Honoré II (Monaco)

Honoré II.

Honoré II of Monaco ( December 24, 1597 - January 10, 1662 ) from the Grimaldi family was Lord and later Prince of Monaco from 1604 to 1662 .

Life

Honoré was the son of Hercule of Monaco and a princess from the Italian Landi family . At the age of seven he was confirmed as his successor by the “University” (Council of Monaco) with the death of his father on November 21, 1604. Guardianship is taken over by his maternal uncle, Federico Landi , Prince of Valdetare.

Federico Landi, who is a close friend of Spain, gave Spain supremacy in Monaco in 1605. A Spanish garrison is installed in Monaco and the people of Monaco are prohibited from carrying weapons. The heir and actual ruler Honoré and his sisters are taken to Milan by his guardian.

In 1607 the Council of Monaco tried to change the occupation by the Spaniards. However, the Spaniards take action and keep Monaco occupied until 1614.

Before the wedding, the Lord of Monaco Honoré begins at the behest of his uncle Federico Landi, become the Prince to explain. From 1612 the self-assigned title "Prince and Lord" appears in correspondence with the Spaniards. The official recognition of this title will take some time.

Honoré had to marry the sister of Federico's brother-in-law, Hippolyte Trivulce , in February 1616 . This means that solid connections are also established between the Grimaldi and the Lombard aristocracy.

In 1633, the court of Madrid officially recognized the title of monaco. Honoré is thus the first Prince of Monaco. At the same time, Monaco was given the right to mint its own coins - a right that still exists today. The first currency is the silver talaro. The mint founded by Honoré becomes the first state symbol of Monaco.

Honoré now begins more and more to criticize and attack the occupation by the Spaniards. He made closer ties to France and found with Louis XIII. quite hearing. However, the political circumstances initially prevent the plans from being implemented. In 1641 Honoré married his son to distant relatives of the Spanish crown. At the same time, however, he was negotiating with the French. The result is the Treaty of Péronne , signed on July 8, 1641 , which prohibits any French interference in the government or justice of Monaco. Only the lieutenant of the garrison is appointed with the approval of the Prince of France. Honoré and his successors will remain governors of Monaco, Roquebrune and Menton “for all eternity” . Honoré now gets rid of the Spanish occupation by a hand stroke: the soldiers are invited to a feast in the castle after a fictitious process. The intoxicated soldiers are then overwhelmed and sent to Spain as prisoners. At the same time, France is sending soldiers to demonstrate French protection for Monaco. This ended the occupation by Spain, which had lasted almost a century. In 1642 he received the title of Duke of Valentinois from France .

Honoré loses its territories in Spain and partially in Italy, z. B. the Campagna . As a replacement he received the Marquistum Les Baux from France . From then on, all princes of Monaco also bear the title of Marquis of Les Baux.

An absolute monarchy based on the French model began for Monaco. The people's parliament, which has hitherto been given some power, is convened less and less, after all only at the beginning of each new reign of a prince.

Honoré dies in January 1662. His successor is his grandson Louis I.

predecessor	Office	successor
Hercule	Prince of Monaco 1604 - 1662	Louis I.