Free Cities of Menton and Roquebrune Città libere di Mentone e Roccabruna (Italian) | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1848–1849 | |||||||||
.svg) Flag | |||||||||
 Azure: The territory of the Free Cities of Menton and Roquebrune; Orange: the territory of the Principality of Monaco | |||||||||
| Common languages | Italian, French,Mentonasc | ||||||||
| Religion | Catholicism | ||||||||
| Government | Autonomousmunicipalrepublic | ||||||||
| President | |||||||||
• 1848–1849 | Carlo Trenca | ||||||||
| Historical era | Revolutions of 1848 | ||||||||
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TheFree Cities of Menton and Roquebrune (Italian:Città libere di Mentone e Roccabruna) was the name given to the union of the two free cities ofMenton andRoquebrune during theRevolutions of 1848 related to the ItalianRisorgimento. They came into existence after seceding from thePrincipality of Monaco in May 1848. After a brief period of autonomy, the free cities became protectorates of theItalian kingdom of Sardinia in May 1849.[1][2]
At the conclusion of theNapoleonic Wars in 1815, Monaco regained its Independence but was plagued early on by political and economic strife. This was most evident during the reign ofHonoré V, Prince of Monaco, spanning from 1819 to 1841, as he attempted to restoreabsolutism and erase the legacy of theFrench Revolution. At the same time, theCongress of Vienna had made the principality a protectorate of theKingdom of Sardinia rather thanFrance. This gaveTurin strict authority over the affairs of the country, including its economic policy.
Combined with Sardinia's smaller market relative to France, Monaco’s economy became stagnant. This pressure prompted Monegasque authorities to raise taxes within the principality. This tax revenue increase was largely carried by the populations ofMenton andRoquebrune, which together constituted three-quarters of the country's population.
Following the death of Honoré V in 1841, his brotherFlorestan became prince, but the situation did not improve. By 1847, riots broke out against Florestan in the towns of Menton and Roquebrune due to the growing poverty of its citizens. By November 25, 1847, the deteriorating situation forced the Grimaldi family to request military intervention from theRoyal Sardinian Army to restore order to the two cities. While Sardinian troops were able to maintain order for a time, concerns about revolutionary insurrection back in Piedmont led to their withdrawal on March 2, 1848.
The same day of the withdrawal, Menton and Roquebrune were back in open revolt and established a provisional government. On March 21, the provisional government officially declared their independence as theFree Cities of Menton and Roquebrune and made its own version of the Italian Tricolor. The new government elected the Mayor of Menton,Carlo Trenca, as its president and decreed itself to be under theprotection of Sardinia.[3]
KingCharles Albert of Sardinia, who had recently begun theFirst Italian War of Independence, accepted the new protectorate status of Menton and Roquebrune, moving in troops on 3 April. By 18 September Charles Albert declared the cities temporarily under the protection of Sardinia, implementing Sardinian law and theAlbertine Statute. Treca resigned his position as president on April 30 1849, with Sardinian authorities officially annexing the free cities into the kingdom, coming under the administration of theCounty of Nice. Treca would occupy his former position as the Mayor of Menton soon after.
