History of Monaco

Monaco is currently an independent principality. The history which binds it to the Grimaldi lasts since 1297.

Prehistory

The Saint Martin's day cave delivered traces of prehistoric occupation.

Antiquity

The site of the principality was occupied by the Ligures. Named Greek colony Monoikos (= only one house) mentioned by Diodore of Sicily.

The Middle Ages

Buckwheats occupy the coast until in 975.
A fortress starts to be built the June 10th 1215 by Genoa, which establishes a colony on the site. This authority is recognized by the emperor Frederic Barberousse then by Henri VI.

Beginnings of the Grimaldi dynasty

The January 8th 1297, François Grimaldi, descendant of Otto Grooved consul of Genoa in 1133, seizes the fortress. Although having a small army, he disguises himself as a monk franciscain to penetrate there, before opening with his soldiers. From this episode is born its nickname, Malizia , and them weapons of Monaco, two franciscains armed with a sword.

François is party of the Guelfes (supporting the pope), which have just been severely beaten close to Genoa. He is driven out by it in 1301. His/her cousin Rainier Ier, father of Jean Ier, overcomes the Dutchmen with Zieriksee (1304) with his fleet of galères which it put at the service Philippe Beautiful the. He is named large Admiral France. The dynasty serves French monarchy accurately. Charles Ier leads a company of principal rafters to the battle of Crécy, then tries to help by sea the French camp with the Siège of Calais in 1346.

Fights against Genoa

The September 12th 1331, Charles Ier occupies the city. In 1357, Charles Ier dies in the seat carried out by Génois Simon Boccanegra. The totality of the principality is then joined together with Genoa, except for Menton, is defended by the son of Charles, Rainier II. The seigniory of Menton is acquired in 1346 and that of Roquebrune in 1355.

This one takes again Roquebrune quickly. Its sons Ambroise, Antoine and Jean, all coseigneurs (exceptional institution with the Middle Ages), take again Monaco. Jean preserves then only Monaco and Condamine. He fights continuously against Genoa. His/her Catalan son survives to him only three years, and its grand-daughter marries Grimaldi of Antibes, Lambert. This one obtains in 1489 the recognition of its independence by the king of France and the duke of Savoy, which puts an end to the fights with Genoa. This one tackles the principality only in 1509, which resists to him victoriously during a long seat.

Modern time

Lucien dies assassinated in 1523 by his cousin Barthélemy Doria. He leaves only one son in low-age, Honore, whose supervision is entrusted to his/her uncle Augustin, bishop of Fatty, which was recognized lord. Augustin not finding near François Ier the support granted before Grimaldi, it places the Rock under Spanish protectorate in 1524. A Spanish garrison is thus with the load of Grimaldi during more than one century.

The son of Honore, Honore II, put under the supervision of prince de Valdetare, takes the title of prince in 1612. He turns over to the Alliance Fran1caise by the treaty of Péronne signed in 1641 and negotiated near Richelieu. The prince expels manu militari the Spanish garrison, and obtains the duchy of Valentinois (Dauphiné), the Viscount of Carlat (Auvergne) and the marquisat of the Baux (Provence). These new sources of revenue, plus the economy made on the maintenance of the Spanish garrison, allow the embellishment of the palate.

Louis Ier order his regiment Monaco-Cavalry and obtains the embassy at the Holy See until in 1701.

Revolutions

After the night of the August 4th 1789, the princes of Monaco lose all their French possessions, and the incomes which come from it. The Popular Company militates for fastening with the Republic, decided by the Convention the February 15th 1793.

The only interlude in the autonomy of Monaco is the period of 1793 with 1814 during which Monaco is integrated into France, under the name of Fort of Hercules . It belongs to the the Alpes-Maritimes, then is attached to the district of Sanremo.

A family member, Marie-Therese de Choiseul-Praslin, perish guillotinée at 27 years, in company of André Chénier. Other family members are useful in the revolutionary army.

The treaty of Paris of the May 30th 1814 replaces Monaco in the situation of 1789. But whereas Honore IV arrives on the Rock in March 1815 to take possession of it, it is stopped by Pierre Cambronne: it is the beginning of the Hundred Days.

Monaco is then under protectorate of the kingdom of Sardinia by the second treated of Paris (November 20th 1815), confirmed by the treaty of Stupinigi in 1817.

In 1848, Chin and Roquebrune (today Roquebrune-Cape-Martin) raise and proclaim free cities. At the time of the treaty of 1861, they are attached to France. The independence of Monaco is formally recognized, apart from any protection of France or Italy.

Contemporary time

This last treaty envisaged the assistance of France for the construction of the Average cornice, and the passage of the railroad on the territory Monegasque (with two stations).

The Company of the Sea bathings and the Circle from Abroad is founded in 1863, with François Blanc at his head, to bring incomes to the Court, by a casino, hotels, a theater. Charles III, which impels all this work, re-elects the district of Spélugues Monte Carlo in its own honor. The completion of the railroad Nice - Vintimille in 1868 ensures prosperity of it. This allows the construction of an opera in 1869, several museums, the foundation of the oceanographical institute in 1906.
It founds an administration of the Stations, which publishes its own stamps as of 1865, obtains from the Holy See the creation of one évêché, opens consulates abroad.

The first rally of Monte Carlo takes place in 1911, the first automobile Grand Prix in 1929.

The Prince de Monaco has the full powerss until the constitution of 1911. In July 1918, a treaty is signed granting a limited protection of the principality by France. The treaty belongs to the Traité of Versailles and establishes that the policy of Monaco will not be able to be opposed to the political interests, military and economic of France.

A strange neutrality

detailed Article: History of Monaco during the Second world war

Recent time

Prince Rainier III, reaches the throne after the death of his grandfather the Prince Louis II in 1949. A new constitution is written in 1962, abolishing the capital punishment, authorizing the vote of the women, setting up a supreme court guaranteeing fundamental freedoms and making difficult the transfer of its residence for a French citizen (retroactively since November 1st, 1957).

In 1971, the first stone of the district of Fontvieille is posed, it acts of a district gained on the sea. In 1993, Monaco becomes officially member of the the United Nations.

In 2002, a new treaty between France and Monaco stipulates that the principality will remain an independent State if there would be no descendant in the dynasty.

In 2005, Prince Rainier III dies the April 6th. His/her son Albert Grimaldi was established on November 19th under the name of Albert II.

See too

History of the House Grimaldi
List of the sovereigns of Monaco

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