The Feniciërs founded the principality Monaco. Monaco was first called Herculis Monoeci Porta. Monaco was a real property of the Provence in the middle ages, but after some time the ownership moved up to the graves of Toulouse. Raymond VI of Toulouse gave Monaco to Genua in 1174. Francesco Grimaldi conquered the principality Monaco in 1297. The Grimaldi's were an influential family, who were chased away from Genua and so they came to live happily in Monaco. Monaco came in a permanent ownership of the Grimaldi's and they increase their piece of land by buying Menton and Roquebrune in the 14th century. Monaco came under Spanish protection in 1524, which would change in 1641. Monaco came as agreed in the treaty of Péronne under French protection. The House Grimaldi disappeared in 1731 and was succeeded by the House Goyon de Matignon-Grimaldi. France annexed Monaco from 1792 to 1814. Monaco came under protection by the king of the island Sardinië in 1815. Menton and Roquebrune became independent of Monaco in 1848. Menton and Roquebrune became a part of France after Karel III of Monaco had sold his ownership of the two places to France. In the same year the protection of the Sardinian king also finished. Monaco asked France voluntary wither they would give Monaco protection and Monaco became an absolute monarchy. Meanwhile Monaco was well known, because it was a centre of games of chance. These games of chance were played in the famous casino. Below you can see a photo of it.
Because Monaco earned a lot of money with the games of chance, they did realise that the habitants of Monaco didn't have to pay taxes. That's why many famous rich people live in Monaco. Albert I (1889-1922) made the first liberal constitution in 1911, which he changed in 1917. There came agreements between Monaco and France in 1918, which said that France inherited the principality if the Royal family would die out. The supervision of France was called Amitié protectrice de la France. The constitution of Albert I was changed by Lodewijk II (1922-1949) in 1930. The German soldiers occupied Monaco during the Second World War, because they wanted to strengthen the coast. The 26 year-old Rainier III has ruled the principality of Monaco since 1949. Rainier III married the 27 year-old American filmstar Grace Kelly in 1956. Rainier III dissolved the National Council and cancelled the constitution. The council came together on 28th of March 1962. A new constitution was established on the 17th of December 1962. A crisis with France, which was caused by the difference between the taxes of Monaco and France was fixed by an agreement that said that people, who lived in France first to live five years in Monaco before they were allowed to pay taxes of Monaco. Rainier's wife Grace Kelly died by a car-crash on a way in the mountains in 1982. Monaco became member of the United Nations in 1993. They aren't fully member, but they have only a permanent observer. The Grimaldi's celebrate their 700th-year anniversary in 1997. Prins Rainier III was in 1999 50 year the ruler of Monaco and his successor will be Prins Albert.
