The Heraldic Crown of Monaco

The Grimaldi's connection with Monaco dates from 1297 when François Grimaldi, known as "the Spiteful", captured the Rock from the Genoese, who had fortified it since 1215.

Although François was soon expelled, a kinsman bought the lordship of Monaco in 1338 and soon afterwards added the nearby villages of Roquebrune and Menton. The Grimaldis were again chased off the Rock by the Genoese in 1355 but re-purchased Monaco in 1419.

The Grimaldis lost their principality during the French Revolution, when Monaco became part of the Alpes Maritimes département of France. It was restored to them in 1814. In 1861 Menton and Roquebrune were ceded to France after France and Sardinia had joined forces to throw the Austrians out of Italy, but Monaco itself emerged from these negotiations with its independence confirmed.

Meanwhile Prince Charles III, or more accurately his mother Princess Caroline, had hit upon the means of restoring the Grimaldis' fortunes by introducing a casino in 1857.

The Société des Basins de Mer was set up to run the enterprise, with the stipulation that no native Monégasque should be allowed into the casino. The business did not prosper until the injection of Rothschild money made possible the building of hotels, and of a new casino which opened in 1864. So Monte Carlo (named after Prince Charles) was born.

In 1923 Prince Rainier became the first Grimaldi heir to be born in Monaco since 1758. He went on to become Europe's longest reigning monarch until his death on 4th April 2005. Educated at Stowe school in England, Le Rosey in Switzerland and Montpellier University Prince Rainier III, together with his film star wife, Grace Kelly (killed in a car accident in 1982), were responsible for Monaco's remarkable economic growth during the second half of the 20th century.

Prince Albert, born in 1958, succeeded his father in Apri 2005. A treaty drawn in 1918 grants th tiny state on Monaco to the Grimaldi family until there are no more heirs. In 2002 the constitution was changed so that the title can pass through the female line if Prince Albert remains childless.

The Coat of Arms of the Grimaldi family is topped by an eight arched duchal crown which became Monaco's symbol of sovereignty.