Sovereign: Albert II Prince of Monaco (Monaco, March 14, 1958).
Son of Prince Rainier III of Monaco (1923-2005) and Grace Kelly (1929-1982).
Succeeds his father Rainier III Prince of Monaco (1923-April 6th, 2005).
Inauguration: Monaco, July 12th, 2005.
Motto: Deo Juvante (With the help of God).
Religion: Roman Catholic.
Unmarried
Address:
Palais Grimaldi
2 Boulevard des Moulins
98015 Monte Carlo
Monaco
Titles: The titles of the Prince of Monaco come under the French law. According to this French law the titles are not hereditary in female line and are in fact already since a long time legally lost for the family. Seen legitimate Prince Rainier III should only have had the right to bear the title of his father: Count de Polignac. However the titles he and the Prince bear are Prince of Monaco, Duke of Valentinois, Estouteville, Mazarin, Mayenne, Prince of Château-Porcien, Marquis of Les Baux and of Chilly, Count of Carladès, Torigni, Ferrette, Belfort, Longjumeau, Thann and Rosemont, Baron of Le Buis, Altkirch, and Saint-Lô, Lord of Saint-Rémy, Matignon and Isenheim. The oldest son is titled Crown Prince and is Marquis of Les Baux. Everyone who bears the name of Grimaldi by birth, marriage or adoption is Prince(ss) of Monaco. They are His/Her Serene Highness.
Succession: The throne of Monaco is hereditary with the right of the first-born. Male heirs are in front of the female heirs.
History
Monaco now is the smallest monarchy in Europe. At the end of the 12th century the counts of Provence became landlords of Monaco, but already in 1162 and 1191 the Emperor gave Monaco to Genua which built a fortress on the rock above the Mediterranean Sea. In 1297 the power in Genua came in new hands and the supporters of the former reigning family, amongst them the Grimaldi family, were forced into exile. Francesco Grimaldi tried to gain land for his family and set his eye on Monaco. With Christmas 1306 Francesco and his brother Rainier dressed as monks were able to enter Monaco and let their armed troups in. Since 1331 the Grimaldi's named their selves Lord of Monaco. For two centuries Genua tried to get Monaco back. Not earlier than 1482 King Louis XI of France put the land under protection. He recognized the independency of Monaco that was confirmed again in 1489 and 1512, also by the count of Savoy. In 1524 the Emperor himself recognized the country. The title Prince of Monaco appears for the first time in an official document in 1612 and was formally recognized by France in 1641. The Princes of Monaco had obtained Menton and Roquebrune around this time. King Louis XIII also gave Prince Hercule of Monaco the titles of Duke of Valentinois, Marquess of Les Baux and Count of Carladès. In 1731 the Grimaldi family died out in male line for the first time, with Antoine I. His daughter Louise-Hippolyte, who was married to Jacques de Goyon-Matignon, followed him.
The Princes of Monaco lived in Paris most of the time and visited Monaco almost never. In 1792 Monaco declared herself loyal to the French Republic. Prince Honoré III was captured, also his oldest son. The youngest son fled out of the country and the Prince's wife ended her life at the guillottine. Finally in 1815 the Grimaldi's got the power in Monaco again. The revolution of 1848 also reached Monaco. Menton and Roquebrune came to France. Under Prince Charles III the modernization of Monaco began. In the second half of the 19th century a new town was built, Monte Carlo, and Monaco tried to attract tourists. A casino was built and also hotels and theatres. Albert I followed and stimulated sciences. He also founded Interpol, the international organization for criminal police. In 1919 the dynasty was in danger of dying out again. The heir to the throne, Louis, adopted his illegitimate daughter Charlotte who became Princess of Monaco and Duchess of Valentinois. She married Pierre Count de Polignac, who became Prince of Monaco, and got two children: Antoinette (1920) and Rainier (1923). Charlotte abdicated in 1944 in favour of her son who followed her father Prince Louis II in 1949. Rainier III married the American actress Grace Kelly in 1956. They got three children: Caroline (1957), Albert (1958) and Stéphanie (1965). In 2005 Albert became Prince Albert II.
The Princes of Monaco
| Louise-Hippolyte (1697-1731) | 1731 |
| Jacques I (1689-1751) | 1731-1733 |
| Honoré III (1720-1795) | 1733-1795 |
| Honoré IV (1758-1819) | 1795-1819 |
| Honoré V (1778-1841) | 1819-1841 |
| Florestan I (1785-1856) | 1841-1856 |
| Charles III (1818-1889) | 1856-1889 |
| Albert I (1848-1922) | 1889-1922 |
| Louis II (1870-1949) | 1922-1949 |
| Rainier III (1923-2005) | 1949-2005 |
| Albert II (1958- ) | 2005- |