Predecessor Florestan I Role Prince of Monaco Name Charles Prince | House Grimaldi Successor Albert I | |
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Reign 20 June 1856 – 10 September 1889 Born 8 December 1818
Paris, France ( 1818-12-08 ) Burial Saint Nicholas Cathedral
Monaco-Ville, Monaco Issue Albert I, Prince of Monaco Died September 10, 1889, France Spouse Antoinette de Merode (m. 1846–1864) Children Albert I, Prince of Monaco Parents Florestan I, Prince of Monaco, Maria Caroline Gibert de Lametz Siblings Princess Florestine of Monaco Similar People Albert I - Prince of Monaco, Florestan I - Prince of Monaco, Louis II - Prince of Monaco, Antoinette de Merode, Alice Heine | ||
Charles III (8 December 1818 – 10 September 1889) was Prince of Monaco and Duke of Valentinois from 20 June 1856 to his death. He was the founder of the famous casino in Monte Carlo, as his title in Monegasque and Italian was Carlo III.
Contents
He was born in Paris Charles Honoré Grimaldi, the only son of Florestan I of Monaco and Maria Caroline Gibert de Lametz.
Marriage and reign
Charles was married on 28 September 1846 in Brussels to Countess Antoinette de Mérode-Westerloo. He was succeeded by his son Albert I of Monaco. During his reign, the towns of Menton and Roquebrune, constituting some 80 percent of Monegasque territory, were formally ceded to France, paving the way for formal French recognition of Monaco's independence.
Under Charles III, the Principality of Monaco increased its diplomatic activities; for example, in 1864, Charles III concluded a Treaty of Friendship with the Bey of Tunis, Muhammad III as-Sadiq, which also regulated trade and maritime issues.
Honours
He was the 182nd Grand Cross of the Order of the Tower and Sword.
Monte Carlo is named after Charles III. It stands for the "Mount Charles" in Italian.
Death
In his middle years his sight greatly weakened, and by the last decade of his life he had become almost totally blind. He died at Château de Marchais.
Coin
On 1 June 2016, fifteen thousand 2 euro coins were issued by Monaco; commemorating the 150th anniversary of the foundation of Monte Carlo by Charles III