Jacques I, Prince of Monaco

Jacques François Léonor Goyon de Matignon (November 21 1689 – April 23 1751) was count of Thorigny and as Jacques I , Prince of Monaco from 1731 until 1733. He was son of Jacques III Goyon de Matignon, count of Thorigny and Charlotte Goyon de Matigny.

Jacques came from an ancient Norman family. His uncle was Marshal of France Charles-Auguste de Goyon-Matignon.

When Antonio I of Monaco was looking for a wedding partner for his daughter and heir Louise Hippolyte, the family proposed him as a candidate. The prospect of his own Principality was very attractive and his candidacy was supported by King Louis XIV, who wanted to consolidate the French influence in Monaco.

Jacques and Louise Hippolyte married on October 20 1715 and had eight children:

*Antoine Charles (December 16 1717 – February 24 1718)
*Charlotte Therese Nathalíe (March 19 1719), nun
*Honoré Camille Léonor (1720 – 1795), prince of Monaco 1733-1795
*Charles (January 1 1722 – August 24 1749)
*Louise Francisca (July 15 1724 – September 15 1729)
*François-Charles (February 4 1726 – December 9 1743)
*Charles-Maurice (May 14 1727 – January 18 1798); ∞ (November 10 1749) Marie Christine de Rouvrois (May 1728 – July 15 1774)
*Louise Francisca Therese (July 20 1728 – June 20 1743)

The marriage wasn't very happy. Jacques preferred to stay more in Versailles than in Monaco, where he had several mistresses.

After the death of Antonio I of Monaco, Louise Hippolyte traveled from Paris to Monaco on April 4 1731 and received an enthusiast reception by the population. When Jacques joined her few time later, the reception was much colder.

At the end of 1731, Louise Hippolyte died of smallpox. Jacques I neglected the affairs of state and, under pressure from the population, had to leave the country in May 1732. He abdicated in favor of his son Honoré the next year.

He spent the last years of his live in Versailles and Paris. His Paris residence was named after him Hôtel Matignon and is today the official residence of the Prime Minister of France.