Monegasque. Inauguration of Place Joséphine Baker in the presence of the Sovereign Prince
Speech
Inauguration of the Promenade Princesse Louise-Hippolyte, Place Anne-Marie Campora and Place Joséphine Baker Saturday, September 25, 2021 at 10:30 a.m.
My lord,
Highness,
Mr. Minister of State,
Monsignor the Vicar General representing the Archbishop of Monaco,
Mr. President of the National Council,
Gentlemen of the Sovereign House,
Madam and Gentlemen Government Councilors-Minister
Ladies and Gentlemen, members of the Prince’s Government and of the Principality’s official bodies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear colleagues,
Faithful to its commitment to women’s rights and recognition, the Municipal Council wanted three new Larvotto spaces to pay tribute to three exceptional women who, each in their time and in their field of action, have played a role. an important role.
We therefore have the joy and the honor to inaugurate today the Promenade Princesse Louise-Hippolyte, the Place Anne-Marie Campora and the Place Joséphine Baker in the presence of our Sovereign Prince Albert II and HRH the Princess of Hanover, of the highest authorities of our country as well as members of their families.
The first woman in the spotlight is Princess Louise-Hippolyte, daughter of Prince Antoine I and mother of Honoré III. She is so far the first and only sovereign princess in our history. At the beginning of the 18th century, Prince Antoine I and Princess Marie of Lorraine having had six daughters, it is Louise-Hippolyte, in the absence of a male heir to the same degree of kinship, who is the heiress of the Principality, in under the provisions of the testament of John I in 1454. The only condition is that her husband takes the name and arms of the Grimaldi. This one is carefully chosen under the auspices of King Louis XIV of France:
Jacques IV de Goyon-Matignon thus becomes Jacques Grimaldi by marrying Louise-Hippolyte in 1715. In
a context and an environment sometimes hostile to her personal sovereignty, Princess Louise-Hippolyte
er succeeded in being recognized as the only reigning woman on the death of her father Antoine I.
She was ultimately only sovereign for 10 months, due to her premature death, from smallpox, at the age of 34. Despite its brevity, its reign has marked our history. This determined and determined princess showed her subjects that a woman could exercise the highest functions and, on the outside, she imposed herself as a legitimate sovereign in the eyes of foreign powers.
We then wanted to honor the journey of Anne-Marie Campora. Entirely committed to her city, her country and its culture, Anne-Marie Campora has been involved for 20 years within the Municipal Council for the general interest and for the Principality. Elected Municipal Councilor in 1983 alongside Jean-Louis Médecin, she became, 8 years later, the first woman Mayor of Monaco. She will sit in this capacity for 3 terms from 1991 to 2003.
The well-being of our community, the improvement of daily life and the living environment were priorities for Anne-Marie Campora. She has worked tirelessly for the elderly by developing Home Support services. A pioneer in the diversity of childcare options offered to parents, she created the Halte-Garderie and the Mini Club in 1991, as well as the Monte-Carlo Crèche in 1997.