1967 – Principality of Sealand Founded
There exists a micronation situated on a fortress situated on the sea, off the coast of Great Britain. Interestingly, the British government once contemplated the act of blowing it up.
During World War II, a series of sea forts were constructed to intercept Nazi bombers. These structures were cylindrical towers made of concrete and steel. One of these forts, known as Roughs Tower, stands at an elevation of 110 feet above sea level, located off the coast of Suffolk in the North Sea.
Following the war, these forts were largely abandoned. However, British army major Paddy Roy Bates saw Roughs as an ideal location for a pirate radio station.
In the 1960s, the BBC held a monopoly on radio broadcasting in Great Britain, exclusively licensing the station. The BBC’s programming exclusively featured popular music during the nighttime hours, which irked listeners and led to the proliferation of pirate radio stations.
Bates initially established a pirate radio station at Knock John, another sea fort. Unfortunately, he was evicted, prosecuted, and fined in 1966. Consequently, he found himself at Roughs, which was situated 6.5 nautical miles offshore, outside the standard territorial reach.
Bates declared the platform the Principality of Sealand and asserted its sovereignty as a distinct micronation separate from Great Britain. On this particular day in 1967, which happened to be his wife Joan’s birthday, he bestowed upon her the titles of princess and prince. The couple and their two children, Michael and Penelope, relocated to the fort.
In 1968, Britain considered evicting the family by force, as evidenced by declassified documents that revealed a plan to demolish the fort. However, the prime minister hesitated to resort to violence against a family, especially a veteran.
Instead, the government largely refrained from taking any action against Sealand.
In 1975, the country adopted a constitution. Subsequently, a currency, an anthem, passports, stamps, a flag, and a coat of arms were introduced. Sealand has achieved self-sufficiency, offering official Sealandic titles for purchase. It is nearly self-sufficient, utilizing solar power and wind technology.
Sealand has gained significant attention on numerous occasions. It has hosted skateboarding competitions, diplomatic visits, helicopter landings, and even a short-lived data center.
Great Britain extended its territorial waters in 1987, but the Bates family still maintains Sealand’s sovereignty. Roy Bates had already extended Sealand’s boundary waters a month earlier.
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