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THE INTERNATIONAL AND ROYAL
COUNCIL FOR ORDERS OF CHIVALRY
THE ALMANACH DE CHIVALRY 2008
( Founded 2002 by Royal Charter )
The Register of Orders of Chivalry
Registre des Ordres de Chevalerie
The Official Listing of The Imperial
and Royal European Orders of Chivalry
The Orders of Knighthood of
The Principality of Monaco
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(Above)
His Most Serene Highness
Prince Albert II of Monaco
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THE HISTORY OF THE PRICIPALITY OF MONACO
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The Principality of Monaco (French: Principauté de Monaco; Monégasque: Principatu de Múnegu; Occitan: Principat de Mónegue; Italian: Principato di Monaco), more commonly known as Monaco, is a constitutional monarchy and city-state in Western Europe located along the French Riviera between the Mediterranean Sea and France. It is one of six microstates located in Europe.
Monaco is the world's most densely populated country and second-smallest independent nation; with a population of just 32,410 and an area of 1.96 square kilometers (485 acres), Monaco also boasts more millionaires per capita than any other country, and is the world's smallest French-speaking sovereignty.
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THE PRINCELY HOUSE OF GRIMALDI
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The House of Grimaldi is associated with the history of the Republic of Genoa and of the Principality of Monaco. The Grimaldi family descends from Grimaldo, a Genovese statesman at the time of the first Crusades. He was the son of Otto Canella, a Consul of Genoa in 1133, and in turn Grimaldo became a Consul in 1160, 1170 and again in 1184. His numerous grand-sons and their children led maritime expeditions throughout the Mediterranean, the Black Sea, and soon the North Sea, and quickly became one of the most powerful families of Genoa.
The Grimaldis feared that the head of a rival Genoese family could break the fragile balance of power in a political coup and become lord of Genoa, as it happened in other Italian cities. They entered into a Guelphic alliance with the Fieschi family and defended their interests with the sword. The Guelfs however were banned from the City in 1271, and found refuge in their castles of Liguria and in Provence. They signed a treaty with Charles of Anjou, King of Naples and Count of Provence, to retake control of Genoa, and generally to provide mutual assistance. In 1276, they accepted a peace under the auspices of the Pope, which however did not put an end to the civil war. Not all the Grimaldis chose to return to Genoa, as they preferred to settle in their fiefdoms, where they could raise armies.
In 1299, the Grimaldis and their allies launched a few galleys to attack the port of Genoa before taking refuge on the Western Riviera. During the following years, the Grimaldis were going to enter into different alliances that would allow them to come back in force. This time, it was the turn of their rivals, the Spinola family, to be banned from the City. During all that period, both Guelfs and Ghibellines took and abandoned the castle of Monaco, which was ideally located to launch political and military operations against Genoa. Therefore, the story of Francis Grimaldi and his faction – who conquered the castle of Monaco under the disguise of friars in 1297 – is largely anecdotal.
In the early 14th century, the Catalans from Spain raided the shores of Provence and Liguria, challenging Genoa and King Robert of Provence. In 1353, the combined fleet of eighty Venetian and Catalonian galleys gathered in Sardinia to meet the fleet of sixty galleys under the command of Anthony Grimaldi. Only nineteen Genoese vessels survived the battle. Fearing an invasion, Genoa rushed to request the protection of the lord of Milan.
Several of the oldest feudal branches of the House of Grimaldi appeared during those unrests, such as the branches of Antibes, Beuil, Nice, Puget, and Sicily. In 1395, the Grimaldis took advantage of the discords in Genoa to take possession of Monaco, which they then ruled as a condominium. It is the origin of today's principality.
As it was customary in Genoa, the Grimaldis organized their family ties within a corporation called Albergo. In the political reform of 1528, this ancient family became one of the 28 alberghi of the Republic of Genoa, to which other families were formally invited to join. The House of Grimaldi provided many illustrious personalities such as doges, cardinals, cabinet ministers, and countless officers.
Until 2002, a treaty between Monaco and France stated that if the Grimaldi family ever failed to produce a male heir that the sovereignty over the territory would revert to France. The 2002 agreement modified this to make provisions for a regency and continued Monegasque sovereignty if such an event were to occur.
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(Above)
The Order Saint Charles
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THE ORDER OF ST CHARLES
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The Order of St. Charles is an order established
in Monaco on 15 March 1858. This medal rewards
service to the State or Prince. It is awarded by
the current Prince Albert II.
There are five categories:
Knight Grand Cross,
Grand Officer
Commander
Officer
Knight
Recipients
1902 - King Edward VII, Grand Cross
1951 - Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Grand Cross
Paul Augier, Officer
Rainier Imperti, Officer
Arthur Oliver Wheeler, Officer
Nadia Boulanger
Robert T. Frederick, Grand Officer
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(Above)
The Order of The Crown
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THE ORDER OF THE CROWN
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Created by decree on July 20, 1960 and modified
December 23, 1966. This medal is awarded to those
people, who have done something exceptional or
by their exceptional conduct.
There are five categories of merit :
Knight-Grand Cross,
Grand Officer,
Commander,
Officer,
Knight.
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(Above)
The Order of Grimaldi
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THE ORDER OF GRIMALDI
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Created by decree on November 18, 1954 and
modified July 19, 1960 and again on December
23, 1966. This medal is to reward those people
who have contributed to the prestige of the
Principality with distinction.
There are five categories of merit :
Knight-Grand Cross,
Grand Officer,
Commander,
Officer,
Knight.
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THE ORDER OF CULTURAL MERIT
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Created by decree on December 31, 1952. This
medal is to reward those people with distinction,
who have participated in the arts, letters and
science through their work or teaching in Monaco.
Or have contributed in those areas and extended
the intellectual influence of the Principality,
even outside of Monaco.
There are three categories of merit :
Commander,
Officer,
Knight.
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THE ORDER OF CULTURAL MERIT
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Created by decree on December 31, 1952. This
medal is to reward those people with distinction,
who have participated in the arts, letters and
science through their work or teaching in Monaco.
Or have contributed in those areas and extended
the intellectual influence of the Principality,
even outside of Monaco.
There are three categories of merit :
Commander,
Officer,
Knight.
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THE MEDAL OF HONOR
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Created by decree on February 5th 1894, and
modified April 20, 1925 and again November 13,
1952. This metal is awarded for exceptional
devotion to duty in the civil and military
service.
There are three categories of reward:
gold, silver, bronze.
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CITATION FOR EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE
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This award was formally established on April 7,
1951 and modified December 23, 1966. This citation
is awarded for exceptional service, acts of courage
or for devotion to duty and exceptional service by
the military in the service of the Prince. This clip
is worn on top of the ribbon on the 'medal of honor'
first category.
There are four different categories of clips:
gold, silver gilt, silver, bronze.
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THE MONACO RED CROSS MEDAL
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Created by decree on October 16, 1950. It
is awarded to those for their devotion and
exceptional service to the Red Cross, either
on a national or international level.
There are three categories of merit:
silver gilt, silver, bronze.
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THE MONACO BLOOD DONOR MEDAL
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Created by decree on July 30, 1993. This
medal is awarded to those blood donors for
their devotion and merits.
There are three categories of merit:
silver gilt, silver,bronze.
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"CHRISTUS VINCIT, CHRISTUS REGNAT, CHRISTUS IMPERIT"
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For Further Information
The Correspondence Address is:
The Imperial and Royal Society
of The Almanach de Chivalry,
Royal Mail Post Office Box 276,
Teddington, Middlesex, TW11 0UL,
United Kingdom.
Telephone: +44 (0) 208 943 4520
Fax: +44 (0) 208 943 4520
E-mail: almanachdechivalry@msn.com
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The Official Website of Almanach de Chivalry
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