Jean I. (Monaco)

Jean I. Grimaldi , also Giovanni Grimaldi (called Der Langlebige ) (* 1382 ; † May 8, 1454 ), from the Grimaldi family, was lord ( Seigneur ) of Monaco from 1419 until his death , which he became sovereign from 1441 ruled.

Jean was the son of Rainier II , Lord of Menton and Roquebrune . After his father in 1407 had died, he bought together with his brothers Ambroise (Ambrosio) and Antoine (Antonio) in 1419, the fortress of Monaco, which his grandfather in 1357, the Genoese had lost by the then owner Yolande d'Aragon back . Since her father's will forbade dividing the inheritance, he initially ruled together with his two brothers. After seven years he paid off his brothers and gave them the reigns of Menton and Roquebrune as a reward.

In the course of his reign, Johann worked several times for foreign military commanders. He also sold the Monaco Fortress several times, but kept buying it back.

In 1421 and 1422 he made military aid from Monaco available to Florence and Naples for a fee.

In 1429 he sold Monaco to the Genoese ruler Philipp-Maria Visconti for 12,000 Genoese pounds . Just a few years later, however, he was expelled from Genoa and the contract was declared null and void.

Since Jean was absent from Monaco for a long time, his wife Pomelline increasingly took control of the fortress. Even without her husband's help, she survived a year-long siege by Prince Louis of Piedmont while her husband and son Catalano were imprisoned in Italy.

On November 20, 1441, the feudal lordship over Monaco was lifted and Monaco gained sovereignty as a principality .

In 1448 Jean offered the Principality of Monaco to the Count of Savoy for a lease in return for an annual pension, but the latter declined the offer for fear of Nice and Turbia . On December 19, 1448, Johann ceded parts of Menton and Roquebrune as pledge to the Count, but retained the right of inheritance for himself and his descendants for eternity. For this he received an annual pension of 200 guilders, but had to provide 1000 crossbowmen on request .

In 1451 Johann became insolvent and sold Monaco for 12,000 gold thalers to the Dauphin Ludwig of France, later King Louis XI. But this turned out to be insolvent.

In 1454 Jean died and was buried next to his father Rainier. He left a will, which is decisive for the succession of the Grimaldis to this day. Contrary to the widespread Salic (masculine) right of succession, he decreed that if there were no male heirs, the eldest daughter should be designated the sole heir and regent. The prerequisite is that her husband accepts the name and coat of arms of the Grimaldi at the time of marriage.

predecessor	Office	successor
Rainer II.	Lord of Monaco 1419–1454	Catalano