Starting in the 13th century, Monaco history links to that of the ruling Grimaldi family.
The coat of arms of Monaco represents two monks brandishing swords. It alludes to the conquest of Monaco in 1297.
From 1215 Monaco had been a colony of Genoa. Lanfranco Grimaldi conquered the fortress of Monaco entering the city with soldiers dressed as Franciscan monks, with swords hidden under their frocks. The Grimaldi motto “Deo Juvante” meaning “With God's help” is also related to the 1297 capture. The House of Grimaldi ruled Monaco ever since, except when under French control, from 1789 to 1814. In 1815, Monaco was designated a protectorate of Sardinia and in 1861 Monaco's sovereignty was recognized by the Franco-Monegasque Treaty.
Until the constitution of 1911, the Prince of Monaco was an absolute ruler.
In July 1918, a treaty was signed that stipulates limited French protection over Monaco. The treaty also established that Monaco's policy would be aligned with that of France following French political, military and economic interests.
In 1949 Prince Rainier III acceded to the throne following Prince Louis II, his grandfather. Prince Albert, was born in 1958.
In 1963 a new constitution was proclaimed. It abolished capital punishment, guaranteed fundamental liberties by establishing a Supreme Court.
In 1993 Monaco became an official member of the United Nations.
In 2002, the constitution was revised stipulating that the Grimaldis retain the throne even if the male Grimaldi dynasty die out.
Old History Inheritance
The Principality's Name
Yet the older history of Monaco goes very long ago. Initially, Monaco was a Ligurian city from times unknown, in prehistory. The Ligures occupied the rock for three hundred years. During the ninth century the Phoenicians and then the Greeks came in these places and built a temple honoring Hercules. With ancient writers, the name of Hercules is almost always associated with the name “Monoikos”, “Heracles Monoikos” meaning in Greek “Heracles alone” or “Heracles who has only one temple” and from Monoikos derived the principality's name of Monaco.
St. Devote — the Patron Saint of the Principality
The most celebrated event that had been sacredly kept over the centuries happened during the Diocletian persecutions: a young Corsican Christian named Devote, was executed by order of governor Barbarus. Devote's body was placed at the bottom of a boat destined for Africa but the boat was brought back to Monaco's shores by the wind. A dove emanating from the mouth of the young woman indicated the burial place, near the small valley of Gaumates. A church was erected in dedication to Saint Devote who became the protector and the Patron Saint of the Principality.