Monarchy of Monaco Monarchy of Monaco The Sovereign Prince () or Princess of Monaco () is the reigning monarch and head of state of the Principality of Monaco. All reigning princes and princesses have officially taken the name of the House of Grimaldi, although some have belonged to other families (Goyon de Matignon or Polignac) in the male line. The present reigning prince is Albert II. Monaco, along with Liechtenstein and Vatican City, is one of only three states in Europe where the monarch still plays an active role in day-to-day politics. The Prince or Princess of Monaco exercises his or her authority
Jacques I, Prince of Monaco Jacques I, Prince of Monaco Jacques Goÿon de Matignon (Jacques François Léonor; 21 November 1689 – 23 April 1751) was Count of Thorigny, Prince of Monaco as Jacques I, and the fourth Duke of Valentinois from 1731 until 1733. Jacques came from an ancient Norman family. "Thorigny" is now called Torigni-sur-Vire, where the "Mairie" is the former family chateau. His uncle was Marshal Charles Auguste de Goÿon de Matignon. He was a son of Jacques Goÿon de Matignon, "jure uxoris" Comte de Thorigny, and Charlotte Goyon de Matignon, Comtesse de Thorigny "suo jure". When Antonio I of Monaco and his