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. It is said that, despite his wound, he insisted over and over again, as he lay on his deathbed, that the guard who shot him should not be punished as it had been an accident. Nonetheless, the man was imprisoned for a time and even tried to kill himself. After his release he never returned to Monaco. There were subsequent reports that a local monk had predicted Baux's death and that Baux himself had seen a ghost who had told him to enjoy life for he would not be able to in a short time. == Marriage ==