Editing History of Monaco (section)

==Dark ages to the Genoese==
[[File:Holy_Roman_Empire_1190.svg|thumb|left|The Holy Roman Empire granted Monaco to Genoa.]]
Monaco remained under Roman control until the collapse of the [[Western Roman Empire]] in 476. The city was then under the domain of [[Odoacer]] until his fall at the hands of the [[Ostrogothic Kingdom|Ostrogoths]] in the late 5th century. Monaco was recaptured by the Romans during the reign of [[Justinian]] in the mid-6th century and was held until its capture by the [[Lombards]] in the 7th century. Monaco then passed hands between the Lombards and [[Franks]]. After having been damaged by the [[Saracen]]s in the 8th century, it was rebuilt by the monks of Saint-Pons in [[Nice]], who held it territorially starting from 1075. The city was further damaged and nearly abandoned as Saracen raids continued after they had put under their control a part of [[Provence]] with a base at [[Fraxinetum]]. Monaco is again mentioned in the 11th century, when the church of St. Mary was built and a borough rose around it.

In 1191, [[Holy Roman Emperor]] [[Henry VI, Holy Roman Emperor|Henry VI]] granted [[suzerainty]] over the area to the city of [[Genoa]]. On 10 June 1215, a detachment of Genoese [[Ghibellines]] led by Fulco del Cassello began the construction of a fortress atop the Rock of Monaco. This date is often cited as the beginning of Monaco's modern history.

As the Ghibellines intended their fortress to be a strategic military stronghold and center of control for the area, they set about creating a settlement around the base of the Rock to support the garrison; in an attempt to lure residents from Genoa and the surrounding cities, they offered land grants and [[tax]] exemption to new settlers.