Monaco is a tiny European principality, it is known for its economic stability, the amazing beauty of the azure shores, as well as the strange name of the inhabitants - Monegasques. To find out why the citizens of Monaco are so called, you have to turn to history.
Who are Monegasques
In fact, far from all Monaco residents are called Monegasques. These are special people, true, so to speak, citizens of this country. According to the 2008 census, there are about 7, 634 Monegasque people in Monaco, which makes up about 20% of the country's total population. The rest of the population is French, Italians, Spaniards.
The language of the Monegasques is also special. This is a dialect of the Ligurian language, which, although close to the dialect of the Genoese, but still fell under the influence of the Nice dialect of the Occitan language, spoken by some residents of Monaco.
Monegasque History
According to historical data, the Phoenicians were the first to settle on the territory of the then still non-existent principality of Monaco. This happened around the 10th century BC. Then the Greeks came here, professing a special religious cult. They worshiped the god of fertility and male power, who, according to legend, was called Mono Okos. It is from this word that the name of the tribe was later formed.
Monaco houses the famous Ocean Museum, founded by Prince Albert the First. It was from here that Cousteau began his great expedition.
There are legends that the tribe adjacent to the Monegasques worshiped the power of female fertility - the great mother goddess. Such a disagreement often led to military clashes.
Later, Italians from Liguria, mixed with Monegasques, gave them their language. Over time, the national identity of the Monegasques formed, their special traditions. The dialect of the Monegasques somewhat changed under the influence of their closest neighbors, but then finally settled down. Many Monegasques prefer to speak their own language.
