Prince Wilhelm Karl, 2nd Duke of Urach

Prince Wilhelm of Urach, Count of Württemberg, 2nd Duke of Urach, was a German prince who was elected in June 1918 as King of Lithuania, with the regnal name of Mindaugas II. He never assumed the crown, however, as German authorities declared the election invalid; the invitation was withdrawn in November 1918.

Everyday and Formal Wear for Men

For everyday work, men typically wore loose-fitting white or cream shirts with dark trousers or breeches, often complemented by a waistcoat and a beret or flat cap. To show respect during church services and festivals, they transitioned into cleaner, better-kept versions of these same garments.

Traditional Attire for Monegasque Women

During this period, Monegasque peasant women wore a striped red and white bazin skirt, a black velvet spencer jacket, a red percale apron, and an embroidered muslin fichu. Their headwear consisted of a colored silk béroire or crépine, often replaced in summer by a black velvet twist and a wide rice straw hat for sun protection.

Dancing all night for Saint Roman festival

During the feast of Saint Roman in 1864, young people danced to a loud orchestra from the evening of August 8 until the next day, followed by a mass. Popular dances included the quadrille and the tarantella.

Carriage travel from Nice to Monaco

In 1864, a 28-kilometer carriage trip from Nice to Monaco cost 22.40 francs and took between three and a half and four hours.

Long carriage journeys between Nice and Monaco

A carriage journey from Nice to Monaco covered 28 kilometers and took between 3 hours 30 minutes and 4 hours. The cost for a two-horse post carriage was 22 francs 40.

School hygiene practices

In 1864, primary school officials mandated that students wash their hands every hour between classes due to concerns about hygiene.

Introduction of gas lighting in 1866

In 1866, Monaco introduced gas lighting for the first time, using coal-based technology from a gasworks built at the foot of Fort Antoine.

Breakfast snack of pan bagnat

Native families typically ate a simple snack called pan bagnat for breakfast, which consisted of bread pressed in olive oil, topped with tomato, onion, basil, black olives, and unsalted anchovies.

Communal dipping sauce bagna cauda

Families frequently used a communal sauce called bagna cauda, prepared with garlic and anchovy cream diluted in hot oil, which was kept warm at the center of the table for dipping fennel, celery, and chard.

Proud beggars in 1858

The local poor were known for refusing small alms, often rejecting any donation of less than four sous. One beggar even negotiated an arrears payment of five francs for missed weekly alms of eight sous.

Price of bread in 1874

In 1874, the price of high-quality bread in Monaco was fixed at 40 centimes per kilogram, while second-quality bread cost 32.5 centimes per kilogram.

Casino work defined the local economy

The gaming industry became the central economic pillar, employing hundreds of servants, waiters, and orchestral musicians like those led by M. Hermann. Gambling at the Casino required a minimum bet of 5 francs for roulette and 20 francs in gold for Trente-et-Quarante.

Piedmontese migrants performed most manual labor

Most laborers in the principality were Piedmontese migrants known for being hardworking and sober, often preferred for construction jobs like those at the Elysée-Alberti site. Local Monegasques held very few official roles, typically working in the Prince's household or in minor municipal positions.