LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: European history buffs would be aware of the tragic deaths and failed marriages that Monaco's Royal Family has suffered over the years. A lot of the family's misfortunes have been linked to the "curse of the Grimaldi" as the legend would have you believe. The spell is said to have been cast on the Grimaldi family, which has ruled Monaco for over seven centuries, so that none of their marriages would ever have a happy ending.
Now, a new film made by Grace Kelly's own grandson Pierre Casiraghi and his wife Beatrice Borromeo hopes to unravel the truth behind the legend. The duo is expected to produce an installment of 'Monaco' through their firm Astrea and production is set to commence next year. Casiraghi and Borromeo reportedly plan to expand the franchise into several movies and a TV series that would chart the family's adventures throughout its history.
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It's worth noting that several European royal families have been associated with legends that have haunted their descendants. The House of Grimaldi, originally from Italy, has notably been one of the most powerful families in Genoa. The family has ruled over the wealthy nation of Monaco since 1297, but the dynasty has supposedly carried a jinx that has prevented them from enjoying peace and happiness.
Prince Rainier I of Monaco
As the legend goes, in 1297, Prince Rainier I of Monaco agreed to help his stepfather, Francesco Grimaldi, capture the Rock of Monaco - a monolith on the Mediterranean coast of the state. In 1304, Rainier I was appointed admiral of France after winning the Battle of Zierikzee, a naval battle between a Flemish fleet and an allied Franco-Hollandic one. After having fought with his fleet against that of Flanders for the liberation of Holland, Prince Rainier I of Monaco is said to have abducted a beautiful Flemish maiden to celebrate his victory.
Legenda has it that Rainier forced himself upon the maiden, and she took her revenge by putting a curse upon him and all his descendants. She is said to have proclaimed, “Never will a Grimaldi find happiness in marriage.” That said, another version of the myth is that the curse was cast by a witch who was burnt at the stake on the prince's orders. Regardless, the dynasty has been rather unlucky in love and marriage ever since.
Claudine of Monaco
Claudine was the only child of Blanche del Carretto and Catalan Grimaldi, making her his heiress. In his will, Catalan instructed that Claudine should marry her cousin Lamberto Grimaldi di Antibes in order to ensure that the Grimaldi family keeps the throne of Monaco. Claudine eventually tied the knot with Lambert on August 29, 1465, but the nuptials apparently weren't done right. Albeit their union was described as a "happy one," the Grimaldi curse followed their children.
When Lambert died in 1494, their son Jean II became Lord of Monaco. However, Jean was murdered in 1505 by his own brother Lucien, who became Monaco’s ensuing ruler. Claudine, who is said to have witnessed her son end the life of his own brother, warned on her deathbed that no Grimaldi should ever form an alliance with a foreign power.
Louis I, Prince of Monaco
Yet another royal marriage that broke down was that of Louis I, Prince of Monaco, who tied the knot with Catherine Charlotte de Gramont in 1660. Catherine was known as a beautiful and witty woman but also had several lovers. Even after marrying Louis I, she is said to have continued carrying on extramarital affairs during the couple's stay in Paris.
Louis I and Catherine regularly attended the French court, where the latter continued a relationship she formerly had with her cousin Antonin Nompar, as well as with other French royal members, including King Louis XIV of France. She eventually earned the nickname “Catherine the Torrent" and was described as a woman who was "greedy for pleasure." She finally left Louis I in 1666 and became the mistress of King Louis XIV.
The Grace Kelly tragedy
Kelly's marriage to Prince Rainier III is perhaps the most notable victim of the Grimaldi curse. The Academy Award-winning actress left her Hollywood career after taking the holy vows with Monaco’s monarch in 1956. The sensational union shot the Grimaldi family to global fame, and despite being seen as a "real-life fairytale wedding," the royal marriage was a lot more complicated. The Hollywood beauty is said to have largely struggled with the strict demands and expectations of being a royal.
The marriage tragically ended in 1982, when the former actress died in a car accident at the age of 52. It later emerged that Kelly had suffered a stroke while driving with her daughter Stephanie. The shocking loss was a major blow to Monaco's royal family. Prince Rainier III never married again despite living for another 23 years. Furthermore, Kelly's death popularized the royal family curse and many speculated that the legend was real.
Is the Grimaldi family curse real?
The curse on the House of Grimaldi is easily one of the most famous curses in history. The hex's legend continued to haunt some of the Grimaldi family members for years to come, including Prince Albert II and Princesses Stephanie and Caroline, Kelly and Rainier III’s offspring. Some say that Prince Albert’s marriage to former athlete Charlene is not a happy one.
The South African swimmer couldn't contain her tears on the day of the wedding, and the couple has been apart in recent years. Albert lives in Monaco and his wife is in South Africa. The royal couple only meets occasionally for photo opportunities. While some believe the legend is mere superstition, others think that the spell is very real and that the curse will torment Monaco’s royals for centuries, according to Cultura Collectiva.