143-573: Liberland , also known as the Free Republic of Liberland , is a micronation promoted by Czech right-libertarian politician and activist Vít Jedlička , who began claiming in 2015 that an uninhabited stretch of floodplain on the Croatian bank of the Danube (known as Gornja Siga), is the territory of a new independent country. Not recognized by any country, it has since become an example of
286-503: A state as: "a person of international law [that] possess the following qualifications: (a) a permanent population ; (b) a defined territory; (c) government; and (d) capacity to enter into relations with the other states." In 2019, a couple seasteading off the coast of Thailand went into hiding after being accused by the Royal Thai Navy of violating Thailand's sovereignty. If found guilty, they could face life in prison or
429-762: A flag , coat of arms or seal, motto and anthem , and many micronations also issue coins, banknotes, stamps, passports, passport stamps , orders of merit and bestow honours and titles of nobility , although these are not recognised internationally. Some micronations have made profits by selling these items as souvenirs and memorabilia to tourists and via their national websites, and others have even sold citizenship and titles of nobility. Some micronational coinage and stamps, if professionally made, have become valued as collector's items by numismatists and philatelists (stamp collectors) alike. In addition, both Sealand and Seborga have their own national association football teams. The Sealand national football team
572-441: A sovereign state rather than to achieve international recognition , and their activities are almost always trivial enough to be ignored rather than challenged by the established nations whose territory they claim —referred to as a macronation in micronationalism. Some micronations admit to having no intention of actually becoming internationally recognised as sovereign. Geographically, most micronations are very small, are often
715-574: A tongue-in-cheek venture meant to bolster tourism. In 1986, the Kingdom of North Dumpling was declared by inventor Dean Kamen after a denial from local officials to build his own wind turbine on North Dumpling Island in Long Island Sound , which Kamen privately owns. Kamen wrote his own constitution and created a flag, currency and national anthem for the micronation. In 1992, despite still being recognised as part of New York State in
858-543: A "State in Time", claiming no territory in order to be a "stateless state". Elgaland-Vargaland is a conceptual art project founded in 1992 by Swedish artists Carl Michael von Hausswolff and Leif Elggren . According to them, everyone who dies is automatically granted citizenship. Among Elgaland-Vargaland's territorial claims include graveyards , people's mental states and "the distance between high tide and low tide " of France. They also claim to operate embassies around
1001-567: A French intermicronational organisation, was founded in 2015. The organisation organised its first summit in 2016, hosted by the Principality of Aigues-Mortes . In 2018, the Principality of Islandia was established by two individuals aiming to build a crowdfunded micronation. Successfully purchasing the uninhabited Coffee Caye in the Caribbean Sea off the coast of Belize in 2019, Prime Minister of Belize John Briceño dismissed
1144-661: A basketball team, which plays in the EuroLeague . A centre of research into marine conservation , Monaco is home to one of the world's first protected marine habitats, an Oceanographic Museum , and the International Atomic Energy Agency Marine Environment Laboratories, the only marine laboratory in the UN structure. Monaco's name comes from the nearby 6th-century BC Phocaean Greek colony. Referred to by
1287-584: A curiosity with negligible consequences at the international level. For the rest of the world's disputed territories, violence and diplomacy will remain the main tools to claim ownership." Liberland has been involved in several commercial operations, including the issuing of coins and postage stamps and various activities in the cryptocurrency industry. The micronation also relies on voluntary donations and taxation. Liberland reported $ 1.5 million in annual income according to financial reports released by Liberland in 2023. More than 99% of Liberland's reserves are held in
1430-563: A cyclone, and the project was completely abandoned in 1973. In 1967, Paddy Roy Bates squatted on HM Fort Roughs , an offshore platform in the North Sea used during World War II approximately 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) off the coast of the United Kingdom. Bates had intended to broadcast a pirate radio station from the platform, however ultimately never did so. He instead declared the independence of Fort Roughs and declared it
1573-535: A full United Nations voting member in 1993. Despite Monaco's independence and separate foreign policy, its defence is the responsibility of France, besides maintenance of two small military units . Monaco's economic development was spurred in the late 19th century with the opening of the state's first casino, the Monte Carlo Casino , and a rail connection to Paris. Monaco's mild climate, scenery, and gambling facilities have contributed to its status as
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#17327802456491716-714: A hobbyist paradigm of micronationalism that arose with the rise of the Internet from the mid-1990s onwards. In 2021, legal academics Harry Hobbs and George Williams , in their Micronations and the Search for Sovereignty , defined micronations as "self-declared nations that perform and mimic acts of sovereignty, and adopt many of the protocols of nations, but lack a foundation in domestic and international law for their existence and are not recognised as nations in domestic or international forums". Online dictionary Collins English Dictionary , published by HarperCollins , gives
1859-440: A micronation. Jedlička was inspired by classical liberal thinkers such as Ludwig von Mises and Ayn Rand , and he envisioned a political system characterised by laissez-faire capitalism , minimal government , and an economy based on cryptocurrency . The official website of Liberland states that the nation was created in the wake of the ongoing Croatia–Serbia border dispute . According to Jedlička, this dispute resulted in
2002-430: A non-territorial global government based on the ideals of secularism , progressivism and liberalism . Among the causes Atlantium supports are the right to unrestricted international freedom of movement , the right to abortion , and the right to assisted suicide . In 1981, drawing on a news story about Hemingway's New Atlantis, novelist Hisashi Inoue wrote a 700-page work of magic realism , Kirikirijin , about
2145-601: A playground for the rich and a favoured place for them to live. Until the Monégasque Revolution of 1910 forced the adoption of the 1911 Constitution of Monaco , the princes of Monaco were absolute rulers . The new constitution slightly reduced the autocratic rule of the Grimaldi family and Prince Albert I suspended it during the First World War. In July 1918, a new Franco-Monégasque Treaty
2288-560: A plot of land west of the Danube being unclaimed by either side. The parcel of land in question is 7 km (2.7 sq mi) in area, roughly the same size as Gibraltar . It has been administered by Croatia since the Croatian War of Independence . Liberland has no diplomatic recognition from any recognized nation. The land lacks infrastructure and lies on the floodplain of the Danube. Croatia has frequently blocked off access to
2431-403: A population of 38,400, making Monaco the second-smallest and the most densely populated country in the world . The country has a land border of only 5.47 km (3.40 mi), a coastline of 3.83 km (2.38 mi), a maritime claim that extends 22.2 km (13.8 mi), and a width that varies between 1,700 and 349 m (5,577 and 1,145 ft). Jurassic -era limestone
2574-569: A post office and commercial establishments. In 1969, the Italian Navy used explosives to destroy the facility, claiming it was a ploy to raise money from tourists while avoiding national taxation . The Republic of Minerva was a libertarian project that succeeded in building a small artificial island on the Minerva Reefs in 1972 by importing sand. It was invaded by troops from Tonga that same year, who annexed it before destroying
2717-665: A protectorate of the Kingdom of Sardinia by the Congress of Vienna in 1815. Monaco remained in this position until 1860 when, by the Treaty of Turin , the Sardinian forces pulled out of the principality; the surrounding County of Nice (as well as Savoy ) was ceded to France. Monaco became a French protectorate once again. Italian was the official language in Monaco until 1860, when it was replaced by French. Before this time there
2860-610: A similar definition: "An entity , typically existing only on the internet or within the private property of its members, that lays claim to sovereign status as an independent nation, but which is unrecognized by real nations." Several historical political entities have been retroactively described as micronations in academic and journalistic works, including the Islands of Refreshment (existed 1811–16), Kingdom of Araucanía and Patagonia (since 1860), State of Scott (1861–1986), Republic of Parva Domus Magna Quies (since 1878), and
3003-479: A small green/park area. Monaco had previously considered an expansion in 2008, but had called it off. The plan is for about six hectares (15 acres) of apartment buildings, parks, shops and offices to a land value of about 1 billion euros . The development will be adjacent to the Larvotto district and also will include a small marina. There were four main proposals, and the final mix of use will be finalised as
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#17327802456493146-590: A tax haven for wealthy French citizens. In 1993, the Principality of Monaco became a member of the United Nations , with full voting rights. In 2002, a new treaty between France and Monaco specified that, should there be no heirs to carry on the Grimaldi dynasty, the principality would still remain an independent nation rather than revert to France. Monaco's military defense is still the responsibility of France. On 31 March 2005, Rainier III , who
3289-435: A third party. The Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also disassociated itself from the activities of Jedlička, finding them inappropriate, illegal, and potentially harmful, and has asked him to respect local law. Legal experts in both Serbia and Croatia have asserted that, under international law, Jedlička lacks the right to claim the area. There has been no diplomatic recognition of Liberland by any member nation-state of
3432-443: A tourist destination and recreation centre for the rich. Monaco has become a major banking centre and sought to diversify into the services sector and small, high-value-added , non-polluting industries. Monaco is a tax haven ; it has no personal income tax (except for French citizens) and low business taxes . Over 30% of residents are millionaires, with real estate prices reaching €100,000 ($ 116,374) per square metre in 2018. Monaco
3575-754: A village that secedes from Japan and proclaims its bumpkinish, marginalized dialect its national language, and its subsequent war of independence . This single-handedly inspired a large number of real-world Japanese villages, mostly in the northern regions, to declare independence, generally as a move to raise awareness of their unique culture and crafts for urban Japanese who saw village life as backwards and uncultured. These micronations, known as mini-independent countries ( Japanese : ミニ独立国 , romanized : mini dokuritsu koku ), held intermicronational summits , and some of them formed confederations and intermicronational organisations. The Ginko Federation held an intermicronational Olympic games in 1986. However,
3718-399: Is fishing ; with almost the entire country being an urban area , Monaco lacks any sort of commercial agriculture industry . A small residential expansion formerly called Le Portier was nearing completion in 2023, and additionally a new esplanade was added at Larvatto beach which also had some maintenance. Monaco is the second-smallest country by area in the world ; only Vatican City
3861-577: Is Italian. The principality continued its existence as a protectorate of France until the French Revolution . In 1793, Revolutionary forces captured Monaco and until 1814 it was occupied by the French (in this period much of Europe had been overrun by the French armies under the command of Napoleon Bonaparte). The principality was reestablished in 1814 under the Grimaldis. It was designated
4004-654: Is a global hub of money laundering, and in June 2024 the Financial Action Task Force placed Monaco under increased monitoring to combat money laundering and terrorist financing. Monaco is not part of the European Union (EU), but participates in certain EU policies , including customs and border controls. Through its relationship with France, Monaco uses the euro as its sole currency. Monaco joined
4147-616: Is a prominent bedrock which is locally karstified . It hosts the Grotte de l'Observatoire , which has been open to the public since 1946. The highest point in the country is at the access to the Patio Palace residential building on the Chemin des Révoires (ward Les Révoires ) from the D6007 ( Moyenne Corniche street) at 164.4 m (539 ft) above sea level . The lowest point in
4290-627: Is currently being built on the sea. Note: for statistical purposes, the Wards of Monaco are further subdivided into 178 city blocks (îlots), which are comparable to the census blocks in the United States . Monaco exhibits a wide range of architecture, but the principality's signature style, particularly in Monte Carlo, is that of the Belle Époque . It finds its most florid expression in
4433-518: Is smaller. Monaco is the most densely populated country in the world. The state consists of only one municipality ( commune ), the Municipality of Monaco . There is no geographical distinction between the State and City of Monaco, although responsibilities of the government (state-level) and of the municipality (city-level) are different. According to the constitution of 1911, the principality
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4576-542: Is the head of government , can be either a Monégasque or French citizen; the monarch consults with the Government of France before an appointment. Key members of the judiciary are detached French magistrates. The House of Grimaldi has ruled Monaco, with brief interruptions, since 1297. The state's sovereignty was officially recognised by the Franco-Monégasque Treaty of 1861 , with Monaco becoming
4719-496: The Atlanta , Georgia based Kingdom of Ruritania based on the fictional country of Ruritania from Anthony Hope's Prisoner of Zenda , the latter of which hosted MicroCon 2017 in Atlanta , Georgia . Micronations function in the same way as sovereign states in that they have their own government, constitution , legislation, and (if a democracy ) hold national elections. Micronations often have national symbols such as
4862-731: The Australian Taxation Office as well as the financial impact caused by the COVID-19 pandemic . In 1976, the Province of Bumbunga was declared by Alec Brackstone in response to the 1975 Australian constitutional crisis . Brackstone, an ardent British monarchist, became alarmed by what he saw as a drift away from the Australian system of constitutional monarchy toward outright republicanism . Thus, to ensure that at least one portion of Australia would remain loyal to
5005-538: The Black Sea for several landlocked nations, runs along the self-proclaimed territory. Jedlička is a member of the Czech Party of Free Citizens , which bases its values on classical liberal ideology. According to him, since no nation claims the land as its own, he could therefore claim it using the terra nullius doctrine; the borders, he argued, respected both Croatia and Serbia's sovereignty. He intended
5148-635: The British Crown , Bumbunga was declared. The Sovereign State of Aeterna Lucina was proclaimed in 1978 by German migrant Paul Neuman. Aeterna Lucina came to public attention in 1990 when Neuman faced fraud charges in the New South Wales court system relating to land sale offences; the case was abandoned in 1992. In 1979, the Independent State of Rainbow Creek was declared by Thomas Barnes in protest of alleged incompetence by
5291-905: The Council of Europe in 2004 and is a member of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF). It hosts the annual motor race, the Monaco Grand Prix , one of the original Grands Prix of Formula One . The local motorsports association gives its name to the Monte Carlo Rally , hosted in January in the French Alps . The principality has a club football team, AS Monaco , which competes in French Ligue 1 and been French champions on multiple occasions, and
5434-742: The Eastern bloc , the Western bloc , and the Third World nations. But there is another universe of nations which exist apart from the familiar countries." The International Micropatrological Society (IMS), an American learned society and research institute , was founded in 1973 and dedicated to the study of micronations, a discipline it named micropatrology . By 1976, it had documents pertaining to 128 micronations and similar political entities. The earliest attested use of micronation in its current meaning appeared on 28 March 1976 in an article by
5577-790: The First Summit of Micronations summit commenced in Helsinki , Finland, coinciding with a performance art festival called Amorph!03. Six micronations were represented. An art exhibition exhibiting various micronational miscellanea, We Could Have Invited Everyone , occurred in 2004 and 2005 at the Reg Vardy Gallery, University of Sunderland , England and Andrew Kreps Gallery, New York City , United States respectively. The items were featured alongside artwork by artists including Yoko Ono and Nina Katchadourian . Both exhibitions coincided with an intermicronational summit. In 2005,
5720-726: The Florida Keys in 1982 after the United States Border Patrol set up a roadblock and inspection point on one of the only two roads connecting the Florida Keys with the mainland. The Key West City Council complained repeatedly about the inconvenience, claiming that it hurt the Keys' tourism industry. Though the roadblock was soon removed, the claim to sovereignty of the Conch Republic has persisted as
5863-839: The French Army . In addition to their guard duties as described, the carabiniers patrol the principality's beaches and coastal waters. Monaco is a sovereign city-state , with five quarters and ten wards, located on the French Riviera in Western Europe . It is bordered by France's Alpes-Maritimes department on three sides, with one side bordering the Mediterranean Sea . Its centre is about 16 km (9.9 mi) from Italy and only 13 km (8.1 mi) northeast of Nice . It has an area of 2.1 km (0.81 sq mi), or 208 ha (510 acres), and
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6006-560: The French Revolution , but after the defeat of Napoleon it was put under the care of the Kingdom of Sardinia . In the 19th century, when Sardinia became a part of Italy, the region came under French influence but France allowed it to remain independent. Like France, Monaco was overrun by the Axis powers during the Second World War and for a short time was administered by Italy, then Nazi Germany , before being liberated. Although
6149-624: The Government of Victoria in regards to the flooding of his and others' properties. He was inspired by Hutt River. The Grand Duchy of Avram was established in Tasmania in the early 1980s by politician John Charlton Rudge , and issues its own banknotes. In recognition of his status, Rudge legally changed his name to John the Duke of Avram. In 1981, the Empire of Atlantium was founded in Sydney as
6292-471: The Grand Duchy of Westarctica and Grand Duchy of Flandrensis . However, due to Antartica's remoteness, no micronation has yet to establish a permanent residence on the continent. On the other hand, at least one micronationalist has physically reached Bir Tawil; in June 2014, Virginian farmer Jeremiah Heaton travelled to the area and proclaimed the Kingdom of North Sudan . Heaton stated that he claimed
6435-863: The International Micropatrological Society . Micronationalism saw several developments thereafter, with several micronations being founded in Australia in the 1970s and Japan in the 1980s. As a result of the emergence of the World Wide Web in the mid-1990s, micronationalism lost much of its traditionally eccentric anti-establishment sentiment in favour of more hobbyist perspectives, and the number of exclusively online or merely simulation-based micronations expanded dramatically. This has allowed several intermicronational organisations to form, as well as allowing for many diplomatic summits to take place between micronations since
6578-586: The Kingdom of Italy when it was formed in 1861, meaning that Seborga had remained sovereign. The Romanov Empire , created by chairman of the Monarchist Party of Russia Anton Bakov , claims to be a re-creation of the Russian Empire that holds Prince Karl Emich of Leiningen as the rightful heir to the imperial throne. Monaco in Europe (dark grey) Monaco , officially
6721-517: The Ligurians as Monoikos , from the Greek "μόνοικος", "single house", from "μόνος" ( monos ) "alone, single" + "οἶκος" ( oikos ) "house". According to an ancient myth, Hercules passed through the Monaco area and turned away the previous gods. As a result, a temple was constructed there. Because this "House" of Hercules was the only temple in the area, the city was called Monoikos. It ended up in
6864-558: The Municipality of Monaco . The municipality is directed by the Communal Council , which consists of 14 elected members and is presided over by a mayor . Georges Marsan has been mayor since 2003. Unlike the National Council, communal councillors are elected for four-year terms and are strictly non-partisan ; oppositions inside the council frequently form. Members of the judiciary of Monaco are appointed by
7007-506: The Muruwari , in 2013, and the Sovereign Yidindji Government , comprising the Yidindji , in 2014. In both cases, the declarations of independence went wholly unrecognised by the Government of Australia . In 2015, the first convention of the biannual MicroCon was held in Anaheim, California , United States. Hosted by the Republic of Molossia, several presentations were held by micronationalists regarding various topics in micronationalism. The Organisation de la microfrancophonie ,
7150-400: The Principality of Monaco , is a sovereign city-state and microstate on the French Riviera a few kilometres west of the Italian region of Liguria , in Western Europe , on the Mediterranean Sea . It is a semi-enclave bordered by France to the north, east and west. The principality is home to 38,682 residents, of whom 9,486 are Monégasque nationals; it is recognised as one of
7293-408: The Principality of Sealand . Bates died in 2012, and Michael Bates has since succeeded him as Prince of Sealand. Operation Atlantis was a project started in 1968 by Werner Stiefel, aiming to establish a new, libertarian nation in international waters via seasteading. The operation launched a ferrocement boat on the Hudson River in December 1971, piloting it to an area near the Bahamas with
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#17327802456497436-487: The Principality of Snake Hill and George Cruickshank of the Empire of Atlantium. PoliNation 2012 was held in London, United Kingdom, and PoliNation 2015 commenced at Umbria , Italy. MicroCon 2015 was held in Anaheim, California and hosted by Molossia; MicroCon 2017 in Tucker, Georgia by the Kingdom of Ruritania ; MicroCon 2019 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, by the Kingdom of Slabovia; and MicroCon 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada by Westarctica, having been delayed due to
7579-644: The Sunda Democratic Empire , sisters Puteri Lamia Roro Wiranata and Puteri Fathia Reza, were detained by Malaysian immigration authorities for attempting to enter from Brunei using diplomatic passports from the Sunda Empire. They claimed to be the princesses of the historical Sunda Kingdom and that their parents were in exile . In early 2008, they were freed by the Sessions Court, but maintained their claim of Sundan citizenship, thus making them ineligible for deportation to Indonesia. The Malaysian authorities subsequently deemed them stateless individuals , and they were interned at an immigration depot under supervision of
7722-444: The United Nations . Jedlička has visited another unrecognized republic, Somaliland , a self-declared state that proclaimed its independence from Somalia in 1991, and discussed mutual recognition with them. Several micronations – the Kingdom of Enclava , the Kingdom of North Sudan , and the Principality of Sealand – have expressed support for the idea of Liberland. Liberland has recently pursued closer relations with Argentina after
7865-497: The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees . In 2010, the documentary film How to Start Your Own Country , directed by Jody Shapiro, was screened as part of the 35th Toronto International Film Festival . The documentary explored various micronations around the world and included an analysis of the concept of statehood, seasteading and citizenship . The film was inspired by Erwin Strauss' eponymous book. Also that same year, an intermicronational summit, PoliNation 2010 ,
8008-418: The United States . Croatian police have continued detaining people, including those that entered the area by boat (via an international waterway). One of them, Danish activist Ulrik Grøssel Haagensen, was placed in house arrest for 5 days before being sentenced to 15 days of prison, triggering some protests in Denmark. In May 2016, several appeals court decisions from Croatia were published. The court upheld that
8151-408: The death penalty . As of 2020, they relocated to Panama. Some micronations are founded on the basis of historical anomalies. The Principality of Seborga was founded in 1963 by Giorgio Carbone, who claimed to have found documents from the Vatican archives which, according to Carbone, indicated that Seborga had never been a possession of the House of Savoy and was thus not legally included in
8294-473: The humid subtropical climate ( Cfa ). As a result, it has balmy warm, dry summers and mild, rainy winters. The winters are very mild considering the city's latitude, being as mild as locations located much further south in the Mediterranean Basin . Cool and rainy interludes can interrupt the dry summer season, the average length of which is also shorter. Summer afternoons are infrequently hot (indeed, temperatures greater than 30 °C or 86 °F are rare) as
8437-437: The subreddit forum r/micronations on Reddit had another 8,000. Micronation as a word has no basis in international law. Despite this, several micronations have attempted to justify their claims to sovereignty by citing loopholes in local laws. A commonly attempted tactic used by micronationalists to legitimise their claims is the declarative theory of statehood as defined by the Montevideo Convention , which defines
8580-420: The 1630s, he sought French protection against the Spanish forces and, in 1642, was received at the court of Louis XIII as a "duc et pair étranger". The princes of Monaco became vassals of the French kings while at the same time remaining sovereign princes. Though successive princes and their families spent most of their lives in Paris , and intermarried with French and Italian nobilities, the House of Grimaldi
8723-493: The 1878–9 Casino and the Salle Garnier created by Charles Garnier and Jules Dutrou. Decorative elements include turrets, balconies, pinnacles, multi-coloured ceramics, and caryatids. These were blended to create a picturesque fantasy of pleasure and luxury, and an alluring expression of how Monaco sought and still seeks, to portray itself. This capriccio of French, Italian, and Spanish elements were incorporated into hacienda villas and apartments. Following major development in
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#17327802456498866-499: The 1970s, Prince Rainier III banned high-rise development in the principality. His successor, Prince Albert II , overturned this Sovereign Order. In recent years the accelerating demolition of Monaco's architectural heritage , including its single-family villas, has created dismay. The principality has no heritage protection legislation. Monaco has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate ( Köppen climate classification : Csa ), with strong maritime influences, with some resemblances to
9009-425: The 19th century before meandering and hydraulic engineering works altered its course. As a result, Croatia claims a large part of the disputed area controlled by Serbia, while Serbia does not claim the much smaller parts controlled by Croatia. Jedlička says that the land he has claimed, known as Gornja Siga (meaning 'upper tufa ') was not claimed by either side. The area is about 700 hectares (1,700 acres)—about
9152-576: The 2000s, including the biennial MicroCon convention. Micronations are aspirant states that claim independence but lack legal recognition by world governments or major international organisations . Micronations are classified separately from states with limited recognition and quasi-states , nor are they considered to be autonomous or self-governing as they lack the legal basis in international law for their existence. While some are secessionist in nature, most micronations are widely regarded as sovereignty projects that instead seek to mimic
9295-439: The American actress Grace Kelly , an event that was widely televised and covered in the popular press, focusing the world's attention on the tiny principality. A 1962 amendment to the constitution abolished capital punishment, provided for women's suffrage and established a Supreme Court of Monaco to guarantee fundamental liberties. In 1963, a crisis developed when Charles de Gaulle blockaded Monaco, angered by its status as
9438-752: The COVID-19 pandemic. The first summit hosted by the Microfrancophonie was held in 2016 in Aigues-Mortes , Occitania , and hosted by the Principality of Aigues-Mortes; the second summit took place in 2018 in Vincennes , Paris, and was hosted by Angyalistan; the third summit took place in 2022 in Blaye , Nouvelle-Aquitaine , organised by the Principality of Hélianthis. There are thousands of micronations which exist and operate solely online. Micronationalists convene and engage with one another through several online platforms, especially social media and historically forums (message boards), where micronationalists can share lessons and ideas as well as gain inspiration for establishing their own micronation. MicroWiki ,
9581-403: The German Wehrmacht occupied Italy and Monaco, and the Nazi deportation of the Jewish population began. René Blum , the prominent French Jew who founded the Ballet de l'Opéra in Monte Carlo, was arrested in his Paris home and held in the Drancy deportation camp outside the French capital before being transported to Auschwitz , where he was later murdered. Blum's colleague Raoul Gunsbourg ,
9724-413: The Gornja Siga territory since 2015. As a result, a number of people, including Vít Jedlička, have been arrested for trying to enter the claimed land. The dispute regarding the border along the Danube River valley first arose in 1947 but was left unresolved during the existence of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia . It became a contentious issue after the break-up of Yugoslavia . Serbia holds
9867-412: The Grimaldi family for over 500 years. These were ceded to France in return for 4,100,000 francs. The transfer and Monaco's sovereignty were recognised by the Franco-Monégasque Treaty of 1861. In 1869, the principality stopped collecting income tax from its residents — an indulgence the Grimaldi family could afford to entertain thanks solely to the extraordinary success of the casino. This made Monaco
10010-444: The Liberland supporters had constructed earlier, were taken down. Liberland supporters also complained about confiscations of property. Croatian police has confirmed that they secured the location during the work with the demolition, and made three arrests, according to Dnevnik Nove TV . Jedlička was banned from entering Croatia and Gornja Siga for five years due to 'extremist activities'. By November 2023, some supporters had returned to
10153-432: The Monégasque throne was a two-step event with a further ceremony, drawing heads of state for an elaborate reception, held on 18 November 2005, at the historic Prince's Palace in Monaco-Ville . On 27 August 2015, Albert II apologised for Monaco's role during World War II in facilitating the deportation of a total of 90 Jews and resistance fighters, of whom only nine survived. "We committed the irreparable in handing over to
10296-533: The New York Times about the IMS. The first use of micronation in a book was in an eponymous dedicated section of the 1978 The People's Almanac#2 by David Wallechinsky and Irving Wallace . In 1979, the first book about micronations, How to Start Your Own Country , was published by Erwin S. Strauss . The IMS contributed considerably to the work. However, the word micronation is notably absent from
10439-671: The Seasteading Institute , a non-profit organisation formed to facilitate the establishment of these seasteads. The Space Kingdom of Asgardia , founded in October 2016, claims an artificial satellite that orbited the Earth. Named Asgardia-1 , the two-unit CubeSat was successfully launched by Orbital ATK in November 2017 as part of an International Space Station resupply mission. Asgardia-1 reportedly re-entered
10582-554: The Sovereign Prince. Key positions within the judiciary are held by French magistrates, proposed by the Government of France. Monaco currently has three examining magistrates . The wider defence of the nation is provided by France. Monaco has no navy or air force, but on both a per-capita and per-area basis, Monaco has one of the largest police forces (515 police officers for about 38,000 people) and police presences in
10725-526: The UN: a review of some micro-states, micro-nations and other ephemeral entities), which details over 600 micronations. In 2000, the Republic of Molossia and the erstwhile Kingdom of TorHavn hosted an Intermicronational Olympic Games online to coincide with the 2000 Summer Olympics . Six micronations competed and were asked to record their performances then report it to a Molossian message board . In 2003,
10868-429: The United States, Kamen was able to leverage his personal relationship with then-president George H. W. Bush to sign an unofficial non-aggression pact . Several conceptual art projects with micronational claims arose in the 1990s, usually as a means to challenge the idea of statehood . In 1991, Neue Slowenische Kunst (NSK), a Slovenian political art collective , declared independence. NSK describes itself as
11011-420: The affair to be a trivial matter, it affirmed that Liberland did not infringe upon its sovereignty. In contrast, Croatia, which currently administers the land in question, has found the idea "provocative" and suggested bringing it to a stop even if by force; rejecting the idea that the land is terra nullius , it has stated that after international arbitration, the land should be awarded to Croatia or Serbia, not to
11154-468: The area since the beginning of May 2015. In May 2015, Vít Jedlička and his translator Sven Sambunjak were briefly detained by Croatian police after making an attempt to cross the border. Jedlička spent one night in detention and then was convicted and ordered to pay a fine for illegal crossing of the Croatian border but appealed the verdict. He claimed that there were at least three Liberland citizens inside
11297-558: The area, who came from Switzerland. Later that month, Vít Jedlička was detained again. Initially, reporters were able to enter the area with Jedlička but subsequently they were also denied entry, including journalists from the Serbian public broadcast service Radio Television of Vojvodina , and from the Bosnian newspaper Dnevni avaz . The detained were from various countries, including the Republic of Ireland , Germany , Denmark , and
11440-547: The atmosphere in September 2022. The Nation of Celestial Space claims all of outer space , whilst the Empire of Angyalistan lays claim to garbage patches around the world's oceans in protest against their existence. Other claimed micronations may fit more into a cultural category were territorial claims are not as easily defined such as Aynvaul , what appears to be an Irish-American and Irish language revival micronation based in or around Long Island, New York and
11583-533: The book. A second edition of the work was published in 1984 by Loompanics , followed in 1999 by a third edition published by Paladin Press . According to the Yearbook of International Organizations , the IMS was disestablished in 1988. Australia has a disproportionate number of micronations compared to other countries. The first micronation founded within Australia was the Principality of Hutt River in 1970. It
11726-613: The country is the Mediterranean Sea. Saint-Jean brook is the longest flowing body of water, around 0.19 km (190 m; 0.12 mi; 620 ft) in length, and Fontvieille is the largest lake, approximately 0.5 ha (1.2 acres) in area. Monaco's most populated quartier is Monte Carlo , and the most populated ward is Larvotto/Bas Moulins . After the expansion of Port Hercules , Monaco's total area grew to 2.08 km (0.80 sq mi) or 208 ha (510 acres); subsequently, new plans were approved to extend
11869-408: The creation of micronations include theoretical experimentation, political protest , artistic expression, personal entertainment and the conduct of criminal activity. The study of micronationalism is known as micropatriology or micropatrology . Although several historical states have been retroactively called micronations, the concept was formulated in the 1970s, with a particular influence from
12012-403: The crossings from Croatia were illegal, but found the convictions for crossings from Serbia improper. The court said that the lower court committed "a fundamental breach of misdemeanour proceedings" and "essential procedural violations". It further ruled that "the facts were incorrectly and incompletely established [by the prosecutor] which could lead to misapplication of substantive law". A retrial
12155-469: The cryptocurrency Bitcoin , which policy experts stated as 'unwise'. Christopher Carr, a lecturer in cryptography and blockchain at Exeter University , stated that Liberland risked the same challenges El Salvador faced since it adopted bitcoin as a currency in 2021. Both Croatia and Serbia have dismissed Jedlička's claims as frivolous. While the Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs considered
12298-564: The development progresses. The name for the new district is Anse du Portier . On 29 February 2020, Monaco announced its first case of COVID-19 , a man who was admitted to the Princess Grace Hospital Centre then transferred to Nice University Hospital in France. On 3 September 2020, the first Monégasque satellite, OSM-1 CICERO, was launched into space from French Guiana aboard a Vega rocket . The satellite
12441-579: The director of the Opéra de Monte-Carlo , helped by the French Resistance , escaped arrest and fled to Switzerland . In August 1944, the Germans executed René Borghini, Joseph-Henri Lajoux and Esther Poggio, who were Resistance leaders. Rainier III , succeeded to the throne on the death of his grandfather, Prince Louis II , in 1949, and ruled until 2005. On 19 April 1956, Prince Rainier married
12584-400: The district of Fontvieille by 0.08 km (0.031 sq mi) or 8 ha (20 acres), with land reclaimed from the Mediterranean Sea. Land reclamation projects include extending the district of Fontvieille. There are two ports in Monaco, Port Hercules and Port Fontvieille. There is a neighbouring French port called Cap d'Ail that is near Monaco. Monaco's only natural resource
12727-535: The economic impact of the Japanese asset price bubble in 1991 ended the boom. Many of the villages were forced to merge with larger cities, and the micronations and confederations were generally dissolved. The 1980s saw the establishment of several micronational entities in protest. The Free Republic of Wendland was a protest camp established in Gorleben , West Germany , in 1980 in order to protest against
12870-613: The election of libertarian president Javier Milei , who had previously mentioned Liberland at a convention in 2019. 45°46′00″N 18°52′30″E / 45.76667°N 18.87500°E / 45.76667; 18.87500 Micronation A micronation is a political entity whose representatives claim that they belong to an independent nation or sovereign state , but which lacks legal recognition by any sovereign state . Micronations are classified separately from de facto states and quasi-states ; they are also not considered to be autonomous or self-governing as they lack
13013-489: The establishment of a nuclear waste dump at the site. The residents created a border checkpoint and built a temporary village with more than 100 huts, ranging from elaborate round houses to tents. After 33 days, the local police moved in and evicted the camp. Also in 1980, the Independent State of Aramoana was declared by residents of the eponymous settlement during the Save Aramoana Campaign , which
13156-519: The film Rose Island , based on the story of engineer Giorgio Rosa and the Republic of Rose Island. In 2021, academics Harry Hobbs and George Williams published Micronations and the Search for Sovereignty , a book exploring various aspects of micronationalism. It was published by Cambridge University Press . A follow-up book on micronations by Hobbs and Williams, entitled How to Rule Your Own Country: The Weird and Wonderful World of Micronations ,
13299-577: The hands of the Holy Roman Empire , which gave it to the Genoese. An ousted branch of a Genoese family, the Grimaldi , contested it for a hundred years before gaining control. Though the Republic of Genoa would last until the 19th century, they allowed the Grimaldi family to keep Monaco, and, likewise, both France and Spain left it alone for hundreds of years. France did not annex it until
13442-578: The high-level part of La Condamine, is generally seen today as an effective fifth Quartier of Monaco, having a very distinct atmosphere and topography when compared with low-level La Condamine. For town planning purposes, a sovereign ordinance in 1966 divided the principality into reserved sectors, "whose current character must be preserved", and wards . The number and boundaries of these sectors and wards have been modified several times. The latest division dates from 2013 and created two reserved sectors and seven wards. A new 6-hectare district, Le Portier ,
13585-574: The intent to permanently anchor it as their territory. Upon reaching its destination, however, it sank in a hurricane. After a number of subsequent failed attempts to construct a habitable sea platform and achieve sovereign status, the project was abandoned in 1976. The Republic of Rose Island was an artificial platform originally constructed as a tourist attraction in the Adriatic Sea in 1968. However, Italian architect Giorgio Rosa soon declared it sovereign. The micronation had its own currency,
13728-682: The island. During its brief existence, Minerva was a media sensation . As of January 1973, the Office of the Geographer of the United States Department of State had a file cabinet for "countries which are only partially real", which included the Kingdom of Humanity , Outer Baldonia, Minerva and the Sovereign Military Order of Malta —not a micronation —among others. Writer Philip J. Hilts added, "We know
13871-505: The land grant came to be integrated piecemeal into other states. Between 1346 and 1355, Monaco annexed the towns of Menton and Roquebrune , increasing its territory by almost ten times. In 1419, the Grimaldi family purchased Monaco from the Crown of Aragon and became the official and undisputed rulers of "the Rock of Monaco". In 1612, Honoré II began to style himself "Prince" of Monaco. In
14014-500: The land is terra nullius because Croatia states the pockets are Serbian, whilst Serbia makes no claims on the land. However, the Croatian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs has rejected these claims, stating that the differing border claims between Serbia and Croatia do not involve terra nullius and are not subject to occupation by a third party. The most prominent example is the Free Republic of Liberland , which
14157-579: The larger Jardin Exotique ward . An additional ward was planned by new land reclamation to be settled beginning in 2014 but Prince Albert II announced in his 2009 New Year Speech that he had ended plans due to the economic climate at the time. Prince Albert II in mid-2010 firmly restarted the programme. In 2015, a new development called Anse du Portier was announced. The four traditional quartiers of Monaco are Monaco-Ville , La Condamine , Monte Carlo and Fontvieille . The suburb of Moneghetti ,
14300-471: The largest micronational wiki and encyclopaedia , has thousands of articles on various topics related to micronationalism "with many country pages [on MicroWiki] longer than those of real nations [on Misplaced Pages ]", and a number of micronations exist and conduct diplomacy solely on the wiki, utilising it as an online community . As of October 2023, the largest micronational group on Facebook , Micronations and Alternative Polities , had 3,400 members, and
14443-566: The leader of the Party of Free Citizens , expressed support for the creation of a state based on ideas of freedom, adding that the Party of Free Citizens wants the Czech Republic to become a similarly free country. Goran Vojković, professor of law and columnist from the Croatian news portal Index.hr , described Liberland as a "circus which threatens Croatian territory", and argued that there
14586-424: The legal basis in international law for their existence. The activities of micronations are almost always trivial enough to be ignored rather than disputed by the established nations whose territory they claim—referred to in micronationalism as macronations . Several micronations have issued coins, flags , postage stamps, passports , medals and other state-related items, some as a source of revenue. Motivations for
14729-466: The micronational community, and several reoccurring summits have taken place. These include the sporadically-held PoliNation, biennial MicroCon; and the Organisation de la microfrancophonie has hosted three intermicronational summits between its member states. PoliNation 2010 was held at Dangar Island, Sydney, Australia and was organised by Judy Lattas of Macquarie University , Princess Paula of
14872-403: The militarised, armed fire and civil defence corps ( Sapeurs-Pompiers ) it forms Monaco's total forces. The Compagnie des Carabiniers du Prince was created by Prince Honoré IV in 1817 for the protection of the principality and the princely family. The company numbers exactly 116 officers and men; while the non-commissioned officers and soldiers are local, the officers have generally served in
15015-435: The more contemporary Kingdom of Elleore (since 1944), Republic of Saugeais (since 1947), Principality of Outer Baldonia (1949–1973) and Sultanate of M'Simbati (1959– fl. 1964 ). Several entities that can be considered micronations by contemporary standards were established throughout the 1960s and early 1970s and based on ideals of libertarianism and many of them created via seasteading . New Atlantis
15158-555: The neighbourhood of Užupis in Vilnius , Lithuania declared tongue-in-cheek independence as a republic consisting of laidback artists. In the mid-1990s, the emerging popularity of the World Wide Web made it possible for anyone to create their own virtual state-like entity with relative ease, and many micronations launched their own websites . As a result, micronationalism lost much of its traditionally eccentric anti-establishment sentiment in favour of more hobbyist perspectives, and
15301-478: The neighbouring authorities women, men and a child who had taken refuge with us to escape the persecutions they had suffered in France," Albert said at a ceremony in which a monument to the victims was unveiled at the Monaco cemetery. "In distress, they came specifically to take shelter with us, thinking they would find neutrality." In 2015, Monaco unanimously approved a modest land reclamation expansion intended primarily to accommodate desperately needed housing and
15444-534: The number of exclusively online or merely simulation-based micronations expanded dramatically. Several intermicronational organisations were also established, with the League of Secessionist States , originally founded in 1980 by the Kingdom of Talossa , and the United Micronations being at the forefront. The French Institute of Micropatrology ( French : l'Institut français de micropatrologie )
15587-516: The occupation lasted for just a short time, it resulted in the deportation of the Jewish population and execution of several French Resistance members from Monaco. Since then Monaco has been independent. It has taken some steps towards integration with the European Union . Following a grant of land from Emperor Henry VI in 1191, Monaco was refounded in 1215 as a colony of Genoa. Monaco
15730-423: The opinion that the thalweg of the Danube valley and the centre line of the river represents the international border between the two countries. Croatia disagrees and claims that the international border lies along the boundaries of the cadastral municipalities located along the river – departing from the course at several points – reflecting the course of the Danube which existed in
15873-490: The other five members of the Council of Government . Until 2002, the Prime Minister was a French citizen appointed by the prince from among candidates proposed by the Government of France; since a constitutional amendment in 2002, the Prime Minister can be French or Monégasque. On 2 September 2024, Prince Albert II appointed a French citizen, Didier Guillaume , to the office. Under the 1962 Constitution of Monaco ,
16016-475: The outgrowth of a single individual, rely on their sovereign state to some extent, and mimic sovereign states by creating their own government, legislation, proclaiming national symbols , holding national elections and engaging in diplomacy with other micronations. While most micronations claim sovereignty over physical territory, others are based solely around the Internet or do not claim sovereignty at all,
16159-474: The prince shares his veto power with the unicameral National Council . The 24 members of the National Council are elected for five-year terms; 16 are chosen through a majority electoral system and 8 by proportional representation. All legislation requires the approval of the National Council. Following the 2023 Monegasque general election , all 24 seats are held by the pro-monarchist Monegasque National Union . The principality's city affairs are managed by
16302-580: The project in 2022, calling them "stupid" and stating "We will never allow anybody to have their own country within this country [Belize] - what a stupid thing. If you stupid enough to pay a lot of money to buy [a] piece of land, good for you." During the COVID-19 pandemic that began in 2020, several micronations imposed their own restrictions, mimicking countries. Some inactive Internet-based micronations also returned to activity as people were commanded to stay home and quarantine. In 2020, Netflix released
16445-455: The signing of treaties , non-aggression pacts and intermicronational conventions, diplomatic missions and declarations of war . Several intermicronational organisations also exist, with some having as many as 80 member states . Most of these organisations generally work to maintain peace, strengthen micronational cooperation and to improve diplomatic relations between member states. Intermicronational summits are also commonplace within
16588-564: The six-part BBC comedy- documentary series How to Start Your Own Country aired on BBC Two , in which comedian Danny Wallace attempts to create his own country in his apartment in Bow, London . The micronation he created was eventually named the Kingdom of Lovely . The following year, the travel guide company Lonely Planet published a light-hearted guide to numerous micronations titled Micronations: The Lonely Planet Guide to Home-Made Nations . In 2007, two self-proclaimed princesses of
16731-524: The size of Gibraltar —and most of it is covered in forest with no residents. A journalist from the Czech newspaper Parlamentní listy [ cs ] , who visited the area in April 2015, found a house that had been abandoned for about thirty years, according to people living in the vicinity. The access road was reported to be in a bad condition. The Danube , an international waterway with free access to
16874-778: The state to be a tax-free haven. He had reportedly consulted Misplaced Pages 's page regarding unclaimed territories, shown to him by his libertarian friend, in selecting a spot to proclaim the micronation. The founders claim to have been inspired by countries like Monaco and Liechtenstein . On 18 December 2015, Jedlička held an event at which he presented the first provisional government of Liberland and its ministers of finance, foreign affairs, interior and justice as well as two vice presidents. Despite Jedlička spending more than $ 400,000 on blockchain-based election software, no elections have subsequently been held. Jedlička had been elected President in 2015 by his girlfriend and one other individual. Croatian authorities have frequently blocked access to
17017-464: The territory in order to fulfil a promise to his daughter to make her a princess, however Heaton has appeared to have other motivations, offering several initiatives—such as the implementation of a national currency and the construction of an international airport and capital city —via crowdfunding . Other micronational claims have been made to small pockets on the west bank of the Danube between Serbia and Croatia. Some micronationalists argue that
17160-462: The territory, setting up camp on a river island adjacent to the Danube which lay within their claimed territory. As of March 2024, Liberland had 1,200 registered 'citizens' who had paid up to $ 10,000 to obtain Liberlandian passports , and 735,000 citizenship requests. People who accessed the claimed territory of Liberland and stayed for at least a week qualified for free citizenship status and
17303-412: The wealthiest and most expensive places in the world. The official language is French ; Monégasque , English and Italian are spoken and understood by many residents. With an area of 2.08 km (0.80 sq mi), Monaco is the second-smallest sovereign state in the world, after Vatican City . Its population of 38,367 in 2023 makes it the most densely populated sovereign state. Monaco has
17446-430: The world's shortest coastline: 3.83 km (2.38 mi). The principality is about 15 km (9.3 mi) from the border with Italy and consists of nine administrative wards, the largest of which is Monte Carlo . The principality is governed under a form of constitutional monarchy , with Prince Albert II as head of state , who wields political power despite his constitutional status. The prime minister , who
17589-468: The world. In 1996, Swedish artist Lars Vilks proclaimed the Royal Republic of Ladonia as a result of a court battle between local authorities over Vilks's illegal construction of two sculptures in the natural reserve of Kullaberg in southern Sweden. Ladonia's claim of independence has since persisted following Vilks's death in 2021, with Carolyn Shelby serving as Queen since 2011. In 1997,
17732-519: The world. Its police includes a special unit which operates patrol and surveillance boats jointly with the military. Police forces in Monaco are commanded by a French officer. There is also a small military force . This consists of a bodyguard unit for the prince and his palace in Monaco-Ville called the Compagnie des Carabiniers du Prince (Prince's Company of Carabiniers); together with
17875-520: Was a risk that Croatia's claim to control land on the other side of the Danube may be weakened by the attention that the Liberland project has drawn to the border dispute. In 2016, an article in Stratfor summarized the initiative as follows: "Liberland is a curious case because, in principle, none of the actors that could claim control over it seems interested in doing so. But this will probably remain
18018-493: Was built in Monaco by Orbital Solutions Monaco. In July 2024, Monaco hosted the start line for final 33 km stage of the 111th Tour de France bicycle race for the first time in 15 years. Monaco has been governed under a constitutional monarchy since 1911, with the Sovereign Prince of Monaco as head of state . The executive branch consists of a Prime Minister as the head of government , who presides over
18161-483: Was declared independent by farmer Leonard Casley over a dispute concerning wheat production quotas . In 2017, the Supreme Court of Western Australia ordered that Casley pay $ 2.7 million in unpaid tax, and that his son Arthur Casley pay $ 242,000 in unpaid tax. Casley abdicated in 2017 in favour of his son Graeme . Leonard died in 2019, and Hutt River dissolved the following year amidst continued disputes with
18304-482: Was eligible to earn “Liberland Merits”, a Liberlander cryptocurrency, if they helped with construction on the territory, which included 'Liberland's first house'. More than 200 people successfully accessed the territory during Jedlička's attempt to land on Liberland in March. Journalists have been uncertain as to how serious Jedlička is about his claims, with some calling it a publicity stunt . On 20 May 2015, Petr Mach ,
18447-453: Was evicted a few years later by the Genoese forces, and the struggle over "the Rock" continued for another century. The Grimaldi family was Genoese and the struggle was something of a family feud. The Genoese engaged in other conflicts, and in the late 1300s Genoa lost Monaco after fighting the Crown of Aragon over Corsica . Aragon eventually became part of a united Spain, and other parts of
18590-561: Was first ruled by a member of the House of Grimaldi in 1297, when Francesco Grimaldi , known as " Malizia " (translated from Italian either as "The Malicious One" or "The Cunning One"), and his men captured the fortress protecting the Rock of Monaco while dressed as Franciscan friars – a monaco in Italian – although this is a coincidence as the area was already known by this name. Francesco
18733-474: Was founded in 1964 by writer Leicester Hemingway , claiming a bamboo raft that he had constructed with steel, iron piping and rock. Hemingway had it towed 9.7 kilometres (6.0 mi) off the coast of Jamaica and argued that it was technically an island and fully sovereign based on the Guano Islands Act of 1856 . Although Hemingway had plans to expand the raft, it was destroyed within a few years by
18876-455: Was founded in 1996 by Swiss academic Fabrice O'Driscoll to study this phenomenon. Other online micronational services during the 1990s included MicroWorld, a monthly micronational magazine, and alt.politics.micronations, a Usenet newsgroup dedicated to discussions regarding micronationalism. In 2000, O'Driscoll authored Ils ne siègent pas à l'ONU: revue de quelques micro-Etats, micro-nations et autres entités éphémères (They do not sit at
19019-561: Was founded in 2004 and became an associate member of the N.F.-Board , a federation made up of unrecognised states, stateless peoples , regions and micronations that are not allowed to join FIFA , in 2006. The Seborga national football team was founded in 2014 and is run by the Football Federation of the Principality of Seborga. Like countries, micronations engage in intermicronational diplomacy with one another. This includes
19162-541: Was held at Dangar Island in Sydney , Australia. It was organised by Judy Lattas of Macquarie University , Princess Paula of the Principality of Snake Hill and George Cruickshank of the Empire of Atlantium. Between 2013 and 2014, two Aboriginal Australian nations declared independence from Australia as part of the concept of Australian Aboriginal sovereignty —first the Murrawarri Republic , comprising
19305-488: Was opposed to the proposed construction of an aluminium smelter at Aramoana in New Zealand. This was because the project called for the destruction of the villages of Aramoana and Te Ngaru, and also threatened a local wildlife reserve. The project was ultimately abandoned in the early 1980s, and the micronation of Aramoana peacefully reintegrated into New Zealand. The Conch Republic was founded by local residents of
19448-451: Was ordered in 6 of the 7 appeals. The lower court is required to determine the location of the border and the border crossing. In April 2023, YouTuber Niko Omilana —together with a collaborator—went past the Croatian border police using jet skis , entering the disputed territory to plant a flag. They were both confronted by a policeman who forced them to lie down on the ground and kicked them, but they were ultimately released. The footage
19591-480: Was proclaimed in April 2015 by Czech right-libertarian politician and activist Vít Jedlička , and claims the largest pocket, Gornja Siga. The land lacks infrastructure and lies on the floodplain of the Danube. Some micronations have attempted to establish themselves in international waters —parts of the sea that cannot be claimed by any sovereign state—by seasteading. This involves the creation of permanent dwellings at sea. Some micronations are associated with
19734-907: Was published in 2022 by the University of New South Wales Press . Also in 2022, illusionist Uri Geller purchased Lamb , an uninhabited island off the coast of Scotland and declared it independent as the Republic of Lamb. Geller offers citizenship, with proceeds going to Save a Child's Heart , an Israeli charity. While most micronations claim land they can administer, often private property, some have made claims to uninhabitable tracts of land. For instance, some micronations have claimed Bir Tawil in Africa and Marie Byrd Land in West Antarctica , lands which are terra nullius —unclaimed by any other sovereign state. Several others have also made claims to other portions of Antarctica . Examples are
19877-558: Was signed, providing for limited French protection over Monaco. The treaty, endorsed in 1919 by the Treaty of Versailles , established that Monégasque international policy would be aligned with French political, military and economic interests. It also resolved the Monaco succession crisis . In 1943, the Italian Army invaded and occupied Monaco , forming a fascist administration. In September 1943, after Mussolini's fall from power,
20020-440: Was subdivided into three municipalities: The municipalities were merged into one in 1917, and they were accorded the status of Wards or Quartiers thereafter. Subsequently, three additional wards were created, but then again were dissolved in 2013: Most of Saint Michel became part of Monte Carlo again in 2013. La Colle and Les Révoires were merged the same year as part of a redistricting process, where they became part of
20163-475: Was too ill to exercise his duties, relinquished them to his only son and heir, Albert. He died six days later, after a reign of 56 years, with his son succeeding him as Albert II , Sovereign Prince of Monaco . Following a period of official mourning, Prince Albert II formally assumed the princely crown on 12 July 2005, in a celebration that began with a solemn Mass at Saint Nicholas Cathedral , where his father had been buried three months earlier. His accession to
20306-526: Was unrest in Menton and Roquebrune , where the townspeople had become weary of heavy taxation by the Grimaldi family. They declared their independence as the Free Cities of Menton and Roquebrune , hoping for annexation by Sardinia. France protested. The unrest continued until Charles III of Monaco gave up his claim to the two mainland towns (some 95% of the principality at the time) that had been ruled by
20449-492: Was uploaded on YouTube in July of the same year, and received millions of views the following days, as well as coverage in Croatian and Serbian media. During August 2023, Liberland movement supporters and journalists managed to obtain unofficial access to the land parcel. However, this was brought to an end on 21 September 2023, as Croatian police launched an intervention. During the police action, some makeshift wooden buildings, which
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