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- <text id=93CT1784>
- <title>
- Monaco--History
- </title>
- <history>
- Compact ALMANAC--CIA Factbook
- Europe
- Monaco
- </history>
- <article>
- <source>CIA World Factbook</source>
- <hdr>
- History
- </hdr>
- <body>
- <p> Founded in 1215 as a colony of Genoa, Italy, Monaco has been
- ruled by the House of Grimaldi since 1419, except when it fell
- under French rule during the French Revolution and the First
- Empire. Designated a protectorate of Sardinia during 1815-60 by
- the Treaty of Vienna, Monaco's sovereignty was recognized by the
- Franco-Monegasque Treaty of 1861. The prince of Monaco was an
- absolute ruler until a constitution was promulgated in 1911.
- </p>
- <p> On July 17, 1918, a treaty was signed providing for limited
- French protection over Monaco. The treaty, written into the
- Treaty of Versailles, established that Monegasque policy would
- be aligned with French political, military, naval, and economic
- interests.
- </p>
- <p> Prince Rainier III, the present ruler of Monaco, acceded to
- the throne following the death of his grandfather, Prince Louis
- II, in 1949. Prince Albert, the heir apparent, was born in 1958.
- </p>
- <p> A new constitution, proclaimed on December 17, 1962,
- abolished capital punishment and provided for female suffrage
- and the establishment of a Supreme Tribunal to guarantee
- fundamental liberties.
- </p>
- <p>Current Political Conditions
- </p>
- <p> The National and Democratic Union (UND), formed in 1962, is
- the only organized political party in Monaco. The UND garnered
- all of the 18 National Council seats in the January 1988
- elections. Prince Rainier appointed Jean Ausseil as Minister of
- State on September 16, 1985.
- </p>
- <p>Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Public Affairs, May
- 1988.
- </p>
-
- </body>
- </article>
- </text>
-
-