Number 16

The article describes the history of the Black Penitents of Monaco, from their origins in the 17th century, to their disappearance, during the revolutionary period in the 18th century. The author talks about the status, goods, duties and customs of the Black Penitents. (full text in French)

Under the reign of Prince Honoré II, after the Treaty of Péronne and the French alliance, the court of Monaco organised more and more celebrations, notably on the occasion of the Carnival. The court ballet, inspired by the French model, was created in Monaco in the middle of the 17th century. The two ballets that performed in 1654 and 1655, are presented in this study. (full text in French)

Completing an article entitled “The Principality of Monaco under the fall of the First French Empire (1815-1817)”, published in the issue n°13 of Annales monégasques, this study discusses the consequences of the Treaty of Paris (November 1815), which put Monaco under the protection of the Kingdom of Sardinia. The settlement of this new protectorate, very different from the previous ones, led to important negotiations and marked a new step in the history of Monaco. (full text in French)

Under the French Revolution and Empire, Monaco was annexed by France and became a part of the Alpes-Maritimes department. In 1808, Napoleon promulgated a decree in order to put an end to wandering and begging. Some “begging and charity establishments” had to be settled in each departments, to gather the beggars. In the Alpes-Maritimes, the Palace of Monaco is chosen, as it had been empty for a few years, it was in the city center, had a large number of rooms and an important surface. (full text in French)

The Archives of the Palace of Monaco keep approximately twenty letters written by the writer Colette, addressed to Prince Pierre of Monaco and Prince Rainier III, during her stays in Monaco between 1948 and 1954. This correspondence, presented and published in this article, allows us to find out more about the last years of Colette’s life, and on some traits of her personality. (full text in French)

This study deals with the evolution of Menton after the death of Prince Honoré II. Under the reign of Louis I (1662-1701), Menton developed the lemon trade and became the Principality’s first port. The population in Menton diversified because of the emergence of some nobles and upper middle classes. This situation stabilized under the reign of Prince Antoine I (1701-1731). (full text in French)