The 2025 edition of Annales monégasques – Revue d’histoire de Monaco, the official historical journal published by the Archives of the Prince’s Palace, has just been released, offering a captivating journey through the centuries of Monaco’s rich and complex past. Now in its 49th year, the latest edition places a spotlight on the Middle Ages and other defining moments of the Principality’s heritage.
Among the highlights is a deep dive into the life of Admiral Rainier I Grimaldi (c.1267–1314), a legendary figure often seen as one of the founding members of the Grimaldi dynasty. Despite never officially holding the title of “Seigneur of Monaco”, his naval prowess and close connection to François Grimaldi, known as Malizia, make his story a fascinating one.
Another feature explores the tumultuous late 15th century, focusing on Lambert Grimaldi (1458–1494) and the political power struggles he faced within the family — notably from his wife’s grandmother, Pomellina Fregoso — as well as from separatist movements in Menton and Roquebrune.
The issue also includes two art history articles inspired by recent restoration works on the Renaissance frescoes at the Prince’s Palace. One reevaluates the attribution of a monumental fresco in the Honour Court’s northeast façade to Caravaggio, while another revisits the painted decorations of the Hercule Gallery and York Room, created by artists Jean Murat and Jean-Baptiste Carbillet in the 1860s.
In an unexpected literary gem, the journal republishes a critical edition of naturalist Charles Contejean’s travel journal from 1861, which documents his journey through the Alpes-Maritimes and Monaco.
The political and cultural impact of Rabagas, a vaudeville play by Victorien Sardou, is also examined. Premiering in 1872, the play features a fictional Prince of Monaco and uses the Menton-Roquebrune secession as a lens to explore revolutionary tensions in 19th-century France.
Two essays stem from the 2022 conference Les carrières d’un prince, celebrating Prince Albert I. One examines the discovery of anaphylaxis during his scientific voyages, a breakthrough that earned Charles Richet the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1913. The other explores Albert I’s pacifist ideals through his collaboration with Max Waechter, an industrialist and philanthropist who championed a federation of European states.
Finally, this edition includes a richly illustrated 50-page section dedicated to the exhibition Monaco libéré! commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Principality’s liberation, on display at the Prince’s Palace from 3rd September 2024 to 31st January 2025.
The issue concludes with its regular bibliographic chronicle, offering an overview of the latest French and international publications related to Monaco and the Grimaldi dynasty.
The 2025 edition of Annales monégasques is available for €30, with annual subscriptions priced at €25. Subscribers also receive online access to all archived issues dating back to 1977.
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Photo taken from the cover of the 2025 edition of Annales monégasques