Launch of Prince Albert I’s death centenary commemorations

Following the establishment of the Committee at the Oceanographic Museum in January 2019 and the unveiling of the centenary logo at the Yacht Club de Monaco in July of the same year, the Albert I – 2022 Committee has continued its work in another symbolic memorial location in the Principality: Lycée Albert I.

The evening event held at Lycée Albert I and attended by H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco, began with the presentation of the centenary trailer, produced for the Committee by the Audiovisual Institute. 

H.E. Mr Robert Fillon, the Chair of the Prince Albert I Commemoration Committees, then unveiled the highlights already planned to commemorate Prince Albert I. These celebrations will take place over the next two years, from late 2020 to late 2022.
The Committee’s website, www.princealbert1.mc, which is being steadily enhanced to become a genuine documentary portal, was also unveiled, along with social media coverage, notably the Facebook page with which you will be familiar.
The evening continued with a tribute to writer and philosopher Armand Lunel (1892–1977), in the school where he taught from 1920 to 1953.

A former student at the École Normale Supérieure who passed the high-level competitive examination for teachers in philosophy, Prince Albert I appointed him to teach philosophy at the Lycée de Monaco exactly 100 years ago. Armand Lunel won the first Prix Renaudot in 1926 for his novel “Nicolo-Peccavi ou l’Affaire Dreyfus à Carpentras” (Nicolo-Peccavi or the Dreyfus Affair in Carpentras). He symbolises the fate of the Monegasque Jewish community during the Second World War.

Monaco’s Department of Education was keen to pay tribute to his personality and his work this year, by naming the multipurpose hall at Lycée Albert I after him. H.S.H. the Sovereign Prince unveiled a commemorative plaque dedicated to the author, in the presence of representatives from his family, Daniel and David Jessula, and Jean-Yves Giraudon, President of the PEN Club, an association founded by Armand Lunel in 1968. Mr Stéphane Lamotte, a teacher at Lycée Albert I who also passed the high-level competitive examination, holds a doctorate in history, acts as Secretary for the Commemoration Committees and has authored a study of Lunel and Monaco which was published in the “Annales monégasques” in 2017, gave a presentation on Lunel’s time in the Principality.

Finally, a historical lecture on the Dreyfus Affair connected the various elements of the evening together, and lent the event historical and scholarly depth.

The lecture was given by Mr Vincent Duclert, a historian and academic (researcher at the École des hautes études en sciences sociales (EHESS) and associate professor at Sciences-Po) who specialises in the Dreyfus Affair, on which he wrote his PhD thesis, focusing on the involvement of scholars. He has authored a number of reference works, including a biography of Captain Dreyfus, “Alfred Dreyfus. L’honneur d’un patriote” (Alfred Dreyfus: The Honour of a Patriot), published by Fayard in 2006.

In a brilliant and dynamic presentation, Mr Duclert explained the development of the Prince’s thinking, his belief in Dreyfus’ innocence in the face of reason of state and the ways in which he was involved. He also showed the importance of solidarity among Dreyfus’ supporters and the contribution made by women to resolving the Affair. This was backed by previously unpublished archive materials, and was greatly appreciated by the audience.

Below is a reminder of the timeline of Prince Albert I’s involvement in the Dreyfus Affair:
From 1897, in correspondence with his friend Flore Singer, a Parisian salon host, Prince Albert I showed himself to be sympathetic to Dreyfus from the outset of the Dreyfus Affair; in a meeting with President Félix Faure, he tried, unsuccessfully, to persuade Faure of Dreyfus’ innocence. In February 1898, in response to Zola’s “J’Accuse” letter, he wrote to the author: “Your statement contains the most wonderful sentiments that a soul could express. It honours humanity, it adds a ray of light to the glory of France. For all those who admire independence and sincerity in patriotism, you have risen higher than the renown of your talent.” On 3 July 1899, the Prince had a letter published in Le Figaro which was dated 27 June in Kiel and addressed to Madame Lucie Dreyfus, and he wrote to the captain. His public stance evoked a passionate response from both camps. This commitment illustrates Prince Albert I’s humanism. He believed that achieving justice for Dreyfus could only help to improve relations between France and Germany.

In short, it was a wonderful evening which got the commemorations off to a great start!