Caroline Gibert de Lametz
| Maria Caroline Gibert de Lametz | |
|---|---|
| |
| Princess consort of Monaco | |
| Tenure | 2 October 1841 – 20 June 1856 |
| Born | 18 July 1793 Coulommiers, France |
| Died | 25 November 1879 (aged 86) Monaco |
| Spouse | Florestan I, Prince of Monaco (m. 1816; died 1856) |
| Issue | Charles III, Prince of Monaco Florestine, Duchess of Urach |
| House | Grimaldi (by marriage) |
| Father | Charles-Thomas Gibert |
| Mother | Marie-Françoise Le Gras de Vaubercey |
Marie Caroline Gibert de Lametz (18 July 1793 – 25 November 1879) was a French stage actress and a princess consort and regent (de facto) of Monaco by marriage to Florestan I, Prince of Monaco.
Life
She was the daughter of Charles-Thomas Gibert, who was a lawyer, and Marie-Françoise Le Gras de Vaubercey. The marriage of her parents ended in divorce, and she became the adopted stepdaughter of Antoine Rouyer de Lametz, Chevalier de l'Empire and Knight of the Legion of Honour.
Marie Caroline was a stage actress, as was her future spouse, Florestan. Maria Caroline Gibert de Lametz and Prince Florestan of Monaco, at that time both actors, married in Commercy on 27 November 1816 and had two children: Prince Charles III, and Princess Florestine.
She was described as a skilful businesswoman: she handled the economy of the family, and successfully managed the fortune her spouse inherited from his mother (who had excluded her eldest son from her will because of his illegitimate issue) in 1826.[1]
Princess of Monaco
Florestan ascended to the throne in Monaco in 1841, but he was never prepared to assume the role of prince — he had been an actor in the Théâtre de l'Ambigu-Comique — and the real power during his reign lay in the hands of his wife, who reportedly possessed great intelligence[2] and "excelled at social skills."[3]
According to the historian Gustave Saige, Princess Caroline's intelligence was required to figure out the affairs of state, which Honoré V had handled absolutely by himself, not trusting anyone to advise or assist him.[2] By introducing a tax reform, she was able[2] to alleviate the difficult economic situation stemming from the Congress of Vienna assigning Monaco as a protectorate of the Kingdom of Sardinia rather than France.[3][4] Her involvement in state politics, however, gave bad publicity to Florestan.[5] When their son once reproached her for her de facto regent position, she replied that she ruled simply because she wanted to take responsibility for the welfare of the family.[6]
The couple attempted to meet local demands for greater democracy and offered two constitutions to the local population, but these were rejected, particularly by the people of Menton, who were given a better offer by King Charles Albert of Sardinia.[3] The Prince and Princess of Monaco then handed over power to their son Charles (later Prince Charles III).[3] Encouraged by the Revolutions of 1848, however, the towns of Menton and Roquebrune revolted and declared themselves independent. The crisis worsened when the King of Sardinia garrisoned Menton,[7] Florestan was dethroned, arrested, and imprisoned.[3] Florestan was restored to the throne in 1849, but Menton and Roquebrune were lost forever. They had hoped to be annexed by Sardinia, but this did not occur, and the towns remained in a state of political limbo until they were finally ceded to France in 1861.
Later life
After her husband's death in 1856, her son, Prince Charles III, took over control of the throne, having been well prepared to assume power by his mother. Together, they worked towards laying the foundation for Monaco as a major resort destination.
She died on 25 November 1879.
Ancestry
- Ancestors of Caroline Gibert de Lametz
- 16. Simon Gibert
- 8. Simon Gibert
- 17. Marthe Bourdin
- 4. Thomas Gibert
- 18. Louis Prévost
- 9. Marie Louise Prévost
- 19. Marie Louise Duchesne
- 2. Charles Thomas Gibert
- 20. Daniel Moret
- 10. Noël Augustin Moret
- 21. Catherine Besme
- 5. Françoise Moret
- 22. Claude Pierre Galleran
- 11. Madeleine Thérèse Galleran
- 23. Marie Marguerite Merle
- 1. Maria Caroline Gibert de Lametz
- 24. Antoine Le Gras, Lord of Vaubercey
- 12. François Edouard Michel Le Gras de Vaubercey
- 25. Marie Françoise de Bérulle
- 6. François Louis Michel Le Gras de Vaubercey
- 26. Jean Baptiste de Lormeau, Lord of Falourdet
- 13. Louise de Lormeau
- 27. Louise de Mertrus
- 3. Marie Françoise Le Gras de Vaubercey
- 28. Jean Baptiste des Courtils
- 14. Jean Baptiste François des Courtils, Lord of Bessy-Montbertoin
- 29. Louise Florimonde Bouzier d'Estouilly
- 7. Gabrielle Françoise des Courtils
- 30. Antoine de La Fons, Lord of Hardecourt
- 15. Marie Marguerite de La Fons d'Hardecourt
- 31. Anne Marguerite Bastonneau
Arms and emblems
 Coat of Arms of Maria Caroline as Princess of Monaco |
 Royal Monogram of Maria Caroline as Princess of Monaco |
References
- Back to citation Anne Edwards, The Grimaldis of Monaco, 1992
- Back to citation occurrence 2.0 Back to citation occurrence 2.1 Back to citation occurrence 2.2 Saige, Gustave (1897). Monaco: Ses Origines et Son Histoire. Imprimerie de Monaco. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
- Back to citation occurrence 3.0 Back to citation occurrence 3.1 Back to citation occurrence 3.2 Back to citation occurrence 3.3 Back to citation occurrence 3.4 "FLORESTAN I – A PRINCE OF MONACO THROUGH NO CHOICE OF HIS OWN". Hello Monaco. Archived from the original on 4 July 2017. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
- Back to citation Eccardt, Thomas M. (2005). Secrets of the Seven Smallest States of Europe: Andorra, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, San Marino, and Vatican City. Hippocrene Books. ISBN 9780781810326.
- Back to citation Anne Edwards, The Grimaldis of Monaco, 1992
- Back to citation Anne Edwards, The Grimaldis of Monaco, 1992
- Back to citation Hart-Davis, Phyllida (September 1982). Grace: The Story of a Princess. St. Martin's Press. pp. 67–73. ISBN 978-0312342104. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
Bibliography
| Monegasque royalty | ||
|---|---|---|
| Vacant Title last held by Maria Caterina Brignole |
Princess consort of Monaco 1841–1856 |
Succeeded by Antoinette de Mérode |