Claudine, Lady of Monaco facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Claudine Grimaldi
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| Lady of Monaco | |
| Reign | 1457–1458 |
| Predecessor | Catalan |
| Successor | Lamberto |
| Born | c. 1451 |
| Died | 19 November 1515 |
| Noble family | Grimaldi |
| Spouse(s) | Lambert of Monaco |
| Issue | Jean II, Lord of Monaco Louis Grimaldi Bianca Grimaldi Augustino, Bishop of Grasse Françoise Grimaldi Lucien, Lord of Monaco |
| Father | Catalan Grimaldi |
| Mother | Blanche del Carretto |
Claudine (born around 1451 – died November 19, 1515) was a very important person in the history of Monaco. She was the Lady (ruler) of Monaco for a short time between 1457 and 1458. Later, she became the Lady consort (wife of the ruler) when she married Lambert of Monaco.
Contents
Claudine's Early Life and Family
Claudine was the only child of Catalan Grimaldi and Blanche del Carretto. This meant she was her father's only heir. The rules for who could rule Monaco were set by her grandfather, Jean I. He said that a female heir could become ruler. But, she had to keep the Grimaldi family name after marriage. She also had to pass it on to her children. Her husband would also have to take the Grimaldi name.
Claudine's father, Catalan, made sure her right to rule was clear. In his will, he said Claudine would take over after him. To follow his father's rules, Claudine had to marry her cousin, Lamberto Grimaldi di Antibes. This was to make sure the Grimaldi family stayed in charge of Monaco. Catalan also named his mother, Pomellina Fregoso, as the person to rule Monaco for Claudine until she was old enough.
Becoming Lady of Monaco
In July 1457, Claudine's father, Catalan, passed away. Claudine was only about six years old at the time. Her grandmother, Pomellina Fregoso, became the regent of Monaco. A regent is someone who rules for a child until they are old enough.
However, Claudine's fiancé, Lambert, did not agree with this plan. He wanted to share the power of ruling. Many people in Monaco supported Lambert. So, in October, Pomellina had to agree to share power with Lambert.
But Pomellina still wanted to remove Lambert from power. She planned to do this with help from others. In March 1458, the plan was put into action. But Lambert managed to escape. With the support of the people, he took control. He removed Pomellina's government. Lambert then declared himself the new Lord of Monaco. He also took over Claudine's rights to rule.
Life as Lady Consort
After Lambert took control, Claudine was no longer seen as the ruler herself. She was essentially removed from that role. However, the plan for her to marry Lambert still went forward. The wedding was delayed because Claudine was still very young.
In January 1460, there was another attempt to take over Monaco. This plot involved Pomellina and others. They tried to use Claudine's rights to the throne as a reason for their attack. But this attempt also failed.
Claudine and Lambert finally married on August 29, 1465. They were married in a town called Vintimille. People often say their marriage was a happy one. We don't know much about whether Claudine was involved in politics as Lambert's wife.
In 1483, Lambert asked Claudine to officially agree to his right to rule. This meant she was giving up her own claims to the throne. She also agreed to how he would decide who would rule after him. Even so, Lambert still used her name when he declared his power over a part of Monaco that was causing trouble.
Later Years and Legacy
When Lambert passed away in 1494, Claudine's son, Jean, became the new Lord of Monaco. Claudine lived longer than Jean. Jean passed away in 1505. His brother, Lucien, then became the Lord.
It is said that Claudine was very sad about Jean's passing. She showed her grief openly. She even wanted to be buried next to him. However, she also believed Lucien's side of the story. She remained devoted to both her sons.
Claudine passed away in 1515 during Lucien's rule. In her will, she made sure that her rights to Monaco would pass to her children. This followed the rules set by her father and grandfather. It also made sure that female family members could still inherit the throne. This was allowed as long as it didn't change the ruling family. She also put her granddaughter, Marie Grimaldi, back in the line of succession. This was important because Lucien had made Marie give up her claims earlier. It's interesting that Claudine could still make a will about the throne, even though she hadn't been seen as the ruler since 1458.
Claudine's Children
Claudine and Lambert had at least six children:
- Jean II (1468 – October 11, 1505)
- Louis (who was not able to inherit)
- Blanche Grimaldi (married in 1501)
- Augustino, Bishop of Grasse (1482 – April 14, 1532)
- Francesca (died before 1523)
- Lucien (1487 – August 22, 1523)
See also
In Spanish: Claudia I de Mónaco para niños
