Principality of Sealand
The Principality of Sealand, more commonly known as Sealand, is a micronation that claims as its territory the artificial island of Roughs Tower, a former Maunsell Sea Fort located in the North Sea 10 km (6mi) off the coast of Suffolk, England, United Kingdom as well as territorial waters in a twelve-nautical-mile radius. Sealand is occupied by family members and associates of Paddy Roy Bates, who styled himself as H.R.H. Prince Roy of Sealand. After the unfortunate death of Prince Roy, his son, Prince Michael I, took over the operation of the principality. The population of the nation rarely exceeds five, and its inhabitable area is 550m². It is the arguably the most famous micronation still in existence today, and possibly of all time.
Although Sealand's claims to sovereignty and legitimacy are not recognized by any UN-recognized country, it is probably the world's most/best-known micronation, and is sometimes cited in debates as an interesting case study of how various principles of international law can be applied to a territorial dispute. There are numerous corporate companies that currently claim to be the legitimate representation of Sealand, the main one being run by a group of German businessmen, for claim to the Government-in-exile of the Principality, and use this title to issue fraudulent citizenship papers, lotteries, banks and even web gambling. The Principality has recently begun to operate its own Forum and even sell parts of Sealand, although these do stay under the Sovereignty of the Principality of Sealand.
History
In 1942, during World War II, HM Fort Roughs was constructed by the UK as one of the Maunsell Sea Forts. It comprised a floating pontoon base with a superstructure of two hollow towers joined by a deck upon which other structures could be added. The fort was towed to a position above Rough Sands sandbar where its base was intentionally flooded so that it sank to a resting place on the sandbar. The location chosen was in international waters, outside the then three-mile territorial water claim of the United Kingdom.
The structure that the Principality is situated upon (termed Roughs Tower) was occupied by 150–300 Royal Navy personnel throughout World War II; post-war it was not until 1956 that the last full-time personnel were taken off HM Fort Roughs and marking of its position as a shipping hazard was left to Trinity House. On September 2, 1967, the fort was occupied by Major Paddy Roy Bates, a British subject and pirate radio broadcaster, who ejected a competing group of pirate broadcasters and claimed sovereignty on the basis of his interpretation of international law (see Legal status).
In 1966, Paddy Roy Bates occupied the abandoned platform to broadcast pirate radio. After British courts attempted prosecution, he declared independence on 2 September 1967, proclaiming himself Prince Roy I and his wife Joan as Princess Joan.
In 1968, British authorities tried to seize the platform. Michael Bates fired warning shots, leading to a court case in which a British judge ruled the fort was outside UK territorial waters — Sealand’s primary legal claim ever since.
In 1978, while the Bates family were ashore, a German-Dutch group staged a coup and took Prince Michael hostage. Roy and Michael retook the platform by helicopter in a dramatic counter-attack — the only armed conflict in Sealand’s history.
Prince Roy died in 2012; his son Michael continues to rule as Prince Michael.
Government and citizenship
Sealand operates as a constitutional monarchy. It has issued passports (mostly honorary), coins, stamps, and noble titles. From 2000–2010 it briefly hosted HavenCo, an offshore data centre.
Geography
Sealand consists of a single platform (Roughs Tower) with a usable area of about 4,000 m² on two concrete legs rising from the sea.
Economy
Revenue comes from:
- Sale of titles of nobility
- Coins and merchandise
- Media licensing
Recognition
Sealand has diplomatic relations with several other micronations but none with UN member states.
Gallery
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HM Fort Roughs today -
Example Sealand passport (honorary)
