Timeline: Monaco

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.

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.

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.

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.