Ercole, Marquis of Baux

Ercole Grimaldi, Marquis of Baux (16 December 1623 – 2 August 1651) was a member of the House of Grimaldi. He was the first Monegasque prince and heir apparent to the first Monegasque sovereign prince, Honoré II. Dying at the age of 27, Baux was replaced as heir apparent by his son Louis who succeeded Honoré II.

Biography

Early life The only son of Honoré II of Monaco and Ippolita Trivulzio, Grimaldi was the heir apparent to the principality of Monaco which was raised to the status of principality in 1604. Named after his grandfather Hercule, Lord of Monaco, Grimaldi was styled as the Marquis of Baux after 1642, the title being one of the subsidiary titles which had been given to his father by Louis XIII. In fact, Baux was created Marquis by Louis XIII himself. Baux was a skilled military man and led the attack on the Serravalle Tower, taking the sentries prisoner.

Death Baux and his wife and their children went to visit the convent of Carnoles in Mentone. After the visit was over Baux relaxed in the gardens by shooting targets with some guards. Anxious to see how a weapon worked, Baux insisted that a guard show it to him. Improperly handling the gun, the guard accidentally shot it towards Baux and the other guards, two of whom were also injured. Baux received a gunshot wound to the spine and, however good the medical care he received, he died the next day on 1 August 1651, at the age of 27. The marriage produced seven children in just 10 years, many had further progeny. Through his son Louis he is a direct ancestor of the reigning Albert II of Monaco and through his youngest daughter he is an ancestor of the pretending Carlos, Duke of Parma, Crown Princess Margareta of Romania, Archduke Karl of Austria, Franz, Duke of Bavaria, former king Simeon II of Bulgaria and reigning Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg.

Issue Louis Grimaldi (25 July 1642 – 3 January 1701), Prince of Monaco as Louis I (1660–1701); married Catherine Charlotte de Gramont and had issue. Ippolita Maria Grimaldi (8 May 1644 – 8 October 1694) married Carlo Emanuele Filiberto de Simiane, Prince of Montafia and had issue. Giovanna Maria Grimaldi (born 4 June 1645) married Andrea Imperiali, Prince of Francavilla and had issue. Dévote-Marie-Renée Grimaldi (born 1646) Luc-François-Marie-Charles Grimaldi, says "The Little Knight" in 1648 (born 1648) Maria Teresa Grimaldi (4 September 1650 – 20 July 1723) married Sigismondo III d'Este, Marquis of San Martino and had issue. Maria Pelline Grimaldi (born 1651)

Ancestry