Aurelia ,Duchess of Valentinois was born in 1620 in the Republic of Genoa, daughter of Luca Spinola, grandson of Gioffredo, Prince of Molfetta, and of Pellina Spinola, daughter Giovanni Battista Spinola, 1st Duke san Pietro
She was co heir of her paternal uncle Gio Stefano Doria and brother of Brigida Spinola, who Rubens made immortal in 1606.
When Ercole Grimaldi, asked for her hand, his father secretly referred to Cardinal Richelieu to ensure that the Spanish garrison based in Monaco was removed, while shifting the balance of the Principality's alliances toward France. The goal of the marriage was to deceive Spain.
The marriage was celebrated in Monaco on July 7, 1641 and the celebrations lasted three days. On November 17, 1641, Prince Honore succeeded in a coup d'état to remove the Spanish garrison and on November 24 a French garrison occupied Monaco . The position of Aurelia was already delicate, seen at Court as a spy and a possible traitor of the Monaco's pro-French politics.
Although Ercole did not have an easy character, often impulsive and jealous, Aurelia had an happy marriage and they had 7 children. When in 1651 Ercole Grimaldi died Aurelia, against the will of her parents, decided, to remain in Monaco despite feeling isolated and unarmed. Relations with her father-in-law had deteriorated .
To satisfy the wishes of her mother she left Monaco to visit Genoa with her family except the eldest son Louis. Sadly Luc, her younger son, fell ill and died in Genoa at the age of 4 and was buried there. She found herself once again in the midst of the intrigues of her father-in-law, who wanted her to take care of her children in Monaco and her mother, Pellina, who wanted her to be married again. A contract was agreed ,Honore proposed to pay 10.000 escudos a year for Aurelia to remain a widow and return to his court. Aurelia's parents accepted.
In 1656 Luca Spinola, father of Aurelia, died of the plague In the same year, Honore exiled Aurelia, stripping her of her titles and accusing her of "betraying" the fidelity due to the Court of France. Aurelia left for Paris with the intention to assert her rights directly in the presence of the King during this time Honore II died.
The death of Honore represented the beginning of a period of tranquillity for Aurelia, after a tormented life. In 1663, Pellina Spinola died in Genoa and Aurelia found herself to be a rich heiress with her only sister Veronica . In 1664, after moving to Genoa to the Palazzo of Via Garibaldi, Aurelia found herself facing yet another obstacle: A costly litigation against her sister over the inheritance of her parents.
By 1666 Aurelia finally had her titles, her land, her businesses, but in 1667 she began to suffer from abdominal pain. In search of relief she visited Provence, Montpellier, Marseille and Monaco, where she was warmly welcomed. She remained for a short time in Aix en Provence and died there in on September 29, 1670. Her heart and brain were offered to the Abbey of La Celle, while her body was transported to Genoa and buried in the church of Santa Teresa, watched over by two of her daughters who were nuns, in the Convent of the "Carmelitane Scalze". She divided her patrimony equally among her children, whether they had married or chosen a religious life.
From the inscription at the church of Santa Teresa in Genoa "HIC Aurelia Spinola DUX VALENTINENSIS plumbea cauditur Arca : Noblitate exuberans, piate fervens, Virtutibus florens"(here rests in the lead coffin Aurelia Spinola, Duchess of Valentinois: Exuberant by nobility, fervent in piety, flourishing for virtues).) .
"…In Genoa, on the high ground of Monte Galletto (we are in the district of Via Balbi that dominates the city and the port), near the current Porta Principe Station, a barracks of the Guardia di Finanza, the glorious "Santa Teresa", once home to the Royal School of Marina of the Reign of Sardinia, is still active today. In fact, "Santa Teresa" was not built as a military barracks, but it was a monastery of the "Carmelitane scalze" nuns, with annexed church ."
She was co heir of her paternal uncle Gio Stefano Doria and brother of Brigida Spinola, who Rubens made immortal in 1606.
When Ercole Grimaldi, asked for her hand, his father secretly referred to Cardinal Richelieu to ensure that the Spanish garrison based in Monaco was removed, while shifting the balance of the Principality's alliances toward France. The goal of the marriage was to deceive Spain.
The marriage was celebrated in Monaco on July 7, 1641 and the celebrations lasted three days. On November 17, 1641, Prince Honore succeeded in a coup d'état to remove the Spanish garrison and on November 24 a French garrison occupied Monaco . The position of Aurelia was already delicate, seen at Court as a spy and a possible traitor of the Monaco's pro-French politics.
Although Ercole did not have an easy character, often impulsive and jealous, Aurelia had an happy marriage and they had 7 children. When in 1651 Ercole Grimaldi died Aurelia, against the will of her parents, decided, to remain in Monaco despite feeling isolated and unarmed. Relations with her father-in-law had deteriorated .
To satisfy the wishes of her mother she left Monaco to visit Genoa with her family except the eldest son Louis. Sadly Luc, her younger son, fell ill and died in Genoa at the age of 4 and was buried there. She found herself once again in the midst of the intrigues of her father-in-law, who wanted her to take care of her children in Monaco and her mother, Pellina, who wanted her to be married again. A contract was agreed ,Honore proposed to pay 10.000 escudos a year for Aurelia to remain a widow and return to his court. Aurelia's parents accepted.
In 1656 Luca Spinola, father of Aurelia, died of the plague In the same year, Honore exiled Aurelia, stripping her of her titles and accusing her of "betraying" the fidelity due to the Court of France. Aurelia left for Paris with the intention to assert her rights directly in the presence of the King during this time Honore II died.
The death of Honore represented the beginning of a period of tranquillity for Aurelia, after a tormented life. In 1663, Pellina Spinola died in Genoa and Aurelia found herself to be a rich heiress with her only sister Veronica . In 1664, after moving to Genoa to the Palazzo of Via Garibaldi, Aurelia found herself facing yet another obstacle: A costly litigation against her sister over the inheritance of her parents.
By 1666 Aurelia finally had her titles, her land, her businesses, but in 1667 she began to suffer from abdominal pain. In search of relief she visited Provence, Montpellier, Marseille and Monaco, where she was warmly welcomed. She remained for a short time in Aix en Provence and died there in on September 29, 1670. Her heart and brain were offered to the Abbey of La Celle, while her body was transported to Genoa and buried in the church of Santa Teresa, watched over by two of her daughters who were nuns, in the Convent of the "Carmelitane Scalze". She divided her patrimony equally among her children, whether they had married or chosen a religious life.
From the inscription at the church of Santa Teresa in Genoa "HIC Aurelia Spinola DUX VALENTINENSIS plumbea cauditur Arca : Noblitate exuberans, piate fervens, Virtutibus florens"(here rests in the lead coffin Aurelia Spinola, Duchess of Valentinois: Exuberant by nobility, fervent in piety, flourishing for virtues).) .
"…In Genoa, on the high ground of Monte Galletto (we are in the district of Via Balbi that dominates the city and the port), near the current Porta Principe Station, a barracks of the Guardia di Finanza, the glorious "Santa Teresa", once home to the Royal School of Marina of the Reign of Sardinia, is still active today. In fact, "Santa Teresa" was not built as a military barracks, but it was a monastery of the "Carmelitane scalze" nuns, with annexed church ."
Aurelia ,Duchess of Valentinois was born in 1620 in the Republic of Genoa, daughter of Luca Spinola, grandson of Gioffredo, Prince of Molfetta, and of Pellina Spinola, daughter Giovanni Battista Spinola, 1st Duke san Pietro
She was co heir of her paternal uncle Gio Stefano Doria and brother of Brigida Spinola, who Rubens made immortal in 1606.
When Ercole Grimaldi, asked for her hand, his father secretly referred to Cardinal Richelieu to ensure that the Spanish garrison based in Monaco was removed, while shifting the balance of the Principality's alliances toward France. The goal of the marriage was to deceive Spain.
The marriage was celebrated in Monaco on July 7, 1641 and the celebrations lasted three days. On November 17, 1641, Prince Honore succeeded in a coup d'état to remove the Spanish garrison and on November 24 a French garrison occupied Monaco . The position of Aurelia was already delicate, seen at Court as a spy and a possible traitor of the Monaco's pro-French politics.
Although Ercole did not have an easy character, often impulsive and jealous, Aurelia had an happy marriage and they had 7 children. When in 1651 Ercole Grimaldi died Aurelia, against the will of her parents, decided, to remain in Monaco despite feeling isolated and unarmed. Relations with her father-in-law had deteriorated .
To satisfy the wishes of her mother she left Monaco to visit Genoa with her family except the eldest son Louis. Sadly Luc, her younger son, fell ill and died in Genoa at the age of 4 and was buried there. She found herself once again in the midst of the intrigues of her father-in-law, who wanted her to take care of her children in Monaco and her mother, Pellina, who wanted her to be married again. A contract was agreed ,Honore proposed to pay 10.000 escudos a year for Aurelia to remain a widow and return to his court. Aurelia's parents accepted.
In 1656 Luca Spinola, father of Aurelia, died of the plague In the same year, Honore exiled Aurelia, stripping her of her titles and accusing her of "betraying" the fidelity due to the Court of France. Aurelia left for Paris with the intention to assert her rights directly in the presence of the King during this time Honore II died.
The death of Honore represented the beginning of a period of tranquillity for Aurelia, after a tormented life. In 1663, Pellina Spinola died in Genoa and Aurelia found herself to be a rich heiress with her only sister Veronica . In 1664, after moving to Genoa to the Palazzo of Via Garibaldi, Aurelia found herself facing yet another obstacle: A costly litigation against her sister over the inheritance of her parents.
By 1666 Aurelia finally had her titles, her land, her businesses, but in 1667 she began to suffer from abdominal pain. In search of relief she visited Provence, Montpellier, Marseille and Monaco, where she was warmly welcomed. She remained for a short time in Aix en Provence and died there in on September 29, 1670. Her heart and brain were offered to the Abbey of La Celle, while her body was transported to Genoa and buried in the church of Santa Teresa, watched over by two of her daughters who were nuns, in the Convent of the "Carmelitane Scalze". She divided her patrimony equally among her children, whether they had married or chosen a religious life.
From the inscription at the church of Santa Teresa in Genoa "HIC Aurelia Spinola DUX VALENTINENSIS plumbea cauditur Arca : Noblitate exuberans, piate fervens, Virtutibus florens"(here rests in the lead coffin Aurelia Spinola, Duchess of Valentinois: Exuberant by nobility, fervent in piety, flourishing for virtues).) .
"…In Genoa, on the high ground of Monte Galletto (we are in the district of Via Balbi that dominates the city and the port), near the current Porta Principe Station, a barracks of the Guardia di Finanza, the glorious "Santa Teresa", once home to the Royal School of Marina of the Reign of Sardinia, is still active today. In fact, "Santa Teresa" was not built as a military barracks, but it was a monastery of the "Carmelitane scalze" nuns, with annexed church ."
She was co heir of her paternal uncle Gio Stefano Doria and brother of Brigida Spinola, who Rubens made immortal in 1606.
When Ercole Grimaldi, asked for her hand, his father secretly referred to Cardinal Richelieu to ensure that the Spanish garrison based in Monaco was removed, while shifting the balance of the Principality's alliances toward France. The goal of the marriage was to deceive Spain.
The marriage was celebrated in Monaco on July 7, 1641 and the celebrations lasted three days. On November 17, 1641, Prince Honore succeeded in a coup d'état to remove the Spanish garrison and on November 24 a French garrison occupied Monaco . The position of Aurelia was already delicate, seen at Court as a spy and a possible traitor of the Monaco's pro-French politics.
Although Ercole did not have an easy character, often impulsive and jealous, Aurelia had an happy marriage and they had 7 children. When in 1651 Ercole Grimaldi died Aurelia, against the will of her parents, decided, to remain in Monaco despite feeling isolated and unarmed. Relations with her father-in-law had deteriorated .
To satisfy the wishes of her mother she left Monaco to visit Genoa with her family except the eldest son Louis. Sadly Luc, her younger son, fell ill and died in Genoa at the age of 4 and was buried there. She found herself once again in the midst of the intrigues of her father-in-law, who wanted her to take care of her children in Monaco and her mother, Pellina, who wanted her to be married again. A contract was agreed ,Honore proposed to pay 10.000 escudos a year for Aurelia to remain a widow and return to his court. Aurelia's parents accepted.
In 1656 Luca Spinola, father of Aurelia, died of the plague In the same year, Honore exiled Aurelia, stripping her of her titles and accusing her of "betraying" the fidelity due to the Court of France. Aurelia left for Paris with the intention to assert her rights directly in the presence of the King during this time Honore II died.
The death of Honore represented the beginning of a period of tranquillity for Aurelia, after a tormented life. In 1663, Pellina Spinola died in Genoa and Aurelia found herself to be a rich heiress with her only sister Veronica . In 1664, after moving to Genoa to the Palazzo of Via Garibaldi, Aurelia found herself facing yet another obstacle: A costly litigation against her sister over the inheritance of her parents.
By 1666 Aurelia finally had her titles, her land, her businesses, but in 1667 she began to suffer from abdominal pain. In search of relief she visited Provence, Montpellier, Marseille and Monaco, where she was warmly welcomed. She remained for a short time in Aix en Provence and died there in on September 29, 1670. Her heart and brain were offered to the Abbey of La Celle, while her body was transported to Genoa and buried in the church of Santa Teresa, watched over by two of her daughters who were nuns, in the Convent of the "Carmelitane Scalze". She divided her patrimony equally among her children, whether they had married or chosen a religious life.
From the inscription at the church of Santa Teresa in Genoa "HIC Aurelia Spinola DUX VALENTINENSIS plumbea cauditur Arca : Noblitate exuberans, piate fervens, Virtutibus florens"(here rests in the lead coffin Aurelia Spinola, Duchess of Valentinois: Exuberant by nobility, fervent in piety, flourishing for virtues).) .
"…In Genoa, on the high ground of Monte Galletto (we are in the district of Via Balbi that dominates the city and the port), near the current Porta Principe Station, a barracks of the Guardia di Finanza, the glorious "Santa Teresa", once home to the Royal School of Marina of the Reign of Sardinia, is still active today. In fact, "Santa Teresa" was not built as a military barracks, but it was a monastery of the "Carmelitane scalze" nuns, with annexed church ."
Gravesite Details
Church of St Teresa demolished 1810. Her heart and brain buried at La CELLE Abbey
Family Members
Children
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