Last modified: 2008-09-13 by ivan sache
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![[Historical flag of Monaco]](../images/m/mc_loz.gif)
Monaco lozengy flag - Image by Marcus Schmöger, 11 July 2002
The Flag Bulletin [tfb] has
covered the symbols of Monaco in a recent article. The cover picture
shows Whitney Smith's rendition of a Monaco lozengy flag.
This lozengy banner of arms seems to have been used mainly in the
XVIIth century, as evidenced by paintings in the princely palace. As
an unofficial flag it has been used until now. The aforementioned
article shows a black-and-white photograph of the celebrations in
1957 when Prince Rainier married Grace Kelly (afterwards known as
Princess Gracia Patricia). On this photograph there are eight of the
banners of arms, however the exact number of lozenges cannot be
counted, as the flags are not fully unfurled. There seems to be at
least to different variants on this photograph, though, so I guess that
(especially as an unofficial flag) there is quite some variation
anyway.
Marcus Schmöger, 11 July 2002
The only model I have dates from 1881, and what information I have indicates that the number of lozenges are historically variable (also that the coat of arms itself dates from the early heraldic period), so the answer to what they stand for (other than the Grimaldi family) is very likely nothing at all.
Christopher Southworth, 23 March 2008