François Grimaldi

François Grimaldi, known as 'François le Malin', was a 13th-century nobleman who cleverly captured the fortress of Monaco in 1297, establishing the Grimaldi family’s rule over the region. Dressed as a Franciscan monk, he used cunning tactics to oust the Gibelins, securing Monaco's allegiance to the papacy and laying the foundation for the Grimaldi dynasty that would continue to rule Monaco for centuries.