The History of the Principality of Sealand
Created | Updated Sep 3, 2009
The Principality of Sealand is a micronation (an entity that resembles an independent nation or state but which is unrecognized by world governments or major international organizations) located on His Majesty’s Fort Roughs (one of several World War II installations that were designed by Guy Maunsell) in the North Sea, 10 km off the coast of Suffolk, England.
Foundation
In 1967, the installation, which was by then not used anymore by the British Army, was occupied by former BBC broadcaster Paddy Roy Bates, who soon after its occupation claimed it an independent nation, due to its location outside the jurisdiction of The United Kingdom and all other sovereign states, with the intention to broadcast his pirate-radio-station from there.
He called the micronation Sealand and declared his wife, a former Miss England, and himself, Princess Joan and Prince Roy of Sealand.
Later that year, Great Britain introduced the marine-broadcasting-offences-act, which prohibited the broadcasting of unlicensed radio broadcasts from ships, planes or marine bases, even from out of the country’s territorial waters. Furthermore, BBC started its own pop-channel BBC Radio 1 at almost the same time, so that Bates lost interest in setting up the intended pirate radio station.
In 1968, the navy tried to do maintenance work at a buoy near the platform but was chased away by warning shots fired by Michael Bates (son of Paddy Roy Bates). Following this incident, Bates was summoned to court in England but could not be sentenced since the platform was outside British jurisdiction.
The Putsch
In 1975, Bates introduced an anthem, a flag, passports and a currency for his micronation. Later that year, the German Alexander Gottfried Achenbach got in touch with Sealand. Together with some Dutch friends, he had plans of turning Sealand into a luxury hotel and casino. He gained Bates’ trust and not only received Sealandish citizenship, but was also announced prime minister for lifetime.
By the end of 1975, Bates published a constitution. In which he transmitted state power as well as the property of the whole country including the three mile zone of water territory to the Sealand-State-Corporation and assigned it with the development of the country. The new body consisting of ten senators should from now on possess full authority over legislation, execution and economic activities of Sealand. Sealand was declared a free trade zone with abandonment of tolls and gambling restrictions.
While Roy and Joan Bates spent a few days in Salzburg in 1978, the platform was taken over by Achenbach with the help of several German and Dutch citizens, by holding Bates’ son Michael captive. Bates retook the fort in a helicopter assault by armed assistance and held the invaders captive afterwards.
While his accomplices were released soon after the incident, Achenbach was charged for treason against the principality by Bates and sentenced to lifelong imprisonment on the platform. The German government petitioned the British government for his release, but again the British court disallowed all responsibility, since the platform was located in international waters outside British jurisdiction.
Germany then sent a diplomat from its London embassy to the platform to negotiate for Achenbach's release. Achenbach was released by Bates, who now claimed that the visit of the diplomat meant the recognition of Sealand by Germany as an independent nation.
Territorial Waters
In 1987, Great Britain extended its territorial waters from three nautical miles from the coast to 12 nautical miles. Since then, critics have claimed that the platform lies in British territorial waters and therefore cannot be seen as an independent and sovereign state.
Sealand in turn also claimed 12 nautical miles of territorial waters, so that in 1990 shots were fired from Sealand at the vessel “Golden Eye” as it entered the waters surrounding the platform.
The Fallback and the Fire
In 1995, a second constitution was introduced by Bates, which should once more emphasize the state’s independence. This constitution declares constitutional monarchy as the form of government of Sealand, controls succession of the throne through heritage and prohibits weapons, excluding the prince and his watchmen. Furthermore it introduced legislative and judiciary structures: Sealand’s government consists, in addition to its head of state, of the senate, the general state lawyer, the Sealand watchmen and the office of the head of state, which again consist of three departments: internal affairs, external affairs and post, telecommunication and technology. The general state lawyer in his position as judiciary is allowed to set up a tribunal in the face of such needs. The last decision still lies in the hands of the head of state. Concerning all other points, British common law should be applied in Sealand.
In 1997 all Sealand passports were revoked by the Bates family, due to the massive quantity of illegal passports in circulation.
Paddy Roy Bates and his family moved to the mainland in 1999 mainly because of medical reasons. From there on, only a watchman stayed at the platform as their representer.
On June 23, 2006, the platform caught fire, probably due to some kind of electrical failure. The watchman was transferred from the platform directly to Ipswich hospital by a rescue helicopter. The fire was extinguished by a local fire tug. All damage was repaired by November 2006.
In January 2007, the Pirate Bay, an illegal file sharing platform, attempted to buy Sealand in order to flee from copyright laws. However, they did not succeed.
Since 2007, Sealand is offered for sale for an asking price of € 750 million. Plans for an online casino have been announced.
Furthermore it might be important to mention, that Sealand nowadays is the best known micronation, so to speak the prototype of a micronation.
Weblinks:
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sealand
http://www.sealandgov.org/
http://principality-of-sealand.eu/
Foundation
In 1967, the installation, which was by then not used anymore by the British Army, was occupied by former BBC broadcaster Paddy Roy Bates, who soon after its occupation claimed it an independent nation, due to its location outside the jurisdiction of The United Kingdom and all other sovereign states, with the intention to broadcast his pirate-radio-station from there.
He called the micronation Sealand and declared his wife, a former Miss England, and himself, Princess Joan and Prince Roy of Sealand.
Later that year, Great Britain introduced the marine-broadcasting-offences-act, which prohibited the broadcasting of unlicensed radio broadcasts from ships, planes or marine bases, even from out of the country’s territorial waters. Furthermore, BBC started its own pop-channel BBC Radio 1 at almost the same time, so that Bates lost interest in setting up the intended pirate radio station.
In 1968, the navy tried to do maintenance work at a buoy near the platform but was chased away by warning shots fired by Michael Bates (son of Paddy Roy Bates). Following this incident, Bates was summoned to court in England but could not be sentenced since the platform was outside British jurisdiction.
The Putsch
In 1975, Bates introduced an anthem, a flag, passports and a currency for his micronation. Later that year, the German Alexander Gottfried Achenbach got in touch with Sealand. Together with some Dutch friends, he had plans of turning Sealand into a luxury hotel and casino. He gained Bates’ trust and not only received Sealandish citizenship, but was also announced prime minister for lifetime.
By the end of 1975, Bates published a constitution. In which he transmitted state power as well as the property of the whole country including the three mile zone of water territory to the Sealand-State-Corporation and assigned it with the development of the country. The new body consisting of ten senators should from now on possess full authority over legislation, execution and economic activities of Sealand. Sealand was declared a free trade zone with abandonment of tolls and gambling restrictions.
While Roy and Joan Bates spent a few days in Salzburg in 1978, the platform was taken over by Achenbach with the help of several German and Dutch citizens, by holding Bates’ son Michael captive. Bates retook the fort in a helicopter assault by armed assistance and held the invaders captive afterwards.
While his accomplices were released soon after the incident, Achenbach was charged for treason against the principality by Bates and sentenced to lifelong imprisonment on the platform. The German government petitioned the British government for his release, but again the British court disallowed all responsibility, since the platform was located in international waters outside British jurisdiction.
Germany then sent a diplomat from its London embassy to the platform to negotiate for Achenbach's release. Achenbach was released by Bates, who now claimed that the visit of the diplomat meant the recognition of Sealand by Germany as an independent nation.
Territorial Waters
In 1987, Great Britain extended its territorial waters from three nautical miles from the coast to 12 nautical miles. Since then, critics have claimed that the platform lies in British territorial waters and therefore cannot be seen as an independent and sovereign state.
Sealand in turn also claimed 12 nautical miles of territorial waters, so that in 1990 shots were fired from Sealand at the vessel “Golden Eye” as it entered the waters surrounding the platform.
The Fallback and the Fire
In 1995, a second constitution was introduced by Bates, which should once more emphasize the state’s independence. This constitution declares constitutional monarchy as the form of government of Sealand, controls succession of the throne through heritage and prohibits weapons, excluding the prince and his watchmen. Furthermore it introduced legislative and judiciary structures: Sealand’s government consists, in addition to its head of state, of the senate, the general state lawyer, the Sealand watchmen and the office of the head of state, which again consist of three departments: internal affairs, external affairs and post, telecommunication and technology. The general state lawyer in his position as judiciary is allowed to set up a tribunal in the face of such needs. The last decision still lies in the hands of the head of state. Concerning all other points, British common law should be applied in Sealand.
In 1997 all Sealand passports were revoked by the Bates family, due to the massive quantity of illegal passports in circulation.
Paddy Roy Bates and his family moved to the mainland in 1999 mainly because of medical reasons. From there on, only a watchman stayed at the platform as their representer.
On June 23, 2006, the platform caught fire, probably due to some kind of electrical failure. The watchman was transferred from the platform directly to Ipswich hospital by a rescue helicopter. The fire was extinguished by a local fire tug. All damage was repaired by November 2006.
In January 2007, the Pirate Bay, an illegal file sharing platform, attempted to buy Sealand in order to flee from copyright laws. However, they did not succeed.
Since 2007, Sealand is offered for sale for an asking price of € 750 million. Plans for an online casino have been announced.
Furthermore it might be important to mention, that Sealand nowadays is the best known micronation, so to speak the prototype of a micronation.
Weblinks:
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sealand
http://www.sealandgov.org/
http://principality-of-sealand.eu/
