History of Monaco

History of Monaco Some of the first inhabitants of Monaco were most likely people from nearby Liguria, in modern-day Italy. The name Monaco, once a Greek port, comes from the Greek word monoïkos, which means “alone.” The Romans were interested in the area because it was an ideal location for a port on the Riviera and easily defendable. Julius Caeser departed from Monaco on his way to fight against the Greeks. During Roman occupation, Monaco was also known to be a regular stop for Phoenician and Carthaginian sailors. After the fall of the Roman Empire in the 5th century AD, the region was regularly visited by the Saracens until the 10th century. In 1215, the Genoese established a fort in the main section of Monaco, now known as the Rock, or Monaco Ville. Later in the century, the Grimaldis, a prominent family expelled from Genoa, took refuge in the region. In 1297, Francois Grimaldi and a band of supporters disguised as Franciscan monks took control of the fort on the Rock. Possession of Monaco went back and forth between different Genoese families for over 30 years until the Grimaldis finally took permanent possession in 1341. From 1525 until 1641, Monaco was under the protection of Spain. During this period, Monaco became a principality, with its reigning sovereign granted the title of prince. During the French Revolution, Monaco was annexed by France and called Fort Hercules. Monaco regained independence from France in 1814, near the end of the Napoleonic Wars. The following year, it was placed under the protection of the King of Sardinia. In 1861, the principality ceded the nearby towns of Menton and Roquebrune— which represented80 percent of Monaco’s land mass at the time—to France in exchange for a formal treaty establishing its independence and making France its protector. In the decades that followed, Monaco laid the foundations of the industries that would become its hallmarks: upscale tourism and casino gambling. In 1864, the Hotel de Paris was built in Monte Carlo, named after Charles III, the ruling prince at the time. In 1878, the Monte Carlo Casino was built, and in the following year, the Opera House. During the reign of Albert I, Charles III’s son, the Automobile Club and the Oceanographic Institute were founded. After Albert I passed away in 1922, he was succeeded by Louis II. Under Louis’s reign, the first Monaco Grand Prix took place, and the Jardin Exotique (Exotic Garden) was opened. Monaco was initially occupied by Italy, then Germany, during World War II. Page 1 of 2 History of Monaco In 1949, Prince Rainier III ascended to the throne. Prince Rainier later met American actress Grace Kelly; they married in 1956. Under Prince Rainier and Princess Grace, Monaco became renowned for both business and glamour. A new constitution was written in 1962, which extended the vote to women, established a supreme court, and abolished capital punishment. A major project was started in 1971 to reclaim land from the Mediterranean in order to create the Fontvieille district and provide neighboring Cap D’Ail in France with its own port. Grace Kelly helped establish numerous cultural and philanthropic organizations and events. She attracted many famous and wealthy people from the United States and abroad to enjoy life in the principality. Tragedy struck in 1982 when Princess Grace was killed in a car accident. Monaco became a member of the United Nations in 1993.In 2004, the principality became a member of the Council of Europe. After over 55 years as the sovereign prince, Prince Rainier III passed away in 2005. His son, Prince Albert II, succeeded him. Major challenges for Monaco include managing growth, fostering business development, dealing with environmental challenges, and promoting transparency in Monaco’s banking system. References: “Principality of Monaco.” CultureGrams World Edition. 2008. Page 2 of 2 .

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