Menton’s history is fascinatingly complex. Not only was it ”attached” to France for two times (as the word rattachement implies), it has been placed under Spanish as well as Sardinian protectorate, it was repeatedly sold, repeatedly besieged and repeatedly destroyed.
As the focus lies on the rattachement, the period around and after 1860, a comprehensive treatise of Menton’s history goes beyond the project’s scope. Still, a (very) brief history of Menton from its first mention in 1146 until the end of the Italian occupation will provide a valuable framework to situate the post-rattachement dynamics:
Pre-1146: Before Menton came into being as a distinct city, it was part of the Roman municipality of Intémilium. It served as a crossing point on the Via Julia Augusta and did not yet constitute a distinct city.
August 1146: Menton appears for the first time in official documents with the mention of Puypin – today called the hill of Annonciade – on which a Roman fortified camp (castrum) was erected. This first “cité mentonnaise” belonged to the principality of Vetimiglia.
1157: The Compte Guido Guerra gives Puypin to the Republic of Genua.
1217 – 1242: During a period of violent rivalry between Genua and Ventimiglia, Menton is created under Guillaume II, grandson of Otton II.
1346: Manuel Vento decides to sell Menton to Charles Grimaldi, Coseigneur of Monaco and Seigneur of Roquebrune.
1346 – 1525: Repeated sieges and destruction of the city occur at the hands of Genua, the Turcs and Catalans.
10 April 1525: Menton is placed under Spanish protectorate.
14 September 1641: Menton is placed under French protectorate.
14 January 1793: The French assembly votes for the annexation of Menton to France. Menton’s citizens perceive themselves as different from the French due to their traditions, culture and history and suffer from the high tax burden imposed by the Empire.
30 May 1814: The restauration of the monarchy leads to the region Alpes-Maritimes becoming independent from French authority – still, Menton remains under French protectorate.
20 November 1815: Menton is placed under the protection of the Piémont-Sardaigne kingdom.
1821: Unsuccessful uprising
1833: Unsuccessful uprising
1848: Uprising due to split between citizens supporting French tutelage and those in favor of continued tutelage of the kingdom of Piémont-Sardaigne.
21 March 1848: The status of a ”Free city“ under the protectorate of Piémont-Sardaigne is proclaimed.
25 March 1849: Victor-Emmanuel II, King of Sardinia, ends Menton‘s and Roquebrun‘s status as Free cities. Both become Sardinian cities which is met with opposition.
1860: The French Emperor Napoleon III organizes a referendum in Menton despite protest by Monaco and Piémont-Sardaigne. Out of 1120 eligible voters 883 vote in favor of French annexation, 54 for remaining part of the monégasque principality, 2 vote null, 231 abstain.
1861: The treaty of annexation is signed
June 1940 – September 1943: Menton is invaded and occupied by Italian forces.
Frenchification of Menton 