Monaco is one of the wealthiest regions on the planet. Around 30 percent of the population are millionaires – the majority of whom are not Monegasque, Monaco’s native people. Crown Prince Albert rules over the region, with his Grimaldi family dynasty’s roots having extremely close ties to the land.
These ties, however, only span the last 800 years.
Albert’s ancestors invaded the region in the 13th century.
The significant historical event was brought to light during the BBC’s Inside Monaco documentary in which narrator Fred Sirieix briefly retold the bizarre yet fascinating story.
He explained: “Nearly 800 years ago Prince Albert’s ancestors captured this fortress with an army disguised as monks.
“The family has ruled Monaco ever since and have kept hold of the army.”
It wasn’t as simple as this, however, with a brief power struggle engulfing Albert’s distant ancestor.
The man responsible for the Prince’s current power and the Grimaldi family dynasty becoming synonymous with Monaco is Francesco Grimaldi.
Known as Malizia – The Malicious One or The Cunning One – Francesco led an army of men disguised as Franciscan monks into the region.
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Monaco had initially been granted by Emperor Henry VI in 1191 to the colony of Genoa.
The Genoese – whom the Grimaldi Family were a part of – were distraught and furious with Francesco, and sought to reclaim the territory.
In a few years, the Genoese launched an attack on Albert’s ancestors – a struggle which lasted for a century.
As the Genoese became preoccupied with other land battles in the late 1300s, the colony began to lose its grip on Monaco.
It finally lost the land after its unsuccessful conflict with the Crown of Aragon over Corsica.
The Grimaldis, over 100 years after they had lost Monaco, purchased it from the Crown of Aragon.
They became the official and undisputed rulers of the Rock of Monaco.
And, the rest is history.
