Predecessor Honore V Successor Charles III | Name Florestan Prince House House of Grimaldi | |
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Reign 2 October 1841 – 20 June 1856 Born 10 October 1785
Paris, France ( 1785-10-10 ) Burial Saint Nicholas Cathedral Issue Charles III, Prince of Monaco
Florestine, Duchess of Urach Father Honore IV, Prince of Monaco Died June 20, 1856, Paris, France Spouse Maria Caroline Gibert de Lametz (m. 1816–1856) Children Charles III, Prince of Monaco, Princess Florestine of Monaco Parents Honore IV, Prince of Monaco, Louise d'Aumont Grandchildren Albert I, Prince of Monaco | ||
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.
Contents
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.