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Monaco timeline

A chronology of key events:

1297 - A member of the exiled Grimaldi family from Genoa - Francois - seizes the fortress of the incumbent Genoese rulers of Monaco.

Grand Casino, Monte-Carlo
Grand Casino: Gaming accounts for a slice of Monaco's wealth

late 1400s - Monaco's sovereignty is recognised by the duke of Savoy, the pope and the king of France.

1524-1641 - Grimaldi family allies itself with Spain and Monaco comes under Spanish protection.

1793 - French Revolution - the Grimaldis are deposed and unification with France follows.

1814 - Monaco is returned to the Grimaldis and becomes a Sardinian protectorate until 1860.

Independence

1861 - Monaco's independence restored under the Franco-Monegasque treaty.

1911 - Monaco's first constitution drafted, providing for an elected National Council to share legislative power with the prince.

1929 - First Monaco Grand Prix, won by Britain's William Williams.

1949 - Death of Louis II; Prince Rainier III succeeds his grandfather.

1956 - Prince Rainier marries Hollywood actress Grace Kelly. The couple met at the Cannes film festival in 1955.

Prince Rainier III marries Grace Kelly, 1956
Hollywood actress Grace Kelly married Prince Rainier in 1956

1959 - Prince Rainier suspends Monaco's elected National Council because of a row over the budget.

1962 - The prince restores the National Council and introduces a new, more liberal constitution.

1982 - Princess Grace dies following a car accident near Monte-Carlo.

1993 - Monaco joins the United Nations, becoming its smallest member state.

2002 April - Constitution revised. A new succession law is passed, designed to keep the Grimaldi family on the throne even if Crown Prince Albert fathers no heir.

2002 August - Monaco takes delivery of a huge floating jetty, set to double the capacity of its port.

Tax haven status

2004 April - OECD places Monaco on blacklist of uncooperative tax havens.

2005 April - Prince Rainier dies at the age of 81. In July Prince Albert is sworn in as head of state. A cathedral ceremony in November completes the formal succession.

2008 December - Monaco scraps plans to expand into the sea through an ambitious land reclamation project, citing the international financial crisis and environmental concerns.

2009 May - OECD removes Monaco from blacklist of uncooperative tax havens.

2011 July - Prince Albert marries Charlene Wittstock.



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2005: Dignitaries bid farewell to the late Prince Rainier III





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