MONACO, a sovereign principality on the Mediterranean coast, 9 rn. E. of Nice, bounded on all sides by the French depart ment of Alpes-Maritimes. Pop. (1923) 22,153 ; area .6 sq. miles.
The Phoenicians, and after them the Greeks, had a temple on the Monaco headland, to Heracles, surnamed by the Greeks MOYOLKOS whence the name Monaco. Monoeci Portus, or Portus Herculis, is often mentioned by later Latin writers. In 968 the Genoese Grimaldi family entered into possession and for the most part allied themselves with France until 5524, when Augustin Grimaldi sided with the emperor Charles V. Honore I., Augustin's successor, was made marquis of Campagna and count of Canosa, and special privileges were granted, including the right to toll from vessels passing the port. Honore II. (1641) re-allied his house with France, losing Canosa, etc., but becoming duke of the Valentinois. In 1731 Antoine, his great grandson, was suc ceeded by his daughter, Hippolyte, wife of Jacques Goyon, count of Matignon and Thorigny, who succeeded his wife and took the name of Grimaldi. In 1793 the National Convention dispossessed the reigning family and annexed Monaco to France ; the Treaty of Paris (1814) restored the family; that of Vienna (1815) put Monaco under the protection of Sardinia. Mentone and Rocca bruna revolted in 1848 and were annexed and occupied by Sar dinia till 1859. In 186o Nice was transferred to France, and in 1861 Monaco passed under French protection, Mentone and Roccabruna being sold to France separately.
In 1911 Prince Albert of Monaco granted the principality a constitution, providing for a national council of 21 members, elected for four years by universal suffrage and scrutin de liste. Government is in the hands of a Ministry assisted by a council of State, acting under the authority of the prince; and legislative power rests with the prince and the national council. On June 26, 1922, Prince Louis II. (b. 1870) succeeded his father, Albert, as prince of Monaco.
The territory of Monaco is divided into three communes: Monaco, pop. (1923) 2,020, the old settlement on the summit of a rocky headland defended by ramparts; La Condamine, pop. (1923) 10,705, on the west of the bay, a bathing resort with manufactures of perfume and liqueurs; Monte Carlo, pop. (1923) 9,428, with its casino and its pigeon-shooting ground and many hotels. Each commune is administered by a municipal authority. The judicial system, since 1819, has been based on the French code, there being a court of first instance and a juge de paix, and by arrangement, two Paris judges form a court of appeal. Monaco has formed the see of a bishop since 1887. There is a semi military police force.
The town of Monaco possesses a Romanesque-Byzantine cathe dral of St. Nicholas, a mediaeval Genoese and Renaissance palace and Prince Albert's oceanographical museum, opened in 1910. An other museum near the cathedral contains prehistoric exhibits from the Grimaldi grottoes near Mentone and Roman antiquities from La Turbie. La Turbie on the borders of Cisalpine Gaul was the site of the colossal tower of Augustus. The village is reached by a funicular railway from Monte Carlo.
There seem to have been gambling tables at Monte Carlo in 1856, but in 1861 Francois Blanc of Homburg obtained a con cession for so years from the prince. This concession passed into the hands of a company, which in 1898 obtained an extension to 1947, Paying £400,000 in 1899, £600,000 in 1913, as well as a rent of L50,000 per annum till 1906, £70,000 till 1916, £8o,000 till 1926, £90,000 till 1936 and itoo,000 till 1947. The inhabit ants are forbidden access to the gambling tables, but are exempt from taxation and derive large profits from the visitors. The principality exports olive oil, oranges and perfumes, importing in exchange coal and wine.
See G. Saige, Monaco, Ses Origines et Son Histoire (1898) ; A. Smith, Monaco and Monte Carlo (1912).