History of Monaco in 7 dates
1297 - Capture of Monaco by François Grimaldi
It was in 1297 that the history of the Grimaldis joined that of Monaco. During this period, Genoa was embroiled in internal struggles between Guelphs and Ghibellines. On the night of 8 January, the Guelph François Grimaldi, known as "Malizia", disguised himself as a monk and used trickery to seize the fortress.
It is from this feat of arms that the Grimaldi coat of arms is flanked by two monks brandishing a sword, and the statue in the Place du Palais recalls this founding episode.
1866 - Creation of Monte-Carlo
Prince Charles III played a key role in the development of the Principality, notably by giving his name to the new town that sprang up on the Spélugues plateau.
As early as 1858, he conceived the idea of a district dedicated to sea bathing and leisure activities. This ambitious project quickly took shape with the construction of the famous Casino de Monte-Carlo and the Hôtel de Paris, inaugurated in 1863 and 1864. In his honour, Charles III officially named the area "Monte-Carlo". Hotels, cafés and restaurants soon followed. In this way, Charles III laid the foundations for modern Monaco.
1911 - First constitution under Albert I
Responding to the aspirations of his population, Prince Albert I introduced an institutional organisation. In 1911, the Principality of Monaco adopted a constitution and entered the world of modern politics.
The 1911 constitution organised the government and established a division of legislative power between the Prince and a National Council whose members were elected from among Monegasque citizens.
The 1962 constitution, under the reign of Rainier III, moved towards greater respect for fundamental political, economic and social freedoms. Women were granted the right to vote in all elections and the death penalty was abolished.
1949 - Accession of Rainier III to the throne
Rainier III was only 26 when he succeeded his grandfather, Prince Louis II. He thus became the youngest sovereign in Europe.
That same year, the Principality signed the Convention on Accession to UNESCO, the UN agency responsible for culture, education and science.
It was also the start of major development projects. Rainier III, the "Prince Builder", decided to revitalise Monaco by giving it a new lease of life. This policy of major works was so important that it enabled Monaco to expand by more than 1/5th of its surface area.
1956 - The wedding of Rainier III
Some unions go down in history... The marriage between Rainier III and Grace Kelly is still remembered today. After being introduced on the Rock in 1955, the Hollywood star decided to become a crowned head for love a year later.
This unique union became the first crowned wedding to be broadcast on television: a live black-and-white broadcast watched by 30 million viewers, with 1,800 journalists on hand.
1993 - Monaco joins the UN
Having held observer status since 1956, the Principality became the 183rd Member State of the United Nations on 28 May 1993, after joining UNESCO as previously established, the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 1948 and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in 1957.
A policy dear to Prince Rainier III, who wanted Monaco to play a full part in the concert of nations. In 2004, the Principality joined the Council of Europe.
2005 - Prince Albert II accedes to the throne
At the age of 47, Albert II was enthroned in the throne room following the death of Rainier III on 6 April 2005. It was a moment that left a lasting impression on the people of Monaco, who had gathered in the Place du Palais for the occasion. From the start of his reign, the Prince showed his commitment to the environment, a fight that would become one of the priorities of his policy.
Bonus - 2050 - Carbon neutrality
Because history is important, but the future is essential: let's opt for a futuristic date. 2050 is the year in which Monaco hopes to achieve carbon neutrality, as announced in 2015 at the 21st United Nations Climate Change Conference.
Under the leadership of the Sovereign Prince, Monaco is pursuing a determined policy of sustainable development. The Principality is working hard towards this goal and has also announced an interim target of reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030.