"I have nothing against Prince Albert, who had nothing to do with all of this. It is France which caused the damage," the 44-year-old told Le Parisien.
The dispute dates back to just over a century ago when the then Prince Louis II of Monaco had no official heir.
This meant that the next in line for the throne of Monaco was his first cousin Wilhelm, the Duke of Urach, a German nobleman.
"But for France, on the brink of World War I, the idea of a German ruling Monaco was simply unacceptable," said Jean-Marc Descoubès, de Causans' lawyer.
The throne should then have passed to de Causans' branch of the Grimaldi family, the artistocrat argues.
Instead a law was passed in 1911 recognising Louis' illegitimate daughter, Charlotte, the daughter of his cabaret singer lover Marie-Juliette Louvet, as his heir and making her part of the princely family.
This law was later declared invalid but another one was passed in 1918 that established Charlotte as the heir.
France and Monaco also signed a treaty that stated that the French Government would henceforth have the final say on all future contenders for the Monégasque throne.
De Causans' lawyer says that it is clear that the current rulers of Monaco are in their position solely by the will of the French state.
This is the base of his claim for the €351 million in damages he believes his client is entitled to, which he points out is a mere fraction of the entire wealth of the Grimaldis who rule Monaco.
He has sent his claim to the French Foreign Ministry, which has two months to respond.
If no satisfactory response is received within that time, the case will likely go to court.
"Today what I want is for the truth to come out and this injustice done to my family by France to be put right," said de Causans.
