Monaco · Former fief of Carladès

Carladès, also known as Carladez, is a historic region in the southern Massif Central. Its territory lies predominantly in the present-day Département Cantal and extends partly into the Département Aveyron. Its political centre was initially Carlat with its fortress on a basalt plateau; administrative and judicial functions later also became concentrated in Vic-sur-Cère. In the Middle Ages, the Viscounty of Carlat existed there, with its possessions changing hands several times among different noble families.

The connection with Monaco arose in the 17th century. Prince Honoré II broke away from Spanish protection through the Treaty of Péronne and placed Monaco under the protection of France. As a result, possessions of the Grimaldi in Spanish-controlled territories were lost. In compensation, the French Crown transferred several French lordships to Honoré II, including Carladès, which was elevated to a county. The Princes of Monaco were thus French feudal lords there, while Monaco itself remained an independent territory.

The coin’s design refers to the building known as the “Maison des Princes de Monaco” in Vic-sur-Cère. It served the Grimaldi as a local seat in connection with their rule over the county. It should not be equated with the medieval fortress of Carlat: this had already been demolished at the beginning of the 17th century on the orders of the French king. The building in Vic-sur-Cère, by contrast, recalls the later administration of the area by the Monegasque princely house.

The French Revolution brought an end to the feudal rights and ownership arrangements of the Grimaldi in Carladès. However, the name remained part of the dynastic titulature. The coin issue thus evokes a historic connection between Monaco and a French region that is little known outside the area today. The official gazette does not mention any particular round anniversary; the occasion is evidently the continued use of the title within the princely house.