Why does monaco exist

Historically, Monaco was defined by its most significant and really only landmark: the Monaco cliff. The Monaco cliff is, as the name suggests, a cliff jutting out into the Mediterranean. It was historically used as a fortification and there are signs that people have inhabited the place for at least 30, years.

The name Monaco comes from the name of a Greek colony from the 6th century BC, which was called there Monoikos. The modern history of Monaco, if you will call it that, dates back to the 12th century. It was part of the Holy Roman Empire. In , a genocidal nobleman named Francesco Grimaldi, with the help of several other men dressed as Franciscan monks, took over the fortress, which lay on the Monaco cliff.

This was the beginning of the rule of the Grimaldi family in Monaco, which is still in place today. It did not stay in Grimaldi hands for long. It was eventually taken back by Genoa, who then lost it to the Kindom of Aragon in the 14th century. Monaco was not completely independent. While Prince was recognized as a sovereign prince by the French, they were also vassals of the French king.

They continued in this quasi-sovereign state until the beginning of the French Revolution, when Monaco was completely annexed by France. France recognized the existence of a sovereign Monaco and provided 4. France also took responsibility for the defense of Monaco. Monaco used to be much bigger, even though it was still pretty small in the big schedule. It stretched all the way to the modern Italian border and included the present French cities of Menton and Roquebrune.

The treaty also stipulated that if the House of Grimaldi did not have a male heir, Monaco would return to France. The Rock of Monaco is, as the name implies, a rock that juts out into the Mediterranean sea. It was historically used as a fortification and there is evidence that humans have inhabited the site for at least 30, years. The modern history of Monaco, if you want to call it that, dates back to the 12th century.

It was part of the Holy Roman Empire. In , a Genoese nobleman by the name of Francesco Grimaldi, with the help of several other men dressed as Franciscan Monks, took over the fortress which was on the Rock of Monaco. This was the beginning of the Grimaldi family rule of Monaco, which still is in place today.

It was eventually taken back by Genoa, who then lost it to the Kindom of Aragon in the 14th century. While Prince was recognized as a sovereign prince by the French, they were also vassals to the French king.

They continued in this quasi-sovereign state until the onset of the French Revolution when Monaco was totally annexed by France. After the downfall of Napoleon, the Congress of Vienna reestablished Monaco as a sovereign entity as a protectorate of the Kingdom of Sardinia.

The real independence of Monaco came with the signing of the Franco-Monegasque Treaty of France recognized the existence of a sovereign Monaco and gave 4. France also took responsibility for the defense of Monaco. Monaco used to be much larger, although still pretty small in the big scheme of things. It extended all the way to the modern Italian border and included the current French cities of Menton and Roquebrune. The treaty also set that if the House of Grimaldi did not have a male heir, then Monaco would return to France.

This clause was subsequently removed in subsequent treaties. In , Monaco adopted a constitution taking away the absolute power of the Prince, although still giving him more power than most European monarchs. In the second world war, it had the distinction of being invaded by the Italians in , and then by the Germans in after the fall of Mussolini. Most people after the war knew of Monaco for one thing and one thing only. Good read and interesting thinking Expand full comment.

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This site requires JavaScript to run correctly. Please turn on JavaScript or unblock scripts. Ned Donovan Jul 30, Comment 7. Expand full comment 1 Reply. The black tie casino and Formula 1 racing circuit principality is located between France and the Mediterranean Sea, just a few miles from the Italian border. On June 10, , a detachment of Genoese Ghibellines foes of the Guelphs, which will matter , began construction of a fortress on a rocky outcrop in what is now Monaco.

The Rock of Monaco in The Ghibellines sought to encourage development around the fortress to sustain the military installation and invited other Genoese to migrate to the area. One of the groups to come over was a faction of the Grimaldis, a prominent Guelph family from Genoa. The Grimaldi family has ruled Monaco ever since with a short intermission under French control during the French Revolution.

Monaco started as a vassal state of Genoa, but ultimately became a city state in its own right. Fending off nearby powerful kingdoms, the principality confirmed its independence from Spain in and from France in through the Treaty of Peronne.

Monaco was liberated in September Relative size: Monaco is the second smallest of the five European microstates, after the State of Vatican City, and is smaller than the National Mall the evolution of which we described here.