Finale
The Marquisate of Finale was an Italian state in what is now Liguria, part of the former medieval Aleramici March. It was ruled for some six centuries by the Aleramici branch known as marquesses del Vasto and later Del Carretto, when Savona became a free commune.-History:The marquisate of Finale...
Finale
Finale Ligure
Finale Ligure is a comune on the Gulf of Genoa in the Province of Savona in Liguria, Italy. It is considered part of the Italian Riviera.-Geography:...
. They had four children:
- Charles ICharles I, Lord of MonacoCharles I of Monaco was the first true Lord of Monaco, and is thus widely considered the founder of the dynasty.The oldest son of Rainier I by his first wife, Salvatica del Carretto, Charles was forced to flee into exile following the Rock of Monaco falling into Genoese control on April 10,...
, his successor.
- Vinciguerra; who married Constancia Ruffa.
- Salvaggia; who married Gabriel Vento.
- Luca, Lord of Villefranche; married firstly Tedise, daughter of Daniel Cibo, and secondly Catarina Carracioli.
Secondly, Rainier I married Andriola Grillo. This marriage was childless.