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. Sources: 1, 2, 3 Vol. 1: The Emerald Gem: Bare-Knuckle Boxing in 19th Century England Vol. 2: Roosevelt’s List: The Japanese-American Concentration Camps

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.

Sources: 1, 2, 3

Posted 4 months ago
57 notes
Tagged: history lesson, sealand, government, history, .
Sealand fascinates me. On an old British fort from WWII in international waters, a group of people occupied it and declared themselves an an independent sovereign state with a constitutional monarchy as their choice of government. I cannot figure out if those who “govern” the “principality” are completely self-aware of their ridiculousness, if they are completely delusional, or if they are absolute geniuses.  Read through the Wikipedia on the Principality of Sealand. You will be amazed. The history is full of betrayals, a forcible takeover, devastating fires, sports teams, pornography, and their own flourishing economy. It is absolutely ridiculous. Delicious. Amazing. A few years back, I contacted the current prince, with hopes of writing a screenplay. Since then, someone else has received their blessing and it is in the works. I have current plans of writing a book on Sealand, a historical, unbiased approach that would touch on what it means to be a sovereign state and their right and fight to be accepted as one - although I hope to get the blessing and assistance of those involved to hear their side of the story.

Sealand fascinates me. On an old British fort from WWII in international waters, a group of people occupied it and declared themselves an an independent sovereign state with a constitutional monarchy as their choice of government. I cannot figure out if those who “govern” the “principality” are completely self-aware of their ridiculousness, if they are completely delusional, or if they are absolute geniuses. 

Read through the Wikipedia on the Principality of Sealand. You will be amazed. The history is full of betrayals, a forcible takeover, devastating fires, sports teams, pornography, and their own flourishing economy. It is absolutely ridiculous. Delicious. Amazing.

A few years back, I contacted the current prince, with hopes of writing a screenplay. Since then, someone else has received their blessing and it is in the works. I have current plans of writing a book on Sealand, a historical, unbiased approach that would touch on what it means to be a sovereign state and their right and fight to be accepted as one - although I hope to get the blessing and assistance of those involved to hear their side of the story.

Posted 2 years ago
6 notes
Tagged: sealand, history, .