"Rainier III, Prince of Monaco Rainier III (Rainier Louis Henri Maxence Bertrand Grimaldi; 31 May 1923 – 6 April 2005) ruled the Principality of Monaco for almost 56 years, making him one of the longest ruling monarchs in European history. Though internationally known for his marriage to American actress Grace Kelly, he was also responsible for reforms to Monaco's constitution and for expanding the principality's economy beyond its traditional casino gambling base. Gambling accounts for only approximately three percent of the nation's annual revenue today; when Rainier ascended the throne in 1949, it accounted for more than 95 percent. Rainier"
"current head of the family is Albert II of Monaco, Sovereign Prince of Monaco, son and successor of Prince Rainier III and the princess consort Grace of Monaco, formerly Grace Kelly. The Grimaldis descend from Grimaldo, a Genoese statesman at the time of the early Crusades. He may have been a son of Otto Canella, a consul of the Republic of Genoa in 1133. In turn Grimaldo became a consul in 1160, 1170 and again in 1184. His numerous descendants led maritime expeditions throughout the Mediterranean, the Black Sea, and soon the North Sea. They quickly became one of the"
"family that ruled the Kingdom of Württemberg until 1918. The Urachs lived in Stuttgart and at Lichtenstein Castle. His father's mother was Princess Florestine of Monaco (1833–98), and he was named Albrecht after her nephew Albert I, Prince of Monaco. His family were the legitimate heirs presumptive to Monaco's throne between 1911 and 1918 (See Monaco Succession Crisis of 1918). Before 1911 his father was intended to inherit Monaco, as the son of his cousin Albert I, Prince of Monaco had no legitimate children. In particular, from 1914 and the First World War, France could not tolerate a possible U-boat"
"remain remotely in the line of succession for the French dukedom of Polignac). The current Prince's complete titles and styles are, in precedent order of rank: ""Prince(ss) of Monaco"" is a title also given to legitimate members of the princely family of Monaco. It is distinct from the ruling Prince's title ""Sovereign Prince of Monaco"", currently Albert II, or with the title of the heir apparent or presumptive to the throne, currently Hereditary Prince Jacques. Charlene, Gabriella, Caroline, and Stephanie, are given Princess titles, as the wife and daughters of a sovereign prince. Monarchy of Monaco The Sovereign Prince ()"
"House of Grimaldi The House of Grimaldi is associated with the history of the Republic of Genoa, Italy, and of the Principality of Monaco. The Grimaldi dynasty is a princely house originating in Italy, founded by the Genoese leader of the Guelphs, Francesco Grimaldi, who in 1297 took the lordship of Monaco along with his soldiers dressed as Franciscans. In that principality his successors have reigned to the present day. During much of the Ancien Regime the family spent much of its time in the French court, where from 1642 they used their French title of Duke of Valentinois. The"
"shortened title is ""His Serene Highness Albert II, Sovereign Prince of Monaco""; this does not include the many other styles claimed by the Grimaldi family. Albert II, Prince of Monaco Albert II (Albert Alexandre Louis Pierre Grimaldi; born 14 March 1958) is the reigning monarch of the Principality of Monaco and head of the princely house of Grimaldi. He is the son of Prince Rainier III and the American actress Grace Kelly. Prince Albert's sisters are Caroline, Princess of Hanover, and Princess Stéphanie. In July 2011, Prince Albert married Charlene Wittstock. Prince Albert II is one of the wealthiest royals"
"was succeeded instead by Adolphe. In a referendum held on 28 September 1919, 80.34 per cent voted in favor of keeping the monarchy. The current monarch is Henri. Monaco has been ruled by the House of Grimaldi since 1297. From 1793 until 1814, Monaco was under French control; the Congress of Vienna designated Monaco as being a protectorate of the Kingdom of Sardinia from 1815 until 1860, when the Treaty of Turin ceded the surrounding counties of Nice and Savoy to France. Menton and Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, part of Monaco until the mid-19th century before seceding in hopes of being annexed by"
"escaped arrest and fled to Switzerland. In August 1944, the Germans executed René Borghini, Joseph-Henri Lajoux and Esther Poggio, who were Resistance leaders. Under Prince Louis' secret orders, the Monaco police, often at great risk to themselves, warned in advance those people whom the Gestapo planned to arrest. The country was liberated, as German troops retreated, on 3 September 1944. The current ruler, Prince Albert II, succeeded his father Prince Rainier III in 2005. Prince Rainier, in turn, had acceded to the throne following the death of his grandfather, Prince Louis II, in 1949. The revised Constitution of Monaco, proclaimed"
"Albert II, Prince of Monaco Albert II (Albert Alexandre Louis Pierre Grimaldi; born 14 March 1958) is the reigning monarch of the Principality of Monaco and head of the princely house of Grimaldi. He is the son of Prince Rainier III and the American actress Grace Kelly. Prince Albert's sisters are Caroline, Princess of Hanover, and Princess Stéphanie. In July 2011, Prince Albert married Charlene Wittstock. Prince Albert II is one of the wealthiest royals in the world, with assets valued at more than $1 billion, which include land in Monaco and France. Although Prince Albert does not own the"
"Article I of Monaco's house law requires that the reigning Prince or Princess bear the surname of Grimaldi. The coat of arms of the House of Grimaldi is simply described as ""fusily argent and gules"", i.e., a red and white diamond pattern, with no further modifiers. The Royal Family of Monaco is related by its ancestors with houses including: House of Baden, House of Lorraine, House of Wurtemberg, House of Hannover, Polignac, Ducal House of Hamilton, House of Urach, House of Métrode-Westerloo, House of Bavaria, House of Liechtenstein, of Hesse and an ancestor Guillermo Carlos Florestán Gero Crescencio who had"
"Monaco succession crisis of 1918 The Monaco succession crisis of 1918 arose because France objected to the prospect of a German national inheriting the throne of the Principality of Monaco. Prince Albert I had only one legitimate child, the Hereditary Prince Louis, then heir apparent to the principality. As World War I drew to a close, Prince Louis, at the age of forty-eight, remained (legally) childless, unmarried, and unbetrothed. Louis' nearest legitimate next of kin was Prince Albert I's first cousin Wilhelm, 2nd Duke of Urach (1864–1928). He was born in Monaco in 1864, and was largely raised there as"
"characterised the Monaco Grand Prix as contributing ""an exceptional location of glamour and prestige"" to motorsport. The Grand Prix has been run under the patronage of three generations of Monaco's royal family: Louis II, Rainier III and Albert II, all of whom have taken a close interest in the race. A large part of the principality's income comes from tourists attracted by the warm climate and the famous casino, but it is also a tax haven and is home to many millionaires, including several Formula One drivers. Monaco has produced four native Formula One drivers - Louis Chiron, André Testut,"
"Coat of arms of Monaco The coat of arms of Monaco refers to the arms of dominion of the Sovereign Prince of Monaco in right of Monaco. The shield is blazoned (described in the technical language of heraldry) as ""fusily"" (or ""lozengy"") ""argent"" and ""gules"". The monks supporting the shield in the coat of arms allude to the conquest of Monaco in 1297, when François Grimaldi entered the city with soldiers dressed as monks, with swords hidden under their cassocks. The collar surrounding the shield represents the Order of Saint-Charles. The Grimaldi family's motto, ""Deo Juvante"", is Latin for ""With"
"specified that, should there be no heirs to carry on the Grimaldi dynasty, the principality would still remain an independent nation rather than revert to France. Monaco's military defence, however, is still the responsibility of France. On 31 March 2005, Rainier III, who was too ill to exercise his duties, relinquished them to his only son and heir, Albert. He died six days later, after a reign of 56 years, with his son succeeding him as Albert II, Sovereign Prince of Monaco. Following a period of official mourning, Prince Albert II formally assumed the princely crown on 12 July 2005,"
"Monegasque heraldry The heraldry of Monaco, a state of just two-square kilometers, is dominated by the royal heraldry of the ruling family, the House of Grimaldi. Its dynastic head, Albert II, utilises the same arms borne by his ancestors. The ruler does not regularly award titles; indeed, it has not happened at all in the last two reigns. The coat of arms of Monaco, blazoned ""Fusily argent and gules"", is shown supported by two armed monks. These reflect the original conquest of Monaco by the Grimaldi family. In full, it is defined as: The shield lozengy argent and gules, surrounded"
"right to the throne as they are descended from an all-male line from Alessandro Maria Grimaldi, an exile from Genoa, himself a direct descendant of Otto Canella, the father of Grimaldo Canella, who started the patronymic ""Grimaldi."" Until 2002, a treaty between Monaco and France stated that if the reigning Prince ever failed to leave dynastic offspring, then sovereignty over the Grimaldi realm would revert to France. The 2002 agreement modified this to expand the pool of potential heirs to dynastic collaterals of the reigning Prince (excluding adoptive heirs, hitherto allowed, e.g. Princess Charlotte and her descendants), guaranteeing Monegasque independence."
"about 30% of the population was made up of millionaires. Monaco is a principality governed under a form of constitutional monarchy, with Prince Albert II as head of state. Although Prince Albert II is a constitutional monarch, he wields immense political power. The House of Grimaldi have ruled Monaco, with brief interruptions, since 1297. The official language is French, but Monégasque, Italian, and English are widely spoken and understood. The state's sovereignty was officially recognized by the Franco-Monegasque Treaty of 1861, with Monaco becoming a full United Nations voting member in 1993. Despite Monaco's independence and separate foreign policy, its"
"On 1 June 2016, fifteen thousand 2 euro coins were issued by Monaco; commemorating the 150th anniversary of the foundation of Monte Carlo by Charles III Charles III, Prince of Monaco Charles III (8 December 1818 – 10 September 1889) was Prince of Monaco and Duke of Valentinois from 20 June 1856 to his death. He was the founder of the famous casino in Monte Carlo, as his title in Monegasque and Italian was Carlo III. He was born in Paris Charles Honoré Grimaldi, the only son of Florestan I of Monaco and Maria Caroline Gibert de Lametz. While he"
"Louis I, Prince of Monaco Louis I, Prince of Monaco (25 July 1642 in Prince's Palace of Monaco – 3 January 1701 in Rome) was Prince of Monaco from 1662 until 1701. ""Louis Grimaldi"" was the elder son of Prince Hercule of Monaco and Maria Aurelia Spinola. Louis married Catherine Charlotte de Gramont, daughter of Marshal Antoine III de Gramont, on 30 March 1660 in Pau. They had six children: In 1662 Louis succeeded his grandfather Honoré II as Prince of Monaco. In 1666 he distinguished himself at the Four Days' Battle between the English and Dutch fleets. On 5"
"Louis I, Prince of Monaco Louis I, Prince of Monaco (25 July 1642 in Prince's Palace of Monaco – 3 January 1701 in Rome) was Prince of Monaco from 1662 until 1701. ""Louis Grimaldi"" was the elder son of Prince Hercule of Monaco and Maria Aurelia Spinola. Louis married Catherine Charlotte de Gramont, daughter of Marshal Antoine III de Gramont, on 30 March 1660 in Pau. They had six children: In 1662 Louis succeeded his grandfather Honoré II as Prince of Monaco. In 1666 he distinguished himself at the Four Days' Battle between the English and Dutch fleets. On 5"
"Rainier I of Monaco, Lord of Cagnes Rainier I of Monaco (1267–1314) was the first sovereign Grimaldi ruler of the area now known as Monaco. He also held the title of ""Lord of Cagnes"". Cagnes was the town where in 1309 he established a stronghold, today known as the Château Grimaldi. Additionally, he was Baron of San Demetrio (Kingdom of Naples). He was the eldest of the three sons of Lanfranco Grimaldi, French Vicar of Provence, by his wife, Aurelia del Carretto (who later remarried her husband's nephew, François Grimaldi). Rainier joined his stepfather (François) and a group of men"
"Charlotte Casiraghi Charlotte Marie Pomeline Casiraghi (born 3 August 1986) is the second child of Caroline, Princess of Hanover, and Stefano Casiraghi, an Italian industrialist. She is eleventh in line to the throne of Monaco. Her maternal grandparents were Rainier III, Prince of Monaco, and American actress Grace Kelly. She is named after her maternal great-grandmother, Princess Charlotte, Duchess of Valentinois. She was christened on 20 September 1986. Her godparents are Albina du Boisrouvray and Stefano Casiraghi's brother-in-law, Massimo Bianchi. Charlotte and her two brothers, Andrea and Pierre, were born in the Mediterranean Principality of Monaco, ruled by their maternal"
"its Grand-Master. Monegasque heraldry The heraldry of Monaco, a state of just two-square kilometers, is dominated by the royal heraldry of the ruling family, the House of Grimaldi. Its dynastic head, Albert II, utilises the same arms borne by his ancestors. The ruler does not regularly award titles; indeed, it has not happened at all in the last two reigns. The coat of arms of Monaco, blazoned ""Fusily argent and gules"", is shown supported by two armed monks. These reflect the original conquest of Monaco by the Grimaldi family. In full, it is defined as: The shield lozengy argent and"
"God's Help"". Coat of arms of Monaco The coat of arms of Monaco refers to the arms of dominion of the Sovereign Prince of Monaco in right of Monaco. The shield is blazoned (described in the technical language of heraldry) as ""fusily"" (or ""lozengy"") ""argent"" and ""gules"". The monks supporting the shield in the coat of arms allude to the conquest of Monaco in 1297, when François Grimaldi entered the city with soldiers dressed as monks, with swords hidden under their cassocks. The collar surrounding the shield represents the Order of Saint-Charles. The Grimaldi family's motto, ""Deo Juvante"", is Latin"
"moved to Monaco where we found security for both ourselves and our business”, he said during an interview with French magazine L’Express. The Marzocco Group was founded in the 1960s by Domenico Marzocco, father of Claudio Marzocco. The same year Claudio Marzocco was kidnapped, after moving to Monaco, he established the Marzocco Group in Monaco, which was soon oriented as a real estate development company specializing in luxury buildings. The Marzocco group, which is fully owned and managed by members of the Marzocco family, is now considered one of Monaco's leading real-estate development companies. Claudio Marzocco is the current company's"
"Charles III, Prince of Monaco Charles III (8 December 1818 – 10 September 1889) was Prince of Monaco and Duke of Valentinois from 20 June 1856 to his death. He was the founder of the famous casino in Monte Carlo, as his title in Monegasque and Italian was Carlo III. He was born in Paris Charles Honoré Grimaldi, the only son of Florestan I of Monaco and Maria Caroline Gibert de Lametz. While he was Hereditary Prince, Charles was married on 28 September 1846 in Brussels to Countess Antoinette de Mérode-Westerloo. He succeeded his father Prince Florestan I in 1856."
"1716. Their great-granddaughter, Louise Félicité Victoire d'Aumont, duchesse Mazarin et de La Meilleraye (1759–1826), married Honoré IV, Prince of Monaco in 1777. From this marriage, the present Sovereign Princes of Monaco, including Prince Albert II of Monaco, are descended. Hortense Mancini Hortense Mancini, Duchesse de Mazarin (6 June 1646 – 2 July 1699), was a niece of Cardinal Mazarin, chief minister of France, and a mistress of Charles II, King of England, Scotland and Ireland. She was the fourth of the five famous Mancini sisters, who along with two of their female Martinozzi cousins, were known at the court of"
"Princess Stéphanie of Monaco Princess Stéphanie of Monaco, Countess of Polignac (Stéphanie Marie Elisabeth Grimaldi; born 1 February 1965) is the youngest child of Rainier III, Prince of Monaco, and the American actress Grace Kelly. She is the younger sister of Albert II, Prince of Monaco, and Caroline, Princess of Hanover. Currently 13th in the line of succession to the Monegasque throne, she has been a singer, swimwear designer and fashion model. Stéphanie was born to Rainier III and Grace Kelly on 1 February 1965 at Prince's Palace in Monaco. She is the youngest of their three children, after Caroline"
"an older half-sister, Jazmin Grace Grimaldi, and an older half-brother, Alexandre Grimaldi-Coste, from their father's previous relationships. The new Hereditary Prince was christened Jacques Honoré Rainier. Princess Charlene revealed that she chose the name Jacques, a name that is common in her homeland. The names Honoré and Rainier are common among previous rulers of Monaco. He received the title Marquis of Baux from his father. The twins were baptised at the Saint Nicholas Cathedral, Monaco on 10 May 2015. At this occasion, he was awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of Grimaldi (Ordonnance Souveraine #5306 of 10 May 2015)."
"Jacques, Hereditary Prince of Monaco Jacques, Hereditary Prince of Monaco, Marquis of Baux (Jacques Honoré Rainier Grimaldi; born 10 December 2014), is the heir apparent to the Monegasque throne. He is the son of Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene and twin brother of Princess Gabriella. On 30 May 2014, it was announced that Princess Charlene was pregnant. After much speculation it was confirmed, on 9 October 2014, that the couple was expecting twins by the end of the year. On November 21, 2014, the palace announced that each twin would have the right to a salvo of 21 cannon"
"Monaco, and his wife, former American actress Grace Kelly, Casiraghi was named after his father's childhood friend, his maternal uncle Prince Albert and his maternal great-grandfather Prince Pierre, Duke of Valentinois. Casiraghi's godparents are his maternal aunt Princess Stéphanie and his paternal uncle, Marco Casiraghi. His sister Charlotte was born on 3 August 1986, and his brother Pierre on 5 September 1987. On 3 October 1990, Casiraghi's father died in a speedboat accident in Monaco. He was buried several days later in Monaco's Chapel of Peace. Princess Caroline did not know how to tell her children that their father had"
"Princess Charlotte, Duchess of Valentinois Princess Charlotte of Monaco, Duchess of Valentinois (Charlotte Louise Juliette Grimaldi; 30 September 1898 – 15 November 1977), was the daughter of Louis II, Prince of Monaco, and the mother of Rainier III, Prince of Monaco. From 1922 until 1944, she was the Hereditary Princess of Monaco, heir presumptive to the throne. Born Charlotte Louise Juliette de Monaco in Constantine, French Algeria, she was the illegitimate daughter of Marie Juliette Louvet, a cabaret singer, and Louis Grimaldi, then Hereditary Prince of Monaco and Duke of Valentinois, son and heir of Monaco's reigning prince, Albert I."
"Jacques I, Prince of Monaco Jacques Goÿon de Matignon (Jacques François Léonor; 21 November 1689 – 23 April 1751) was Count of Thorigny, Prince of Monaco as Jacques I, and the fourth Duke of Valentinois from 1731 until 1733. Jacques came from an ancient Norman family. ""Thorigny"" is now called Torigni-sur-Vire, where the ""Mairie"" is the former family chateau. His uncle was Marshal Charles Auguste de Goÿon de Matignon. He was a son of Jacques Goÿon de Matignon, ""jure uxoris"" Comte de Thorigny, and Charlotte Goyon de Matignon, Comtesse de Thorigny ""suo jure"". When Antonio I of Monaco and his"