Augustine Grimaldi
Encyclopedia
Augustine Grimaldi was Regent
of Monaco
(1523–1532), Bishop of Grasse
, Abbot
of Lérins
, and founder of the village of Valbonne
.
(1420–1494) and Claudine Grimaldi (1451–1515). Two of his brothers, Jean
(1468–1505) and Lucien
(1487–1523) were Lords of Monaco
.
on 22 August 1523, Augustine was appointed Regent to Lucien's son Honoré
, who was not yet a year old. He held this position for over 8 years, until his death at the age of 50 in 1532.
In 1524, to better avenge himself on his brother's murderers, Bartholomew Doria and Andrea Doria
, Augustine deserted Francis I of France
, with whom the Doria's were allied. He then swore allegiance to Charles V
, Holy Roman Emperor
and King of Spain
, by the signing of the Treaties of Burgos
and Tordesillas
. This brought Monaco
under Spanish
protection, and Augustine was placed at the head of the government in Monaco
. The alliance lasted from 1525 to 1641. This alliance weighed heavily on the financial situation of Monaco
, and shortly before his death, Augustine admitted to regret for his actions in this regard.
During his Regency, Charles V
paid a visit to Monaco
in 1529.
from 1505 until his death. He was also the Abbot
of Lérins
, a Cistercian monastery
located on the island of Saint-Honorat
, one of the Lérins Islands
, on the French Riviera
.
In 1516, he united his monastery at Lérins
with the Cassinese Congregation
. The church sent Giovanni Andrea Cortese (1483–1548), known within the order as Gregorio, to Lérins
to introduce the Cassinese reform.
In 1519, Augustine commissioned a monk named Don Taxil to construct a village adjacent to the abbey, with the hope of attracting converts. Thus he is accredited as the founder of the village of Valbonne
.
Regent
A regent, from the Latin regens "one who reigns", is a person selected to act as head of state because the ruler is a minor, not present, or debilitated. Currently there are only two ruling Regencies in the world, sovereign Liechtenstein and the Malaysian constitutive state of Terengganu...
of 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...
(1523–1532), Bishop of Grasse
Ancient Diocese of Grasse
The former French Catholic diocese of Grasse was, from the fourth century until 1244, the diocese of Antibes. With its see at Grasse Cathedral, it then existed until the French Revolution...
, Abbot
Abbot
The word abbot, meaning father, is a title given to the head of a monastery in various traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not actually the head of a monastery...
of Lérins
Lérins Abbey
Lérins Abbey is a Cistercian monastery on the island of Saint-Honorat, one of the Lérins Islands, on the French Riviera, with an active monastic community....
, and founder of the village of Valbonne
Valbonne
Valbonne Sophia Antipolis is a commune near Nice in the Alpes-Maritimes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in south-eastern France...
.
Family
Augustine was the son of Lambert Grimaldi, Lord of MonacoLamberto Grimaldi
Lamberto Grimaldi was a Lord of Monaco . He was married to his cousin Claudine Grimaldi in 1465 in order to secure the Grimaldi inheritance of Monaco which by the small state's constitution could only pass to male heirs...
(1420–1494) and Claudine Grimaldi (1451–1515). Two of his brothers, Jean
Jean II, Lord of Monaco
Jean II/Giovanni II, was Lord of Monaco from March 1494 until his death. He was the eldest son of Lambert Grimaldi and Claudine Grimaldi .During his 11 year reign, he pursued the politics of his father...
(1468–1505) and Lucien
Lucien, Lord of Monaco
Lucien became Lord of Monaco on 11 October 1505, having murdered his predecessor and brother, Jean II, and held that sovereignty until his death.-Family and Marriage:...
(1487–1523) were Lords of 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...
.
Regency
Upon the assassination of his brother LucienLucien, Lord of Monaco
Lucien became Lord of Monaco on 11 October 1505, having murdered his predecessor and brother, Jean II, and held that sovereignty until his death.-Family and Marriage:...
on 22 August 1523, Augustine was appointed Regent to Lucien's son Honoré
Honoré I, Lord of Monaco
Honoré I was Lord of Monaco from August 22, 1523 to October 7, 1581.Honoré was the youngest child of Lucien Grimaldi and Jeanne de Pontevès-Cabanes. He became Lord of Monaco at the age of 9 months, upon the assassination of his father on August 22, 1523...
, who was not yet a year old. He held this position for over 8 years, until his death at the age of 50 in 1532.
In 1524, to better avenge himself on his brother's murderers, Bartholomew Doria and Andrea Doria
Andrea Doria
Andrea Doria was an Italian condottiere and admiral from Genoa.-Early life:Doria was born at Oneglia from the ancient Genoese family, the Doria di Oneglia branch of the old Doria, de Oria or de Auria family. His parents were related: Ceva Doria, co-lord of Oneglia, and Caracosa Doria, of the...
, Augustine deserted Francis I of France
Francis I of France
Francis I was King of France from 1515 until his death. During his reign, huge cultural changes took place in France and he has been called France's original Renaissance monarch...
, with whom the Doria's were allied. He then swore allegiance to Charles V
Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V was ruler of the Holy Roman Empire from 1519 and, as Charles I, of the Spanish Empire from 1516 until his voluntary retirement and abdication in favor of his younger brother Ferdinand I and his son Philip II in 1556.As...
, Holy Roman Emperor
Holy Roman Emperor
The Holy Roman Emperor is a term used by historians to denote a medieval ruler who, as German King, had also received the title of "Emperor of the Romans" from the Pope...
and King of Spain
Spanish monarchy
The Monarchy of Spain, constitutionally referred to as The Crown and commonly referred to as the Spanish monarchy or Hispanic Monarchy, is a constitutional institution and an historic office of Spain...
, by the signing of the Treaties of Burgos
Burgos
Burgos is a city of northern Spain, historic capital of Castile. It is situated at the edge of the central plateau, with about 178,966 inhabitants in the city proper and another 20,000 in its suburbs. It is the capital of the province of Burgos, in the autonomous community of Castile and León...
and Tordesillas
Tordesillas
Tordesillas is a town and municipality in the province of Valladolid, Castile and León, central Spain.It is located 25 km southwest of the provincial capital, Valladolid at an elevation of 704 meters. The population was c. 9,000 in 2009....
. This brought 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...
under Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
protection, and Augustine was placed at the head of the government in 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...
. The alliance lasted from 1525 to 1641. This alliance weighed heavily on the financial situation of 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...
, and shortly before his death, Augustine admitted to regret for his actions in this regard.
During his Regency, Charles V
Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V was ruler of the Holy Roman Empire from 1519 and, as Charles I, of the Spanish Empire from 1516 until his voluntary retirement and abdication in favor of his younger brother Ferdinand I and his son Philip II in 1556.As...
paid a visit to 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...
in 1529.
Bishop and Abbot
Augustine served as Bishop of GrasseAncient Diocese of Grasse
The former French Catholic diocese of Grasse was, from the fourth century until 1244, the diocese of Antibes. With its see at Grasse Cathedral, it then existed until the French Revolution...
from 1505 until his death. He was also the Abbot
Abbot
The word abbot, meaning father, is a title given to the head of a monastery in various traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not actually the head of a monastery...
of Lérins
Lérins Abbey
Lérins Abbey is a Cistercian monastery on the island of Saint-Honorat, one of the Lérins Islands, on the French Riviera, with an active monastic community....
, a Cistercian monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
located on the island of Saint-Honorat
Île Saint-Honorat
The Île Saint-Honorat is the second largest of the Lérins Islands, about a mile off shore from the French Riviera town of Cannes. The island is approximately 1.5 kilometers in length and 400 meters wide....
, one of the Lérins Islands
Lérins Islands
The Lérins Islands are a group of four Mediterranean islands off the French Riviera, near Cannes. The two largest islands in this group are the Île Sainte-Marguerite and the Île Saint-Honorat...
, on the French Riviera
French Riviera
The Côte d'Azur, pronounced , often known in English as the French Riviera , is the Mediterranean coastline of the southeast corner of France, also including the sovereign state of Monaco...
.
In 1516, he united his monastery at Lérins
Lérins Abbey
Lérins Abbey is a Cistercian monastery on the island of Saint-Honorat, one of the Lérins Islands, on the French Riviera, with an active monastic community....
with the Cassinese Congregation
Benedictine Confederation
The Benedictine Confederation of the Order of Saint Benedict is the international governing body of the Order of Saint Benedict.-Origin:...
. The church sent Giovanni Andrea Cortese (1483–1548), known within the order as Gregorio, to Lérins
Lérins Abbey
Lérins Abbey is a Cistercian monastery on the island of Saint-Honorat, one of the Lérins Islands, on the French Riviera, with an active monastic community....
to introduce the Cassinese reform.
In 1519, Augustine commissioned a monk named Don Taxil to construct a village adjacent to the abbey, with the hope of attracting converts. Thus he is accredited as the founder of the village of Valbonne
Valbonne
Valbonne Sophia Antipolis is a commune near Nice in the Alpes-Maritimes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in south-eastern France...
.