Hello Monaco magazine Spring-Summer 2018 - issue HM03 | Page 113

dynasty
C
harles I was the eldest son of
Rainier I and his first wife, Salvatica
del Carretto. Prior to coming to
power, the Genoese seized control
of the Rock on April 10, 1301 and
Charles was forced to flee into
exile. After their invasion, the Genoese occupied
the Rock for 30 years until Charles attacked to
reconquer it. A veteran seafaring adventurer and
well established both in the French King’s Court and
the Lord of Provence, he swiftly took back the Rock
and sent the Genoese fleeing.
Having established and fortified his base in Monaco,
Charles then chased after Venetian treasure ships
off the coast of Syria and Egypt. His raids were
so effective that the Venetians complained to
Pope Benedict XII. The Pope tried to intervene
through King Robert of Naples (a loyal protector
of Charles) who was also Lord of Provence. He is
documented as admitting Monaco was formally
outside the frontiers of his territory. This was an
important historical moment as it was the first time,
in response to the Pope’s attempted intervention,
that Monaco was cited as independent and not
under any other state’s jurisdiction.
Charles I was an important ally to the French Valois
in their continuing fight against the English and
King Edward III, known as the Hundred Years War.
The Genoese too, ended their preoccupation with
the feuding between the Guelfs and Ghibellines
after a change in their Doge, and became allied
with the Grimaldis. This formed a broader alliance
with the French against the English. One of the main
successes in their naval alliance was the taking of
Portsmouth that had been left unguarded by the
English fleet when it was away escorting transport
vessels and English troops to Flanders. Charles
Grimaldi from Monaco and his new ally, Anthony
Doria of Genoa, were then encouraged by the
Admiral of the French fleet to attack Southampton,
which they did successfully. They made off with
a treasure trove of loot before the English could
send in reinforcements. They also met up with David
Bruce, King Bruce II of Scotland, and escorted him
safely to France. This was a golden period in terms
of controlling the Channel for the Monegasques and
the French, to the point where serious consideration
was given to invading England. However, between
infighting and lack of support from the Pope
© histoiresansgeo.canalblog.com
Charles I from his fortress in Monaco expanded his rules to include
Menton and Roquebrune
no serious steps were taken to follow through and
the idea was abandoned.
Then the tide turned and the English, under Edward
III, took the upper hand against the French. The
Genovese alliance fell apart and one faction turned
on the French and even tried to set up a French state
in Boulogne-sur-Mer. Charles I was occupied first
helping the French against the Genoese and then
allied with the French to harass the English fishing
fleet who in times of war were the source of much
manpower to the English naval forces.
As could be expected, Charles I was not in good
graces with Edward III, as there had been excesses
committed in the fighting with the English where
ears and fingers were cut from victims and put on
display in Calais. At one point when the French fleet
looked like it was going to be decimated by the
The French forces were decimated
and what remained fled, leaving
Charles I for dead on the
battlefield
Hello Monaco Spring–Summer 2018 / 111