At first glance, it is tempting to refer to Monaco as a city-state, or a single municipality that has achieved political soveriegnty. Such city-states usually lack a national characteristic or identity. However, Monaco is more properly referred to as a micro-nation, a state that does possess such a national identity but lacks a significant territorial jurisdiction and population. Monaco may be termed a micro-nation instead of a city-state because its history has given rise to a culture and language completely unique to the state. Though French is the dominant language used in Monaco, an obscure but jealously guarded local dialect known as Monegasque - a blend of Provencal French and Genoese Italian - is spoken throughout and taught in Monaco's schools. The longevity of Monaco's sovereignty, over seven hundred years, gives the city a history completely separate from the neighboring French or the Italian Genoese from which the Monegasque ruling family came. It is from the heraldric traditions associated with this family, the Grimaldis, that Monaco's national flag has evolved.
In the 13th century, Europe was engulfed in a religious civil war that pitted the supporters of the Pope against the supporters of the Holy Roman Emperor. Few cities were more intwined in the intrigues of this brutal war than was Genoa, where supporters of the Pope (known as the Guelphs) and supporters of the Emperor (known as the Ghibelline) fought openly in the streets and the countryside. For many years it appeared that the Ghibelline were winning the war. As part of the defense of the city of Genoa, they built a fortress on a rock along the Provence coast that had previously been fortified by both the Phoenicians and the Greeks (who called the place Monoikos). Determined that they should take this fortress from the Ghibelline, the Guelphs led by Francois Grimaldi diguised themselves as monks, but caried their weapons under their habits. The party was allowed entry into the fortress by the unsuspecting defenders only to be surprised by the deception. As a result of their trick, Grimaldi was able to take the fortress from the Ghebellilne, achieving a major victory that turned the tide of the war in favor of the Pope's forces. His victory is still remembered today on the Grimaldi coat-of-arms (that serves as the state coat-of-arms as well), on which two monks weilding swords support the Grimaldi shield. Though Grimaldi held the fortress for only 4 years, upon the defeat of the emperor, the pope gave Monaco to Grimaldi's cousin and heir, Rainier I, as a feudal possession. His descendents have held the rock and the surrounding town ever since. At various points throughout this long history, Monaco's soveriegnty has been denied by both the French and the Italians. However, in 1861, the French-Monegasque Treaty was signed that recognized once and for all the independence of Monaco and the right of the Grimaldi dynasty to rule it.
The shield of the Grimaldi family coat-of-arms is a field of red and white lozenges (or diamonds). This heraldric emblem may be seen at the top of this page. For many years, this personal shield of the Prince of Monaco served also as the national flag of his small realm. However, in 1881, it was thought proper that the flag of the state and the personal arms of the princely family should be separate. As a result, the Prince granted a new flag of red and white. The official dimensions of this flag is 4:5. However, more often than not, visitors to Monaco will see flags proportioned at 2:3 flying over the city of Monte Carlo. In addition, it is traditional to fly these flags from poles that have been braided (as a May Pole) with red and white streamers. |
