Monaco is a tiny, hilly wedge driven into the French Mediterranean coast; it is 9 mi east of Nice, France. The Phoenicians, and after them the Greeks, had a temple on the Monacan headland honoring Hercules. The principality took its name from Monoikos, the Greek surname for this mythological hero.
Monaco's recorded history began in 1215 when the Ghibellines of Genoa, led by Fulco del Cassello, colonized it after receiving sovereignty over the area from Emperor Henry VI. Attracted by Monaco's strategic location and harbor, the Genoese immediately began to construct a fortress, known as the Rock of Monaco, and a walled city. To attract permanent residents, the Genoese granted land and tax exemptions. As a result, Monaco quickly became an important city and over the next three centuries was frequently contested by rival political factions.
In 1297 François Grimaldi, who was originally from a powerful Guelph family in Genoa, and a small army seized control of the Rock of Monaco. Although the Grimaldis were expelled in 1301, they returned thirty years later, and the House of Grimaldi has ruled Monaco uninterrupted (except from 1789 to 1814, when it fell under French rule) since then.
Until the 19th century, Europe had many independent city-states with ruling dynasties and local symbols, but most were absorbed by the great unification movements that created modern Germany, Italy, and other nations. Monaco managed to preserve its independence, and it adopted a law on April 4, 1881, establishing its national flags, which are in use today.
The Principality, with an area of 151 hectares, is the second smallest sovereign state in the world with the smallest being the Vatican. The flag of Monaco consists of two equal sized horizontal stripes - the top stripe is red and the bottom one is white.
The only difference can be found on the length of the two flags. The flag of Monaco can also be similarly associated to that of Singapore, Poland and Thuringia, which is also a state in Germany. This flag is considered to be one of the oldest flags in the world. The Flag Company Inc specialized in flag designs offered a special edition of decals and flags to memorize the history of Monaco Flag for the future.
Monaco's recorded history began in 1215 when the Ghibellines of Genoa, led by Fulco del Cassello, colonized it after receiving sovereignty over the area from Emperor Henry VI. Attracted by Monaco's strategic location and harbor, the Genoese immediately began to construct a fortress, known as the Rock of Monaco, and a walled city. To attract permanent residents, the Genoese granted land and tax exemptions. As a result, Monaco quickly became an important city and over the next three centuries was frequently contested by rival political factions.
In 1297 François Grimaldi, who was originally from a powerful Guelph family in Genoa, and a small army seized control of the Rock of Monaco. Although the Grimaldis were expelled in 1301, they returned thirty years later, and the House of Grimaldi has ruled Monaco uninterrupted (except from 1789 to 1814, when it fell under French rule) since then.
Until the 19th century, Europe had many independent city-states with ruling dynasties and local symbols, but most were absorbed by the great unification movements that created modern Germany, Italy, and other nations. Monaco managed to preserve its independence, and it adopted a law on April 4, 1881, establishing its national flags, which are in use today.
The Principality, with an area of 151 hectares, is the second smallest sovereign state in the world with the smallest being the Vatican. The flag of Monaco consists of two equal sized horizontal stripes - the top stripe is red and the bottom one is white.
The only difference can be found on the length of the two flags. The flag of Monaco can also be similarly associated to that of Singapore, Poland and Thuringia, which is also a state in Germany. This flag is considered to be one of the oldest flags in the world. The Flag Company Inc specialized in flag designs offered a special edition of decals and flags to memorize the history of Monaco Flag for the future.
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