For JSTOR Daily, Rob Crossan explored the history of Monaco, the principality located between France and Italy, tracing its Medieval roots and its modern-day riches:
Monaco’s history dates to 1297 when François, a member of the exiled Grimaldi family from Genoa, seized the fortress of the Genoese rulers of the area. As Kendall W. Stiles explains in a chapter from his 2018 book, Trust and Hedging in International Relations, the Grimaldi’s proved themselves adept from the outset at negotiating with far larger powers to avoid their territory being swallowed up.
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The Grimaldi hold on Monaco even managed to survive the French Revolution, though the uprising resulted in the French deposing the royal family for two decades. But following the defeat(s) of Napoleon, the principality returned to the family in 1814, Stiles writes. In 1815, Monaco became a Sardinian protectorate before receiving independence once again in 1861.
I’ve been to Monaco a couple of times and it’s been beautiful to visit and the perfect way to get your 10,000 steps in (twice). A lot of history for once small sovereign city-state.