Lamberto Grimaldi (c. 1420 – March 1494) was

Lord of Monaco The following is a list of rulers of Monaco. Most belong to the House of Grimaldi; exceptions, which consist primarily of the principality's administrators under periods of foreign occupation, are noted. History The House of Grimaldi, descended ...

from 16 March 1458. He was married to his cousin Claudine Grimaldi in 1465, per the wishes and legal

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of her late brother,

Catalan Catalan may refer to: Catalonia From, or related to Catalonia: * Catalan language, a Romance language * Catalans, an ethnic group formed by the people from, or with origins in, Northern or southern Catalonia Places * 13178 Catalan, asteroid #1 ...

, and their father. Lamberto was of the branch of the Grimaldi family which had settled in

Antibes Antibes (, also , ; oc, label=Provençal dialect, Provençal, Antíbol) is a coastal city in the Alpes-Maritimes Departments of France, department of southeastern France, on the French Riviera, Côte d'Azur between Cannes and Nice. The town of ...

while Claudine was of the more powerful Monaco branch. Grimaldi had one brother,

Jean-André Jean-André is a French masculine given name. It may refer to: * Jean-André Cuoq (1821–1898), French philologist * Jean-André Deluc (1727–1817), Swiss geologist and meteorologist * Jean-André Mongez (1750–1788), French priest and mineral ...

, in the church and another brother, Louis, in the military. Grimaldi found much help and support as a ruler from his brothers and, following his feud with the faction headed by Claudine's mother,

Pomellina Fregoso Pomellina Fregoso (1387/88 in Genoa – 1468 in Monaco) was Lady Consort of Monaco by marriage to Jean I, Lord of Monaco, and the mother of Lord Catalan. She served as regent of Monaco several times during the absence of her husband between 1437 ...

, Lambert secured his title and an "oath of fidelity" from the population of Monaco. His marriage to Claudine ensured the continuity of Monaco's rule by a Grimaldi. Claudine was nominally her brother's successor, but all power as Seigneur of Monaco was in her husband's hands and their marriage legitimized the succession for their descendants. The succession was legally secured to the children of Lamberto and Claudine, in order of birth, on August 14, 1483. This new succession act was actually just a confirmation of the decrees drawn up by Claudine's father and brother. If only female offspring would survive, then it was decreed that such female offspring must marry a Grimaldi in order to inherit the throne. Lamberto assumed the reins of power in Monaco at a difficult time in its often vulnerable history. Lamberto fought to preserve Monaco's independence, and is said to have "handled

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and the sword with equal talent". He also established the Grimaldi

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"With God's help." He was religious and studious, according to Bernardy, and had "studied hard" at the

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. He and Claudine had at least six children: *

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(1468 – 11 October 1505) *Louis (deemed insane and barred from the inheritance) *Bianca * Augustino, Bishop of Grasse (1482 – 14 April 1532) *Françoise (died before 1523); married Luc

Doria Doria or Dória may refer to: People Surname * Doria (family), a prominent Genoese family ** Andrea Doria (1466–1560), Genoese admiral ** Ansaldo Doria, 12th century Genoese statesman and commander ** Brancaleone Doria (died c. 1409?), husband ...

, her son Bartholomew

murdered her brother Lucien *

Lucien Lucien is a male given name. It is the French form of Luciano or Latin ''Lucianus'', patronymic of Lucius. Lucien, Saint Lucien, or Saint-Lucien may also refer to: People Given name * Lucien of Beauvais, Christian saint *Lucien, a band member ...

(1487 – 22 August 1523)

References

1420 births 1494 deaths 15th-century Lords of Monaco 15th-century French people House of Grimaldi Lords of Monaco People of Ligurian descent People with epilepsy Royalty and nobility with disabilities {{Monaco-bio-stub