Giuseppe Brignole

Giuseppe Maria Brignole Sale (1703–1769) was a Genovese nobleman and father of Maria Caterina Brignole, Princess of Monaco and later Princess of Condé. He was the Marquis of Groppoli. The reigning Albert II of Monaco is a direct descendant.

Brignole was the son of Anton Giulio Brignole (1673–1710) and Isabella Brignole, one of the most powerful and wealthy families in the Republic of Genoa. Brignoles own older brothers Gian Francesco Brignole (1695–1760) and Rodolfo Giulio Brignole (1708–1774) acted as Doges of Genoa.

At the premature death of his older brother Gian Giacomo, Brignole married his own sister in law Maria Anna Balbi, a member of the powerful Balbi family. Balibi would later the a mistress of Honoré III, Prince of Monaco, the couple's first son-in-law. She was also the mistress of the maréchal de Richelieu.

Like his brothers, Brignole acted as ambassador to the Palace of Versailles. When his wife took their young daughter to Versailles, his wife became an instant success and would frequent the palace and Paris as much as she could. While at Versailles, his wife started an affair with the young Honoré III, Prince of Monaco and when she suggested that their daughter marry her ex lover, Brignole refused fearing for his reputation. Honoré III pressured for seventeen months but then opened negotiations to marry the daughter of the Duke of La Vallière. However, the French King Louis XV spoiled the relations between Honoré III and the Duke of La Vallière. Negotiations then changed and their daughter Maria Caterina married Honrore III by Proxy on 15 June 1757. Mother and daughter then went to Monaco by ship.