Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1913.djvu/1171

 MONACO 104.9

MONACO.

Prince Albert, born November 13, 1848; aucceeded his father, Prince Charles III., September 10, 1889; married (1) to Lady Mary Douglas Hamilton, September 21, 1869; ^ (2) to Alice Duchess-Dowager de Richelieu. Son by first wife, Prince Louis, born July 12, 1870.

Monaco is a small Principality on the Mediterranean, surrounded since 1860 by the French Department of Alpes Maritimes excej^t on the side towards the sea. From 968 it belonged to the house of Grimaldi. In 1715 it passed into the female line, Louise Hippolyte, daughter of Antony I., heiress of Monaco, marrying Jacques de Goyon Matiguon, Count of Thorigny, who took the name and arms of Grimaldi. Antony I died in 1731, Louise Hippolyte reigning only ten mouths and dying in 1732. She was succeeded by her husband under the name of Jacques L, who also succeeded Antony I. as Due de Valentinois, and was in his turn succeeded by his son Honorius III. This Prince was dispossessed by the French Revolution in 1792, and died in 1795, In 1814 the Principality was re-established, but placed under the protection of the Kingdom of Sardinia by the Treaty of Vienna (1815),

In 1848 Mentone and Roccabruna revolted, and declared themselves free towns; in 1861 Charles III. ceded his rights over them to France, and the Principality thus became geographically an enclave of France, when the Sardinian garrison was withdrawn and the Protectorate came to an end.

The Prince was an absolute ruler, there having been no elective representa- tion within the Principality. But on January 7, 1911, a Constitution was pro- mulgated, which provides for a National Council elected by universal suffrage and scrutin de listr'. The Government is carried out under the authority of the Prince by a Ministry assisted by a Council of State. The legislative poAver is exercised by the Prince and the National Council, which consists of 21 members elected for four years. The territory of the Principality is divided into three communes, administered by municipal bodies, in the election of which women are entitled to take part.

In 1819 the Government adopted a code founded upon the French codes and a Court of First Instance, as well as a Juge de Paix's Court, The Principality has its own coinage (it issues only 100-franc pieces) which is current since 1876 in all the States of the Latin Union; it also issues its own separate postage-stamps.

The area is eight square miles. Population, 19,121. Towns: Monaco, 2,410; La Condamine, 6,218; Monte Carlo, 3,794.

There has been since 1887 a Roman Catholic bishop. A semi-military police force has taken the place of the ' guard of honour ' and troops formerly maintained. The value of the commerce of the Principality is not stated. Im- ports are coal and wine; olive oil, oranges, citrons, and perfumes are exported. The industries and trade are unimportant, and the revenue is mainly derived from the gaming tables. The annual grant for the concession is 70,000?., in 1917 it will be 80,000Z., in 1927 90,0007., and in 1937 100,000Z.

Oonsul-General for Monaco in London. — Th. Lumley.

British Consul. — J. W. Keogh (residing at Nice).

BrifAsh Vice-Consul. — C. J. Sim (residing at Monaco). Books of Reference.

Baedeker's Southern France. 5th ed. Leipzig, 1907.

Boyer de Ste. Suzanne (R. de), La Principante de Monaco. Paris, 1884.

France (H.), An Pays de Cocagne: La Principaute de Monaco. Paris, 1001.

Harris (J. C), Monaco: Pieces Histori(jues et Traites. Nice, 1882.

Saige (G.), Monaco, ses Origines et son Histolre. Paris, 1898

Schaefier (P.), Les Institutions et les Lois de la Principaute de Sfonaco. Monaco, 187.5

Smith (A.), Monaco and Monte Carlo. London, 1912.

Tdxil (L.), Monaco. Paris, 1905.

1 The religions marriage was annulled by the Apostolic See on January 3, 1880, and the civil marriage declared dissolved by decree of the reigning Prince on July 28, 18S0.