Prince Charles Maurice, Count of Valentinois (1727–1798)
Monégasque prince of the House of Grimaldi, Count of Valentinois, and Grandee of Spain who pursued a notable military career and lived through the late ancien régime and the revolutionary era.
Prince Charles Maurice, Count of Valentinois (14 May 1727 – 18 January 1798) was a member of Monaco's ruling family and a titled noble of 18th‑century Europe. Born into the dynasty that governed the tiny Mediterranean principality, he is recorded in sources as a Monégasque prince and often appears in correspondence and rank lists under the style Prince Charles Maurice of Monaco. His most commonly cited hereditary title was Count of Valentinois.
Image gallery
1 Image
Titles and family association
Charles Maurice belonged to the long‑standing ruling line known as the House of Grimaldi, a dynasty that provided Monaco with its princes for centuries. The county of Valentinois (Count of Valentinois) was a historic French title that the Grimaldi family used alongside their princely designation. In addition to his Monégasque standing, Charles Maurice held the dignity of a Grandee of Spain, a high Spanish noble rank that signalled prestige and court status across Bourbon Europe.
Military career
Like many younger princes of small European courts, Charles Maurice pursued a military path. Contemporary accounts emphasize his active service and his attainment of important commands and responsibilities typical for aristocratic officers of the period. His military activity was a central element of his public life and contributed to his reputation among peers and at foreign courts.
Historical context
Charles Maurice's life spanned an era of great political change: he was born under the ancien régime and died after the upheavals of the French Revolution and the first phase of revolutionary Europe. Although Monaco remained a small polity, members of its ruling family often served in the armed forces and courts of larger neighbors, balancing local dynastic interests with careers in France, Spain, or other Bourbon realms.
Legacy and significance
Prince Charles Maurice is not widely famous today, but he exemplifies the role played by younger princely figures in 18th‑century Europe: holders of regional titles, military officers, and participants in the complex social networks of courtly aristocracy. He is sometimes indexed simply as a Monégasque prince or as Prince Charles Maurice of Monaco, and appears in genealogical and heraldic records related to the Grimaldi lineage and the small but internationally connected nobility of his age.
- Born: 14 May 1727
- Died: 18 January 1798
- House: House of Grimaldi
- Principal title: Count of Valentinois
- Honour: Grandee of Spain
- Associated region: Monaco
Questions and answers
Q: Who was Prince Charles Maurice, Count of Valentinois?
A: Prince Charles Maurice, Count of Valentinois was a Monégasque prince and member of the House of Grimaldi.
Q: What was his title?
A: His title was Count of Valentinois.
Q: When was Prince Charles Maurice, Count of Valentinois born and when did he pass away?
A: He was born on May 14, 1727, and passed away on January 18, 1798.
Q: What were some notable things about his career?
A: He had a fairly important military career and was also a Grandee of Spain.
Q: How is he sometimes referred to?
A: He is sometimes referred to as Prince Charles Maurice of Monaco.
Q: What was his significance to Monaco and its people?
A: As a member of the House of Grimaldi, Prince Charles Maurice, Count of Valentinois played a role in the ruling of Monaco and was important to its people.
Q: What is the House of Grimaldi?
A: The House of Grimaldi is a European dynasty that has ruled the Principality of Monaco for over 700 years.
Author
AlegsaOnline.com Prince Charles Maurice, Count of Valentinois (1727–1798) Leandro Alegsa
URL: https://en.alegsaonline.com/art/144487