Florestan I, Prince of Monaco

Florestan I
File:FlorestanI-1-.png
Prince of Monaco
Reign	2 October 1841 – 20 June 1856
Predecessor	Honoré V
Successor	Charles III
Born	(1785-10-10)10 October 1785 Paris, France
Died	Paris, French Empire
Burial	Saint Nicholas Cathedral
Spouse	Maria Caroline Gibert de Lametz
Issue	Charles III, Prince of Monaco Florestine, Duchess of Urach
Full name Tancrède Florestan Roger Louis Grimaldi
House	Grimaldi
Father	Honoré IV, Prince of Monaco
Mother	Louise d'Aumont

Florestan I, Prince of Monaco (10 October 1785 in Paris – 20 June 1856) was Prince of Monaco and Duke of Valentinois from 2 October 1841 until his death. He was born Tancrède Florestan Roger Louis Grimaldi the second son of Prince Honoré IV and Louise d'Aumont Mazarin, and succeeded to the throne on the death of his brother, Honoré V.

Life and reign

Florestan was never prepared to assume the role of prince—he had been an actor in the Théâtre de l'Ambigu-Comique—and the real power during his reign lay in the hands of his wife, also an actress, Maria Caroline Gibert de Lametz, whom he married in Commercy on 27 November 1816. For some time, she was able to alleviate the difficult economic situation stemming from Monaco's new position as a protectorate of the Kingdom of Sardinia, then a regional power, rather than of France. The princely couple also attempted to meet local demands for greater democracy and offered two constitutions to the local population, but these were rejected, particularly by the people of Menton. When they saw that their efforts were doomed to failure, they handed over power to their son Charles (later Prince Charles III).

This was, however, too little, too late. Encouraged by the events of 1848, the towns of Menton and Roquebrune revolted, and declared themselves independent. They had hoped to be annexed by Sardinia, but this did not occur, and the towns remained in a state of political limbo until they were finally ceded to France in 1861, under Charles III.

Death and succession, 1856

Despite his good intentions, by the time of Florestan's death in Paris in 1856, Monaco was a country divided with few prospects for financial prosperity. It remained for his heir to remedy the situation.

Children

• Charles III, Prince of Monaco (1818–1889)
• Florestine Gabrielle Antoinette Grimaldi, Princess of Monaco (Fontenay-aux-Roses, 2 October/22 October 1833 – Stuttgart, 4 April/24 April 1897), married in Monaco on 15 February 1863 as his second wife Wilhelm, 1st Duke of Urach, and was the mother of Wilhelm, who was a heir presumptive to the Throne of Monaco and reigned for a few months as King Mindaugas II of Lithuania.

Ancestry

Family of Florestan I, Prince of Monaco

16. Jacques III de Goyon de Matignon               8. Jacques Goyon de Matignon, Prince of Monaco                       17. Charlotte de Goyon de Matignon, Countess of Thorigny               4. Honoré III Grimaldi, Prince of Monaco                             18. Antonio Grimaldi, Prince of Monaco               9. Louise Hippolyte Grimaldi, Princess of Monaco                       19. Marie of Lorraine               2. Honoré IV, Prince of Monaco                                   20. Anton Giulio Brignole Sale, 5th Marquis of Groppoli               10. Giuseppe Brignole Sale, 7th Marquis of Groppoli                       21. Isabella Brignole Sale               5. Maria Caterina Brignole Sale                             22. Francesco Maria Balbi, Doge of Genoa               11. Maria Anna Balbi                       23. Maria Clarice Durazzo               1. Florestan I, Prince of Monaco                                         24. Louis Marie d'Aumont, 4th Duke of Aumont               12. Louis Marie d'Aumont, 5th Duke of Aumont                       25. Catherine de Guiscard               6. Louis Marie d'Aumont, 6th Duke of Aumont                             26. Jean Baptiste de Durfort, 3rd Duke of Duras               13. Victoire Félicité de Durfort                       27. Princess Marie Angélique of Bournonville               3. Louise Félicité d'Aumont, Duchess Mazarin                                   28. Jean Baptiste de Durfort, 3rd Duke of Duras (= 26)               14. Emmanuel Félicité de Durfort, 4th Duke of Duras                       29. Princess Marie Angélique de Bournonville (= 27)               7. Louise Jeanne de Durfort, Duchess Mazarin                             30. Guy Jules de La Porte Mazarin, Duke Mazarin               15. Charlotte Antoinette de La Porte Mazarin                       31. Louise Françoise de Rohan

Preceded by Honoré V

Sovereign Prince of Monaco Duke of Valentinois 1841–1856

Succeeded by Charles III