Monaco was originally founded as a colony of Genoa in 1215. The country has been ruled by the House of Grimaldi since 1297 except for a short period of time when it was under French rule from 1789 to 1814. Up until 1911, when Monaco became a constitutional government, the Prince of Monaco was the supreme ruler of the land.
In 1918 Monaco came to an agreement with France that France would offer some limited protection for Monaco. This provided that Monaco would be aligned with French policy and economic interests.
In 1993, Monaco became an official member of the United Nations with full voting rights.
In recent history, Prince Rainier III died on April 6, 2005. His son Prince Albert II became ruler of Monaco on July 12, 2005.
The Geography of Monaco
Total Size: 2 square km
Size Comparison: about three times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
