Albert I of Monaco, listening to the world and the oceans
For thirty years, he traveled the oceans for the love of science and discovery. Passionate about new technologies as much as sport, he shared his many passions with the Monegasques. A humanist, he did not hesitate to take a stand for Dreyfus and seek peace in a Europe in crisis. This Monday at 21.10 on France 3, Stéphane Bern devotes a “Secrets of History” to Prince Albert Iuh of Monaco.
Prince Albert Iuh, my great-grandfather, wanted Monaco to have an oceanographic institute with a clear roadmap: to make people love, know and protect the oceans. Today, this vision shows all its relevance, its modernity and its strength.
HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco
Albert Iuh, Prince of Monaco, died a century ago. What did he think of the conflict in Ukraine, he who knew the affairs of 1870 and tried to avoid the war of 1914? And how would someone who had put himself at the service of the planet (in his work for anthropology, paleontology and oceanography) judge our behavior in the face of climate change, the melting of glaciers, global warming and the rise ocean level?
By leading scientific expeditions, the prince not only sought to decipher the secrets of the seabed and sea currents, he also wanted to share his discoveries with as many people as possible to make his contemporaries aware of the need to protect fauna and flora. underwater, and more generally our environment. But the story of this monarch should not be limited to his campaigns alone (admittedly, his married life suffered twice from this passion for marine exploration). By walking through life, as you invite to do Secrets of history, allows us to glimpse the man behind the image of the prince. To understand its societal and environmental commitments by following in its footsteps at the Château de Marchais, in the Aisne. A domain acquired by his mother which still belongs today to the Grimaldi and Stéphane Bern, with the authorization of the main family, makes you visit. In this castle will be attributed in 1869 his marriage with Lady Mary Victoria Douglas-Hamilton, the granddaughter of the Grand Duchess of Baden Stéphanie de Beauharnais. From this short union will be born Prince Louis in 1870 (the princess will leave the palace before the birth of their son and their marriage will be annulled by the court of Rome in 1880).
It was in this main courtyard, on October 3, 1889, that Prince Albert I, a few days after the funeral of his father Charles III, wished to wish the oath of loyalty of his subjects (…). This oath in 1889 may seem anachronistic. It’s offbeat, we are a hundred years after the French Revolution, but it was important for him, forty years after the 1848 secession of Menton and Roquebrune, to ensure the legitimist feeling of loyalty, fidelity of his subjects.
Thomas Fouilleron, Director of the Archives and the Library of the Palace
Offer another image of Monaco
If the economic growth of the principality owes a lot to his parents (with the establishment of a casino, built in 1863 according to plans drawn up by Charles Garnier, then a hotel), Prince Albert Iuh to offer a healthier and more noble image than that conveyed by gambling. Athlete himself, he initiated various sports competitions (boxing, tennis, fencing, motor boat racing, car rally) to which the elite and the Monegasques flock. ” It’s a wonderful way to advertise Monaco confirms Philippe Séguy.
Le Rocher will also become the hub of the arts under the aegis of his second wife, Princess Alice. ” She is passionate about dance, musicsays Philippe Séguy. In a way, she will drain into the principality the finest composers of her time with a very sure and very modern taste. The Monte-Carlo opera then acquired international renown. ” No doubt we were trying to entertain people, but nevertheless we weren’t showing them just anything. They were presented with the greatest works, the best musicians, the greatest artists and above all the greatest scenographic audacity, says its director,Jean-Louis Grinda. There was on this scene, for example, the creation of The Damnation of Faust [d’Hector Berlioz], which has since become authoritative throughout the world. When we play The Damnation of Faustit’s the version of the Monte-Carlo opera. »
A pioneering prince in more than one area
His interest and curiosity are not only maritime. Passionate about new technologies, in 1902 he called upon Ernest Guglielminetti, a Swiss doctor based in the principality, to invent a coating that would prevent dust from flying when passing motorized vehicles. The test carried out on the dirt track that borders the Oceanographic Museum is conclusive. The advent of bitumen is just beginning.
To conclude, know that his studies on marine currents allowed him to acquire an in-depth knowledge of the Gulf Stream. It was also at sea that he observed the condition of his crew, which worsened from being stung by a kind of jellyfish, the Physalia physalis. By sharing his findings with Charles Richet, professor at the Faculty of Medicine in Paris, and Paul Portier, physiology assistant at the Sorbonne, he enabled the two scientists to direct work aboard the Princess-Alice (before pursuing them in Paris). Work that will lead them to discover anaphylaxis. A discovery that will lay the first foundations of allergology and will earn Charles Richet the Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine in 1913.
Key dates in the Principality during the life and reign of Prince Albert Iuh (1848-1922)
March 20, 1848: Menton and Roquebrune proclaim themselves free cities and place themselves under the protection of the Sardinians.
1856: Charles III accedes to the throne.
February 2, 1861: The prince renounces in favor of France the towns of Menton and Roquebrune. The principality lost more than 80% of its territory, but its independence was finally recognized. France undertakes to link Nice to Monaco by a coastal road, as well as to stop in principle the modified rail link between Nice and Genoa. A customs union between France and Monaco (there is no border between the two countries).
1863: The Société des Bains de Mer et du Cercle des Etrangers is granted to François Blanc for fifty years with a monopoly on games.
1865: Issue of the first Monegasque postage stamp.
1uh June 1866: The Spélugues plateau is called Monte-Carlo in honor of Prince Charles III.
1869: All forms of direct taxation are abolished.
1879: Inauguration of the Monte-Carlo Opera.
1881: Creation of the red and white flag of Monaco.
March 15, 1887: The diocese of Monaco is created.
1889: Death of Charles III. Albert Iuh, son son, accedes to the throne. Passionate about science, he is particularly interested in oceanography and research on prehistory. He creates the Institute of Peace.
1891: Creation of the Automobile Club of Monaco.
1902: Creation of the Museum of Prehistoric Anthropology.
1906: Foundation of the Oceanographic Institute.
March 29, 1910: Inauguration of the Oceanographic Museum, which is part of the Oceanographic Institute.
January 5, 1911: The Principality of Monaco becomes a constitutional monarchy.
1911: Organization of the first car rally in Monte-Carlo.
1922: Louis II succeeds his father.
Source : Monte Carlo
I wanted to keep a particularly intimate memory of my 1899 campaign in Spitsbergen and I have asked each of my valiant companions to sign with their own voice the memory that they will have kept themselves.
Albert Iuh (the restitution in 2014 of certain cylinders recorded using a phonograph, developed by Thomas Edison, made it possible to hear the voice of the prince)
100 years ago Prince Albert Iuh received the Vega Medal
The Swedish Society for Anthropology and Geography presented in April 1922 the prestigious Vega Medal to Prince Albert Iuh. Created in 1880 in memory of Adolf Erik Nordenskiöld’s Vega expedition, this distinction pays tribute to the competition given by the prince for the advancement of geographical sciences.
Source : Albert I centenaryuhMonaco 2022
Stakeholders
Albert II of Monaco
Jacqueline Carpine-Lancrehistorian
Stephane Lamottehistorian
Yvan Gastauthistorian
Thomas Fouillerondirector of the Archives and the Library of the Palace of Monaco
Robert CalcagnoDirector General of the Oceanographic Institute
Alain Quella-Villegerhistorian
Philippe Seguywriter
Chloe Raymondheritage conservation officer (Oceanographic Museum)
VincentVaticanDirector of the Audiovisual Institute of Monaco
Secrets of history: Albert 1eruh of Monaco, the prince of the oceans
Great-great-grandfather of the current sovereign Albert II, he spent almost thirty years of his life traveling the seas of the globe, from the Azores to the Caribbean via Cape Verde and the polar regions of the Arctic. . Initiating the main oceanographic campaigns at the end of the 19th centurye century, pioneer in many fields, he also made the Rock the place of all innovations. With his wife Princess Alice, Albert Iuh gives the principality an unprecedented artistic influence. A fervent pacifist, he did not hesitate to intervene personally with Emperor William II to try to avoid the First World War. A humanist, modern and visionary prince, he was one of the very first to warn of the need to preserve the environment and in particular the oceans.
Also discover an exceptional interview with Prince Albert II of Monaco.
Cultural magazine (109 min – unpublished) – Presentation Stephane Bern – Realization (sets) David Jankowski – Realization (evocations) Benjamin Lehrer – Editor in Chief Marie-Laurence Rince – Production European Production Companywith the participation of France Televisions – With the support of National Center for Cinema and the Moving Image
This unpublished is broadcast Monday, June 13 at 21.10 on France 3
Secrets of history: Albert 1eruh of Monaco, the prince of the oceans can be seen and reviewed on france.tv