The flag of Monaco shows two horizontal stripes in red and white. It was officially itroduced by Prince Carl III. on 4th of April in 1881. The colours of the flag of Monaco are the colours of the princely house of the Grimaldi-Familiy which were documentary mentioned already in 1339. They have their roots in the coat of arms of the Grimaldi-Family which rules the principality since the year 1297. In practice the national flag is frequently used in the format 2:3. The same colours in same arrangement shows accidentally the flag of Indonesia.
The princely coat of arms shows a shield with silvery and red lozenges surrounded by the necklace of the Order of St. Carl. Two monks (Minorites) are supporters of the shield and refer to a incident in the history of the princely house as a Grimaldi with craftiness conquered a fortification. On a banner in the underneath part of the coat of arms des Wappens the saying "Deo Iuvante" (by God's help) which refers also to this incident. This coat of arms is in its basic elements alreday very old and got its today's form ca. in 1800.
In the times of the Greek the estate was named "Monoikos", what means "lone house". The Romans the estate then named "Monoeci Portus", from where developed in the middle ages the today's name "Monaco".
