Prince’s Family coat of arms

The Prince’s Family’s coat of arms reunites a number of symbols which have been passed down through the history of the Principality.

Each monk that is holding a sword alludes to an episode which was very important in founding Monaco’s identity. This episode was the capture of the fortress by François Grimaldi, who was disguised as a Franciscan monk. The Prince’s crown, which tops the coat of arms, represents monarchical sovereignty.

The Order of Saint-Charles, whose collar surrounds the shield, is the highest form of national recognition. It was instituted in 1858 by Prince Charles III as an affirmation of the country’s sovereignty.

Finally, the motto “Deo Juvante” (with the help of God) was the motto of Lambert Grimaldi, who, in 1458, secured the loyalty of the population of Monaco, Menton and Roquebrune, after a plot.