The House of Grimaldi is associated with the history of the Republic of Genoa, Italy and of the Principality of Monaco.
Grimaldi descends from Grimaldo, a Genoese statesman at the time of the early Crusades. He might have been a son of Otto Canella, a consul of the Republic of Genoa in 1133, and in turn Grimaldo became a consul in 1160, 1170 and again in 1184. His numerous grandsons and their children led maritime expeditions throughout the Medit...
More
The House of Grimaldi is associated with the history of the Republic of Genoa, Italy and of the Principality of Monaco.
Grimaldi descends from Grimaldo, a Genoese statesman at the time of the early Crusades. He might have been a son of Otto Canella, a consul of the Republic of Genoa in 1133, and in turn Grimaldo became a consul in 1160, 1170 and again in 1184. His numerous grandsons and their children led maritime expeditions throughout the Mediterranean, the Black Sea, and soon the North Sea, and quickly became one of the most powerful families of Genoa.
The Grimaldis feared that the head of a rival Genoese family could break the fragile balance of power in a political coup and become lord of Genoa, as had happened in other Italian cities. They entered into a Guelphic alliance with the Fieschi family and defended their interests with the sword. The Guelfs however were banned from the City in 1271, and found refuge in their castles of Liguria and in Provence. They signed a treaty with...
Less