Although heir and sovereign of a Mediterranean coast state, Prince Albert I was not attracted by this geographic area. According to him, the latin population was not as dynamic as people from Northern Europe. Nevertheless, until 1882, he visited several bordering countries such as Spain, Italy and North Africa. Among his scientific campaigns, less than twenty percent were executed in the Mediterranean. The international cooperation created the international commission for the Mediterranean sea’s scientific explorations, in the very beginning of the 20^th century. (full text in French)

An unlikely and inexcusable confusion led, a few decades ago, to the "amalgamation" of two virtually homonymous French artists who both had some links with the Principality of Monaco. Paul Emile Berton (born in Chartrettes in 1846, died in Paris in 1909), each year from 1894 to 1903, showed landscapes at the International Exhibition of Fine Arts in Monte-Carlo. Paul Louis Joseph Berthon (born in Villefranche-sur-Saône in 1872, died in Sceaux in 1934) designed two bookshop posters for Prince Albert I's book, La Carrière d'un navigateur. At Princess Alice's request he produced several illustrations for the programmes of operas performed in 1900 at the Monte-Carlo Theatre. (full text in French)

In the middle of the 19^th century Great Britain and France organised the first World Fairs of modern times. Prince Charles III and Francois Blanc decided by common consent to take part in this "concert of nations" in 1873. Henceforth Monaco participated in the majority of these events across Europe. Looking at these pavilions and what was exhibited there allow us to establish the growth of the Principlity not only in terms of the economy, but also culture, the arts ans sciences. It highlights the two tendencies revealed by the increasingly close study devoted to these international gatherings : the march towards the modern world and the affirmation of national identity. (full text in French)

Monaco took part in the universal exhibition in 1889. The area given to the Principality was small but well situated. The pavilion, built by Ernest Janty, and the garden refered to Monaco : brightness, colours, exuberance of vegetation. This exposition allowed, among other things, to make a presentation of the first oceanographic campaigns of Prince Albert. The results obtained, the equipment used, and the participation of the prince to many international congresses during the exhibition, allowed Prince Albert to have a scientific renown. (full text in French)

As early as 1876, Carl Vogt proposed for a research centre to be established in Villefranche-sur-Mer, taking into account the peculiarities of the fauna and topography in that area. During the 1880s, several attempts were made, but difficulties arose between the protagonists: the French Jules Barrois, the Swiss Hermann Fol and the Russian Alexis Korotneff. When Prince Albert I of Monaco spent several months in his Principality in 1890, all these persons tried to obtain his help.

The main wish of the Prince was to resume his oceanographic work. Over about fifteen days, he went to sea on board Fol’s well-equipped yacht, Amphiaster. So he became acquainted with the use of a steamer. A study was undertaken for the apparatus, particularly the traps and closing nets devised and/or improved by him and those used by Fol; the methods for their use and the results obtained were thoroughly compared. Before and after the creation of the Oceanographic Museum, relations between the Prince and the oceanographers in Villefranche-sur-Mer were restricted to neighbourly terms, exchanges of animals and information. A program for common researches was never concluded.

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An early and irresistible attraction for the sea gives birth to Prince Albert I of Monaco's vocation of navigator. Contrary to what collective memory tends to remember, it is not limited to his scientific work and outstanding contribution to the progress of oceanography. The number and complexity of human activities related to the maritime domain arouse Prince's many initiatives.
The perils of the sea, in which he plays alternately the role of rescuer and undergoes the trials of the sinking, push him to try to create an International Maritime Association to fill the gaps in international law related to collisions and marine assistance. As soon as 1886, he became involved in a reasoned management of living marine resources. National and international regulations and legislative provisions are essential to avoid over-exploitation. Only scientific studies can lead to responsible legislation, all the more so if they are conducted in the framework of international commissions, such as those adopted in Geneva in 1908 for the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. Sovereign of a littoral state, Prince Albert I promulgates about twenty sovereign ordinances and fits out the roadstead of Monaco with constructions and infrastructures in order to improve the natural configuration of the site.

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When he was a teenager, Albert, hereditary Prince of Monaco, adopted two principles: to be useful and to leave a mark of his activities. A family and friendly correspondence, also active and appreciated by the recipients, led him to tell about the outstanding episodes of his maritime journey.
In 1888 and 1889, he published two articles in the prestigious Revue des deux mondes. His role as a sovereign has forced him to put aside this writing activity for six years. Then, Albert I of Monaco published three texts in the Nouvelle Revue - “À la chasse”, “La mort d’un cachalot”, “L’âme du marin” – in the Revue de Paris, the Grande Revue, and finally in the Revue scientifique.
Nevertheless, he wished to bring together all these articles in a book which, from the second publication, were given a caption: “La carrière d’un navigateur”.

Text in French