Would you believe that Monaco was almost destined to be a sleepy little town, oblivious of the effects of modernity on all its neighbours. In 1850 all the major traffic passing between Nice and Menton and Genoa took the Grande Corniche and bye-passed the Principality.
Rainier II became Lord of Monaco on June 29, 1352, and at first ruled alongside his father Charles I, his brother Gabriele et great-uncle Lord Antonio. Around the same time, in 1350, Jean II was crowned King of France.



