2 Euro Monaco 2017 Carabiniers

2 Euro Monaco 2017 Carabinieri

Theme: 200 years of the creation of the Prince's company of Carabiniers

Quality:Fine Proof BE

The creation of the Corps des Carabiniers dates back to December 8, 1817.

CREATION

Since its creation, it has never ceased to exist. The corps has been reorganized several times, and on January 26, 1904, S.A.S. Prince Albert 1st signed an Ordinance sanctioning the dissolution of the Compagnie des Gardes. The Sovereign Prince, satisfied with the services rendered by the "Carabiniers", entrusted them with guarding the Palace and His Family. The Ordinance specified that "the service performed by the Compagnie des Gardes would henceforth be carried out by the Compagnie des Carabiniers, which would take the name of "COMPAGNIE DES CARABINIERS DU PRINCE".

MISSIONS

Since their creation, the Prince's Carabinieri have been responsible for guarding the Palace, with the ceremonial changeover every day at 11:55 a.m., ensuring the safety of His Serene Highness the Sovereign Prince and the Princely Family, the integrity of His properties or residences and their immediate surroundings, providing Him with the services of honor, ensuring the enforcement of laws and participating in the maintenance of public order. At present, it comprises three officers, fifteen non-commissioned officers and eighty-eight enlisted men.

In the Principality, the Compagnie des Carabiniers du Prince performs ceremonial services in full regalia. On "requisition", it escorts the Judiciary. It takes part in official civil and religious ceremonies, as well as Prises d'Armes and parades.

THE ORCHESTRA

The Compagnie des Carabiniers du Prince has a musical band made up of twenty-six Carabinieri musicians under the direction of a Chief Warrant Officer. Since 2014, this band has been known as the "Orchestre des Carabiniers du Prince". An integral part of the unit, the Orchestra is not, however, an entity in its own right whose sole vocation is music. The Carabinieri who make up the orchestra take part in all the Company's services, and receive the same training as their comrades. The richness and eclecticism of its repertoire enables it to perform at official ceremonies, sporting events and public concerts. Since 1989, it has represented S.A.S. the Sovereign Prince abroad, notably in Saumur, Nîmes, Albertville, Béziers, Lourdes, Lugano, Düsseldorf, Turin, Lisbon, Seville, Geneva, Hanover, etc.

THE GUARD OF HONOR

In 1997, we created a section called the "Garde d'Honneur de l'Etendard de S.A.S. le Prince Souverain". This section is integrated into the Company's "Prise d'Armes" system for the Fête Nationale, and also takes part in other military events as decided by S.A.S. le Prince. In addition to guarding the standard of S.A.S. the Sovereign Prince, the section also performs arms handling duties, with or without the Fanfare. It comprises an officer, two non-commissioned officers and twelve riflemen.

DRESS AND EQUIPMENT

Parade dress remains much as it was at the beginning of the century, but equipment and materials have been modernized to keep pace with new technology. Security has been enhanced by the introduction of modern means. Men's mobility has been enhanced by the provision of vehicles adapted to different missions and, in terms of weaponry, old rifles have given way to modern weapons.

OTHER MISSIONS

With the creation of a military first-aid unit, the Compagnie des Carabiniers du Prince provides ambulances for the Monegasque Red Cross. As such, it is involved in the safety of major sporting and artistic events held in the Principality, requiring rescue and evacuation resources. If need be, it would participate in the implementation of emergency resources, Plan Rouge or Ormose (Plan d'Organisation Monégasque des Secours).

The Compagnie des Carabiniers du Prince has a team of scuba divers who are regularly called upon to take part in safety measures and various rescue missions during the many nautical competitions held in Monegasque waters. These personnel also take part in scientific observations in the underwater environment to study pollution in the Mediterranean.

It has a motorcycle platoon, responsible for daily missions and escorts for S.A.S. the Sovereign Prince or heads of state visiting the Principality.

Although not completely self-sufficient, the Compagnie des Carabiniers du Prince carries out various missions for its own benefit. Essentially, it maintains its equipment and keeps the unit up and running. For this reason, many different trades are represented among the riflemen: gunsmith, accountant, draughtsman, cabinetmaker, electrician, computer specialist, bricklayer, car mechanic, carpenter, painter, plumber, radio operator, secretary and many others..

The Compagnie des Carabiniers du Prince is the custodian of the old Etendard des Gardes, to which it has sworn loyalty. Its motto is "HONOR - FIDELITY - DUTY".