Roquebrune-Cap-Martin
Encyclopedia
Roquebrune-Cap-Martin is a commune
in the Alpes-Maritimes
department in southeastern France
between Monaco
and Menton
. The name was changed from Roquebrune to differentiate the town from Roquebrune-sur-Argens
in the neighboring Var Department.
, in order to protect his western border.
In 1355, Roccabruna fell under the control of the Grimaldi family of Monaco for five centuries, during which time the castle
was strengthened.
In 1793, Roquebrune became French for the first time, changing the name from the original Roccabruna, but it was returned to Monaco
in 1814. In 1804 Napoleon built a road along the coastline. This road connected the village to the rest of the Côte d'Azur
, and eventually led to its merger with the smaller town of Cap-Martin.
In 1848, there was a revolution related to the Italian Risorgimento, with the result that Roccabruna and Menton
became free cities under the protection of the Savoy
Prince. They hoped to be part of the Kingdom of Sardinia
, but this did not occur, and the towns after two years of independence were put under Savoyan
administration (but nominally still under the Prince of Monaco). They remained in a state of political limbo from 1849 until were finally ceded to France by a plebiscite in 1861.
Giuseppe Garibaldi
, who promoted the union of the County of Nice
to Italy
, complained that the plebiscite was not done with "universal vote" and consequently Roccabruna was requested by Italian irredentists.
As a consequence of these irredentism ideals, during World War II all the coastal area between Italy and Monte Carlo
was occupied and administered by the Kingdom of Italy
until September 1943.
All the area has a huge tourism activity, mainly from April to October.
of the Païs Mentounasc, a cultural area between the Ligurian dialects
and the Occitan language.
Since 1861 the use of the French language
has increased enormously in the city, and now only a minority of the 11,692 inhabitants still speaks the original dialect of Roccabruna.
Communes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
in the Alpes-Maritimes
Alpes-Maritimes
Alpes-Maritimes is a department in the extreme southeast corner of France.- History : was created by Octavian as a Roman military district in 14 BC, and became a full Roman province in the middle of the 1st century with its capital first at Cemenelum and subsequently at Embrun...
department in southeastern France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
between Monaco
Monaco
Monaco , officially the Principality of Monaco , is a sovereign city state on the French Riviera. It is bordered on three sides by its neighbour, France, and its centre is about from Italy. Its area is with a population of 35,986 as of 2011 and is the most densely populated country in the...
and Menton
Menton
Menton is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.Situated on the French Riviera, along the Franco-Italian border, it is nicknamed la perle de la France ....
. The name was changed from Roquebrune to differentiate the town from Roquebrune-sur-Argens
Roquebrune-sur-Argens
Roquebrune-sur-Argens is a commune in the Var department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.It lies not far from the cities of Draguignan and Fréjus. It consists of three smaller villages: the village of Roquebrune-sur-Argens, La Bouverie and Les Issambres...
in the neighboring Var Department.
History
In pre-Roman times the area was settled by the Ligurians. Traces of their language can be still found in the local dialect. The commune (originally known as Roccabruna) was founded in 970 by Conrad I, count of VentimigliaVentimiglia
Ventimiglia is a city and comune in Liguria, northern Italy, in the province of Imperia. It is located southwest of Genoa by rail, and 7 km from the French-Italian border, on the Gulf of Genoa, having a small harbour at the mouth of the Roia River, which divides the town into two parts...
, in order to protect his western border.
In 1355, Roccabruna fell under the control of the Grimaldi family of Monaco for five centuries, during which time the castle
Castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
was strengthened.
In 1793, Roquebrune became French for the first time, changing the name from the original Roccabruna, but it was returned to Monaco
Monaco
Monaco , officially the Principality of Monaco , is a sovereign city state on the French Riviera. It is bordered on three sides by its neighbour, France, and its centre is about from Italy. Its area is with a population of 35,986 as of 2011 and is the most densely populated country in the...
in 1814. In 1804 Napoleon built a road along the coastline. This road connected the village to the rest of the Côte d'Azur
French Riviera
The Côte d'Azur, pronounced , often known in English as the French Riviera , is the Mediterranean coastline of the southeast corner of France, also including the sovereign state of Monaco...
, and eventually led to its merger with the smaller town of Cap-Martin.
In 1848, there was a revolution related to the Italian Risorgimento, with the result that Roccabruna and Menton
Menton
Menton is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.Situated on the French Riviera, along the Franco-Italian border, it is nicknamed la perle de la France ....
became free cities under the protection of the Savoy
House of Savoy
The House of Savoy was formed in the early 11th century in the historical Savoy region. Through gradual expansion, it grew from ruling a small county in that region to eventually rule the Kingdom of Italy from 1861 until the end of World War II, king of Croatia and King of Armenia...
Prince. They hoped to be part of the Kingdom of Sardinia
Kingdom of Sardinia
The Kingdom of Sardinia consisted of the island of Sardinia first as a part of the Crown of Aragon and subsequently the Spanish Empire , and second as a part of the composite state of the House of Savoy . Its capital was originally Cagliari, in the south of the island, and later Turin, on the...
, but this did not occur, and the towns after two years of independence were put under Savoyan
House of Savoy
The House of Savoy was formed in the early 11th century in the historical Savoy region. Through gradual expansion, it grew from ruling a small county in that region to eventually rule the Kingdom of Italy from 1861 until the end of World War II, king of Croatia and King of Armenia...
administration (but nominally still under the Prince of Monaco). They remained in a state of political limbo from 1849 until were finally ceded to France by a plebiscite in 1861.
Giuseppe Garibaldi
Giuseppe Garibaldi
Giuseppe Garibaldi was an Italian military and political figure. In his twenties, he joined the Carbonari Italian patriot revolutionaries, and fled Italy after a failed insurrection. Garibaldi took part in the War of the Farrapos and the Uruguayan Civil War leading the Italian Legion, and...
, who promoted the union of the County of Nice
County of Nice
The County of Nice or Niçard Country is a historical region of France, located in the south-eastern part, around the city of Nice.-History:Its territory lies between the Mediterranean Sea , Var River and the southernmost crest of the...
to Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, complained that the plebiscite was not done with "universal vote" and consequently Roccabruna was requested by Italian irredentists.
As a consequence of these irredentism ideals, during World War II all the coastal area between Italy and Monte Carlo
Monte Carlo
Monte Carlo is an administrative area of the Principality of Monaco....
was occupied and administered by the Kingdom of Italy
Kingdom of Italy (1861–1946)
The Kingdom of Italy was a state forged in 1861 by the unification of Italy under the influence of the Kingdom of Sardinia, which was its legal predecessor state...
until September 1943.
Roquebrune-Cap-Martin today
Today Roquebrune-Cap-Martin comprises several villages and towns: St.Roman, practically a suburb of Monaco, the residential areas of Cabbé, Bon Voyage and Serret, Roquebrune with its perched village and château, the posh Cap Martin peninsula and the modern seaside resort of Carnolès with its long pebble beach bordering Menton.All the area has a huge tourism activity, mainly from April to October.
Population
Culture
The local dialect actually is linguistically part of the mentonasqueMentonasque
Mentonasc , is a transition dialect historically in and around Menton, France. It is generally classified as Occitan, with some strong features from the neighbouring Intemelian Ligurian dialect spoken from Monaco to San Remo.-Characteristics:The Mentonasc shows some transition features to the...
of the Païs Mentounasc, a cultural area between the Ligurian dialects
Ligurian language (Romance)
Ligurian is a Gallo-Romance language spoken in Liguria in Northern Italy, parts of the Mediterranean coastal zone of France, Monaco and in the villages of Carloforte and Calasetta in Sardinia. Genoese , spoken in Genoa, the capital of Liguria, is its most important dialect...
and the Occitan language.
Since 1861 the use of the French language
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
has increased enormously in the city, and now only a minority of the 11,692 inhabitants still speaks the original dialect of Roccabruna.
See also
- List of historical unrecognized states
- Former countries in Europe after 1815Former countries in Europe after 1815This article gives a detailed listing of all the countries, , that have existed in Europe since the Congress of Vienna in 1815 to the present day...
- Grotte du VallonnetGrotte du VallonnetGrotte du Vallonnet is an archaeological site located near Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, between Monaco and Menton, in France, that was first discovered in 1958...
- Han van MeegerenHan van MeegerenHan van Meegeren , born Henricus Antonius van Meegeren, was a Dutch painter and portraitist, and is considered to be one of the most ingenious art forgers of the 20th century....
the well-known art-forger lived in Roquebrune and painted here his famous Vermeer fake Supper at Emmaus
External links
- http://www.roquebrunecapmartin.fr