Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Prince Charles offers Monaco to France

July 31, 1883

Charles III, Sovereign Prince of Monaco "is offering his principality to France for 10,000,000 French Francs, reports the New York Times.   According to the convention of 1860,  the principality will become a part of France  "in the event of the present line dying out."

Last year, Prince Charles received 8,500,000 FF for "his right" in Monaco's gambling casinos.  Despite this infusion of cash,  the Prince of Monaco is said to be "in financial straits again."  

Monaco's "concessions" to the Blanc family will not expire until 1910.

Prince Charles, who married Countess Antoinette de Merode in  1846.  She brought to the marriage a well-endowed dowry, which her husband used to finance the modernization of Monaco.   Antoinette gave birth to the couple's only son, Hereditary Prince Albert, in November 1848.  Antoinette died in 1864 at the age of 35.

Prince Albert has one son, Prince Louis, by his former wife, Lady Mary Victoria Hamilton, now Princess Tassilo Festetics von Tolna.

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