history with the belief of the Catholic Church as a Holy power. The phrase is said to have been taken from another Grimaldi ancestor who supposedly illustrated the favour of their cause in a letter, illustrating their confidence against a said plot to remove the Grimaldi family from power in 1458, a plan which was foiled. Another link here is to the aforementioned religious symbolism of the armoured Monks, connecting back to the seizure of the fortress atop the Rock of Monaco and the even further back to the Grimaldi connection to the Guelphs versus Ghibellines conflict in the 12th and 13th centuries, which formed an integral part of their past struggles for power. The nature of this historical conflict has confirmed their strong support for the papacy as an opposing power to the Germans (in support of the Holy Roman Emperors), and with it, the significance of incorporating these beliefs into the very emblem that represents the House of Grimaldi. Knowing this, despite the fact that the country is largely dominated by French culture, many of the conflicts that formed Monaco today are Italian in origin, which gives further reason to this rich religious and familial history. The Armorial Achievement in Monaco Today Today, the armorial achievement of Monaco is more of a national emblem rather than a status symbol of the Grimaldi family itself. However, Albert II, the current Prince of Monaco does bear this symbol as his heraldic representation, and given the historical significance of this achievement, it will certainly be passed on through each heir as future sovereigns emerge. In addition, some parts of this emblem have been used in other parts of everyday life in Monaco; the motto is not only on the armorial achievement but on the coins, and a simplified variant of the arms is used on number plates for vehicles – further evidence that though the armorial achievement is reminiscent of much older times, it now represents Monaco and its people more so than the family itself. References National symbols of Monaco Monaco Monaco Monaco Monaco Monaco