Monaco: How did a tiny country survive for 700 years?

Monaco, an interesting European country.

In terms of area, Monaco ranks second to last in the world, only a little bigger than the Vatican, 2 square kilometers, almost the size of a small village here, which is very inconspicuous.

In terms of population, there are nearly 40 thousand people. This population density is quite high, and it is also one of the best in the world. Besides, there are countless really rich people here.

Economically, although it is only 2 square kilometers, it is indeed an extremely exquisite and luxurious place with well-developed tourism, banking, insurance, stamps and gambling. Monaco is one of the three largest gambling cities in the world, and the Monte Carlo Acrobatic Festival and the F 1 Formula Car Race are world-famous.

By the end of 20 18, Monaco's per capita GDP reached 180,000 USD. It can be said that Monaco is rich and its citizens are generally rich. Moreover, Monaco does not have to pay personal income tax, so there are many rich people who immigrate here from overseas.

Of course, compared with Monaco's unique position today, its historical situation and process are more interesting. As a country with a history of more than 700 years, a country with only the size of small and medium-sized towns, it is very rare to strengthen all the way from the Middle Ages with many countries and endless melee to the modern society. After all, in medieval Europe, feudalism made Europe have thousands of countries of various types, from free cities to empires, but in

Next, let's take a look at the survival of Monaco, a small country. How does it stand out from the encirclement and thus have its own sky?

1, a funny founding history

Monaco is very small. When it was founded, it was very small, tens of square kilometers. At first, it was the territory of the holy Roman emperor. 1 19 1 year, the emperor gave this tiny place to Genoa and the Italian Republic, which is expanding in the Mediterranean. Genoese established colonial and trade strongholds here, expanded their power and managed well.

This stable environment lasted 100 years until a Genoese businessman named Francisco Guerra Maldi appeared.

1297 65438+1October 8th, this man took his cousin and several men (only a few dozen are expected) disguised as Franciscans, and visited the castle in Monaco with a lot of materials. They are all Genoese, brothers and sisters. The defenders in the castle thought they were here for a military-civilian party, so they happily opened the door and invited them to get together. Dangla Mardi and others were very excited when they entered the castle.

Since then, tiny Monaco has become the private kingdom of Guerra Maldi, and this family has ruled this small country for more than 700 years. The royal family of Monaco is also one of the oldest monarchies in Europe.

On the national emblem of Monaco today, there is a shield in the middle, and a Catholic monk (the traditional symbol of the Gramar Di family) stands on the left and right. They held up the image of swords to commemorate this period of history.

2. The hard way for small countries to survive

Is the Genoese government angry that the Gramadi family seized Monaco's sovereignty? That's for sure, but Genoese were busy fighting all day when they were expanding in the Mediterranean, and they really didn't have time to deal with Monaco for a while.

Of course, relying on Genoa's national strength, strangling the Gramadi family is like strangling an ant, but the Genoese did not do that in the end, and they gradually acquiesced in the family's rule in Monaco.

Why? Isn't this puzzling?

Not surprisingly, in medieval Europe, wars between countries and struggles between lords were very common, and it was also common for Gramadi families to rob others' territory when they were unprepared. Besides, they are all Genoese! Family, why general knowledge?

Moreover, after Gra Maldi came to the top, Mashan worshipped Genoa as the eldest brother, and all kinds of "filial piety" and "inquire" continued all day, which was very docile. After a long time, Genoese were embarrassed to pursue it.

In this way, the two countries have lived in peace for 200 years, which is considered to be happy.

However, in the late14th century, Genoa gradually weakened. On the one hand, the war with Keoha in Venice made Genoa's strength drop sharply. On the other hand, the rising Ottoman Empire monopolized the trade routes in the eastern Mediterranean, which caused Genoa to lose a lot of business, suffered heavy losses, suffered a double blow and suffocated, and Genoa was weak.

Seeing that the eldest brother was weak, the Monaco royal family decided to change its protector in order to protect itself. So after operating in Monaco for many years, France and Spain have become the new bosses of Monaco, and they sent troops to protect Monaco's security. Monaco royal family also marries French and Spanish royal families all the year round. In this way, Monaco was protected by two great powers. Although it was constantly "occupied" or bullied by the two eldest brothers, it maintained the existence of the country.

Of course, when the French Revolution broke out, the good days of the Monaco royal family came to an end temporarily, because the enthusiastic French people took the initiative to help the Monaco people's revolution.

After the French overthrew the king, they felt that all people wearing crowns were bad things and should be eradicated. However, they dare not operate in a slightly larger country. Monaco, a small country, was bullied Who made you a protectorate of France?

As a result, the Monaco royal family was forced into exile, otherwise, God knows whether the enthusiastic French people will also export a guillotine.

3. Territorial area has shrunk dramatically.

18 15 years, after Napoleon's defeat, Monaco was "reborn" again and was protected by the kingdom of Sardinia. But in 1860, the kingdom of Sardinia needed the support of the French to unify the Italian region, so France signed an agreement with the kingdom of Sardinia, and Sardinia handed over the suzerain of Monaco to the French.

Monaco people certainly don't want to be tossed back and forth, so several parties started a long negotiation. With the intervention of Spain and other European countries, Monaco gained a relatively independent status in 186 1, especially France recognized Monaco's independent status.

Monaco has also lost a lot of recognition from the French, especially the ownership of Mendon's and Locke Brown's great works. Monaco's territorial area has shrunk from more than 20 square kilometers at that time to 1.98 square kilometers, shrinking by more than 95%.

Of course, even so, the French have not given up the idea of annexing Monaco. The French "took the initiative" to assume the responsibility of Monaco's diplomacy and national defense. At 19 19, France also forced Monaco to sign a contract: once the monarch of Monaco dies without children, Monaco will be automatically merged into France.

However, although the French have been waiting at home for more than 80 years, they have not seen the monarch of Monaco lose his children. This family has always been prosperous.

Time has entered 2 1 century, the world is almost harmonious, and nothing is glorious to merge. So in 2002, the two countries revised the agreement: even if the monarch of Monaco has no children, whether Monaco should be merged into France is up to Monaco people to decide.

Of course, Monaco's diplomatic and defense power is still in the hands of France.

4, the end.

Throughout the history of Monaco, as a country the size of a village, it has never been separated from the "protection" of a big country since its establishment, and it needs the "goodwill" of a big country to maintain its existence. Although it has gone through hardships, it is not easy to survive until now.