Louise-Hippolyte, Princess of Monaco
Encyclopedia
Louise Hippolyte was the only female Sovereign Princess of Monaco
. She is the ancestress of the current reigning princely family of Monaco
.
in Monaco, she was the daughter of Antonio I of Monaco
and Marie de Lorraine
. The third of six children born to her parents, she was the first of their children to survive infancy. She had two younger sisters, Marguerite Camille Grimaldi (1700–1758) and Maria Paolina Grimaldi (1702–1726). The former married, but neither of her sisters had children.
Because she had no brothers, Louise Hippolyte became the heiress to the throne of Monaco. Her father decided, with the permission of Louis XIV, that her future husband should assume the surname of Grimaldi and rule Monaco jointly with her.
On 20 October 1715, at the age of eighteen, she married Jacques François Goyon de Matignon
after his family had proposed him as a candidate. Encouraged by the prospect of his ruling his own principality, he was eager to marry Louise Hippolyte. His candidacy was supported by King Louis XIV, who wanted to consolidate French influence in Monaco. Prior to this, Louise Hippolyte's father was eager to wed his daughter to a Grimaldi cousin. This marriage did not materialise due to the poor finances of the Grimaldis at the time.
Louise Hippolyte and Jacques had nine children. The marriage was never a happy one. Her husband preferred to stay in Versailles
instead of Monaco, where he had several mistresses.
After the death of her father, Louise Hippolyte traveled from Paris
to Monaco
on 4 April 1731 and received an enthusiastic reception from the populace. When Jacques joined her a little while later, the reception was much colder.
At the end of 1731, Louise Hippolyte died of smallpox
. Her husband neglected the affairs of Monaco and had to leave the country in May 1732. He abdicated in favor of their son, Honoré
, the next year.
Louise Hippolyte was buried in the Cathedral of St. Nicholas in Monaco, the traditional burial place of the Grimaldis. Her husband remained a widower, despite a rich dowry offered to him by the Duchess of Maine for the hand of her unattractive daughter, Mademoiselle du Maine
, a granddaughter of Louis XIV and Madame de Montespan.
Prince of Monaco
The Reigning Prince or Princess of Monaco is the sovereign monarch and head of state of the Principality of Monaco. All Princes or Princesses thus far have taken the name of the House of Grimaldi, but have belonged to various other houses in male line...
. She is the ancestress of the current reigning princely family 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...
.
Biography
Born at the Prince's PalacePrince's Palace of Monaco
The Prince's Palace of Monaco is the official residence of the Prince of Monaco. Built in 1191 as a Genoese fortress, during its long and often dramatic history it has been bombarded and besieged by many foreign powers. Since the end of the 13th century, it has been the stronghold and home of the...
in Monaco, she was the daughter of Antonio I of Monaco
Antonio I of Monaco
Antonio I was the Prince of Monaco from 1701 to 1731. He was the elder son of Louis I, Prince of Monaco and Catherine Charlotte de Gramont....
and Marie de Lorraine
Marie of Lorraine
Marie of Lorraine was a princess of the House of Lorraine and Princess of Monaco as wife of Antonio I of Monaco. She was the mother of Louise Hippolyte Grimaldi, the only sovereign Princess of Monaco....
. The third of six children born to her parents, she was the first of their children to survive infancy. She had two younger sisters, Marguerite Camille Grimaldi (1700–1758) and Maria Paolina Grimaldi (1702–1726). The former married, but neither of her sisters had children.
Because she had no brothers, Louise Hippolyte became the heiress to the throne of Monaco. Her father decided, with the permission of Louis XIV, that her future husband should assume the surname of Grimaldi and rule Monaco jointly with her.
On 20 October 1715, at the age of eighteen, she married Jacques François Goyon de Matignon
Jacques I, Prince of Monaco
Jacques Goyon de Matignon was count of Thorigny, Prince of Monaco as Jacques I and the fourth Duke of Valentinois from 1731 until 1733.-Biography:...
after his family had proposed him as a candidate. Encouraged by the prospect of his ruling his own principality, he was eager to marry Louise Hippolyte. His candidacy was supported by King Louis XIV, who wanted to consolidate French influence in Monaco. Prior to this, Louise Hippolyte's father was eager to wed his daughter to a Grimaldi cousin. This marriage did not materialise due to the poor finances of the Grimaldis at the time.
Louise Hippolyte and Jacques had nine children. The marriage was never a happy one. Her husband preferred to stay in Versailles
Versailles
Versailles , a city renowned for its château, the Palace of Versailles, was the de facto capital of the kingdom of France for over a century, from 1682 to 1789. It is now a wealthy suburb of Paris and remains an important administrative and judicial centre...
instead of Monaco, where he had several mistresses.
After the death of her father, Louise Hippolyte traveled from Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
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...
on 4 April 1731 and received an enthusiastic reception from the populace. When Jacques joined her a little while later, the reception was much colder.
At the end of 1731, Louise Hippolyte died of smallpox
Smallpox
Smallpox was an infectious disease unique to humans, caused by either of two virus variants, Variola major and Variola minor. The disease is also known by the Latin names Variola or Variola vera, which is a derivative of the Latin varius, meaning "spotted", or varus, meaning "pimple"...
. Her husband neglected the affairs of Monaco and had to leave the country in May 1732. He abdicated in favor of their son, Honoré
Honoré III, Prince of Monaco
Honoré III ruled as Prince of Monaco and was Duke of Valentinois for almost sixty years from 1733 to 1793...
, the next year.
Louise Hippolyte was buried in the Cathedral of St. Nicholas in Monaco, the traditional burial place of the Grimaldis. Her husband remained a widower, despite a rich dowry offered to him by the Duchess of Maine for the hand of her unattractive daughter, Mademoiselle du Maine
Louise-Françoise de Bourbon (1707–1743)
Louise Françoise de Bourbon was a grand daughter of Louis XIV of France and his mistress Françoise Athénaïs de Rochechouart de Mortemart, better known as Madame de Montespan...
, a granddaughter of Louis XIV and Madame de Montespan.
Issue
- Antoine Charles Marie (16 December 1717 - 4 February 1718), Marquiss des Baux and Count of Matignon.
- Charlotte Thérèse Nathalie (19 March 1719 - 1790), nun at the Convent of Visitation at Paris.
- Honoré III Camille LéonorHonoré III, Prince of MonacoHonoré III ruled as Prince of Monaco and was Duke of Valentinois for almost sixty years from 1733 to 1793...
(10 November 1720-21 March 1795), successor of his parents. - Charles Marie Auguste (1 January 1722–24 August 1749), Count of Carladés and Matignon.
- Jacques (9 June 1723-June 1723).
- Louise Françoise (15 July 1724–15 September 1729), Mademoiselle des Baux.
- François Charles (4 February 1726 –9 December 1743), Count of Thorigny.
- Charles Maurice (14 May 1727–18 January 1798), Count of Valentinois; married on 10 November 1749 to Marie Christine Chrétienne de Rouvrois; no issue.
- Marie Françoise Thérése (20 July 1728-20 June 1743), Mademoiselle d'Estouteville.
Ancestors
Titles and styles
- 10 October, 1697 – 26 February, 1731 Her Serene HighnessSerene HighnessHis/Her Serene Highness is a style used today by the reigning families of Liechtenstein and Monaco. It also preceded the princely titles of members of some German ruling and mediatised dynasties as well as some non-ruling but princely German noble families until 1918...
The Hereditary Princess of Monaco - 26 February, 1731 – 29 December, 1731 Her Serene HighnessSerene HighnessHis/Her Serene Highness is a style used today by the reigning families of Liechtenstein and Monaco. It also preceded the princely titles of members of some German ruling and mediatised dynasties as well as some non-ruling but princely German noble families until 1918...
The Princess of Monaco