History Mini-Lesson of the Moment Vol. 3
Two if by Sealand
What makes a nation? This was the question raised by the Bates family.
Our lesson today follows the occupation of an old defensive WWII sea fort of the UK’s by the Bates family beginning in the 1960s and continuing to modern day. Led by former English major Paddy Roy Bates, the Bates family “settled” the abandoned fort in 1967. Soon after, the family declared their new home to be the independent sovereign state known as the Principality of Sealand. Roy subsequently pronounced himself the Prince of Sealand.
The story of Sealand includes heated debates with neighboring countries, drafting a constitution, creating official currency, participation in official national athletic events, tourism and economic development, mercenaries and speedboats and helicopters in an attempted hostage takeover followed by negotiations, shady investors, governments in exile, and catastrophic fires - just to give you a little taste of Sealand’s rich history.
Today, this nation has an estimated population of 27 Sealanders with 0% poverty, 0% unemployment, and $0 in national debt - not to mention a GDP of US$600,000. Perhaps, one might allege, governments throughout the world should take note of Prince Roy’s economic leadership.
