Monarchy of Monaco

The following is a list of rulers of Monaco. Most belong to the House of Grimaldi; exceptions, which consist primarily of the principality's administrators under periods of foreign occupation, are noted. Monaco, along with Liechtenstein and Vatican City, is one of only three states in Western Europe where the monarch still plays an active role in day-to-day politics.

The Prince of Monaco exercises his authority in accordance with the Constitution and laws. He represents the principality in foreign relations, and any revision, either total or partial, of the Constitution must be jointly agreed to by the monarch and the National Council.

Legislative power is divided between the Prince who initiates the laws, and the National Council which votes on them. Executive power is retained by the monarch, who has veto power over all legislation proposed by the National Council.

The minister of state and the Government Council are directly responsible to the Prince for the administration of the principality.

Judiciary powers also belong to the monarch. The present Constitution states that the prince has full authority in the courts and tribunals which render justice in his or her name.

Pursuant to Article 16 of the 1962 Constitution, the Prince confers orders, titles and other distinctions (see Awards and decorations of Monaco) as the fons honorum of the Principality of Monaco.

In 2005, The New York Times reported that loyalty to the princely family is fierce; few residents of Monaco want to be quoted saying anything negative about the monarchy. 
Rulers of Monaco
NamePortraitReign startReign endNotes François Grimaldi 80px 8 January 1297 10 April 1301 
François Grimaldi was the leader of a group of Genoese that seized the Rock of Monaco.
His cousin Rainier was the first Grimaldi ruler of the area now known as Monaco. Rainier I, Lord of Cagnes 80px Under Genoese control from 10 April 1301 to 12 September 1331 Lords of Monaco Charles I 80px 12 September 1331 15 August 1357 
Son of Rainier I, he retook the Rock from the Genoese.
Won Menton (1346) and Roquebrune (1355).
After 29 June 1352 co-rulership with
Anthony I (?-1358), youngest brother of Rainier I
Rainier II (1350–1407), son of Charles I
Gabriel, son of Charles I Anthony I 29 June 1352 
Co-ruler Rainier II 80px 
Son of Charles I
Co-ruler since 29 June 1352
Yielded Monaco to the besieging Genoese for 20,000 fl. but retained Menton and Roquebrune. Gabriel  
Co-ruler Under Genoese control from 15 August 1357 to January 1395 Louis 80px January 1395 19 December 1395Son of Charles I
Ruled jointly with Jean I Jean I 80pxSon of Rainier II
Ruled jointly with Louis Under Genoese control from 19 December 1395 to 11 May 1397 Louis 80px 11 May 1397 5 November 1402   Under Genoese control from 5 November 1402 to 5 June 1419 Jean I 80px 5 June 1419 8 May 1454 
Sons of Rainier II, Jean, Ambroise and Antoine, bought back Monaco from Genoa and ruled it jointly until 1427. After Antoine's death, Jean bought out his brothers in exchange for the rule over Menton and Roquebrune.
Monaco was occupied by the Duchy of Milan under the governorship of Genoese Biagio Assereto from 3 October to November 1436.
On 20 November 1441, Jean gained sovereignty for Monaco.
Jean's testament replaced the Lex Salica with Male-preference primogeniture, thus allowing for female succession (then British system). Ambroise 80px 1427 Anthony II 80px Catalan 80px 8 May 1454 July 1457   Claudine 80px July 1457 16 March 1458 
Under the regency of her paternal grandmother Pomellina Fregoso
Abdicated in favour of her cousin Lamberto, whom she married in 1465. Lamberto 80px 16 March 1458 March 1494   Jean II 80px|link=Special:FilePath/File:Jean_II_de_Monaco_et_Antonie_de_Savoie.jpg March 1494 11 October 1505 
Son of Lamberto and Claudine
Murdered by his brother, Lucien Lucien 80px 11 October 1505 22 August 1523 
Son of Lamberto and Claudine
Murdered his brother, Jean II
Murdered by his nephew, Bartholomew Doria of Dolceacqua Honoré I 80px 22 August 1523 7 October 1581Son of Lucien
During his minority under the regency of
Augustine Grimaldi, bishop of Grasse, 22 August 1523 – 14 April 1532
Nicholas Grimaldi, 14–23 April 1532
Blanche Grimaldi, baronne de Tourette (co-regent), 14 April– 1 July 1532.
Étienne Grimaldi, 23 April 1532 – 16 December 1540 Charles II 80px 7 October 1581 17 May 1589 
Son of Honoré I Ercole 80px 17 May 1589 29 November 1604 
Son of Honoré I
Murdered Honoré II 80px 29 November 1604 10 January 1662Son of Ercole
Until 1616 under the regency of Prince Francis Landi of Valdetare
Starting in 1612, Honoré II was the first Monegasque ruler to adopt the personal style of Prince, to which the Grimaldi rulers of Monaco were already entitled to through their possession in Italy. Monaco was recognized as a sovereign principality by Philip IV of Spain in 1633 and by Louis XIII of France in the Treaty of Péronne of 1641. Sovereign Princes of Monaco Louis I 80px 10 January 1662 2 January 1701 
Grandson of Honoré II Antonio I 80px 2 January 1701 20 February 1731 
Son of Louis I Louise Hippolyte 80px 21 February 1731 29 December 1731 
Daughter of Antonio I Jacques I 80px 29 December 1731 7 November 1733 
Husband of Louise Hippolyte
Left the country on 20 May 1732, with his brother-in-law, Antoine Grimaldi acting as regent.
Abdicated on 7 November 1733. Honoré III 80px 7 November 1733 19 January 1793 
Son of Jacques I and Louise Hippolyte
Until 28 November 1784 under the regency of his uncle, Antoine Grimaldi French occupation (19 January 1793 – 17 May 1814) National Convention 80px 19 January 1793 24 February 1793 President: Joseph Barriera Annexed by France 80px 24 February 1793 17 May 1814 Governed by:

Armand Louis de Gontaut, French military commandant 24 February 1793 – 1 March 1793
Henri Grégoire, French commissioner after 1 March 1793
Grégoire Marie Jagot, French commissioner Allied occupation (17 May – 17 June 1814) Honoré IV 80px 30 May 1814 16 February 1819 
Son of Honoré III
Titular prince since 21 March 1795
Under the regency of
Joseph Grimaldi, his brother, 17–23 June 1814
the State Council, 23 June 1814 – 4 March 1819
Honoré Grimaldi, his son, 3 March 1815 – 16 February 1819 Honoré V 80px 16 February 1819 2 October 1841 
Son of Honoré IV
Regent for his father since 3 March 1815 Florestan 80px 2 October 1841 20 June 1856 
Son of Honoré IV Charles III 80px 20 June 1856 10 September 1889 
Son of Florestan Albert I 80px 10 September 1889 26 June 1922 
Son of Charles III Louis II 80px 26 June 1922 9 May 1949 
Son of Albert I Rainier III 80px 9 May 1949 6 April 2005 
Grandson of Louis II
From 31 March to 6 April 2005 under the regency of his son, Albert Albert II 80px 6 April 2005 Incumbent 
Son of Rainier III
Regent for his father from 31 March to 6 April 2005

References

Category:Monegasque people