The smallest state in the world is not the Vatican?

The smallest state in the world is notMonaco, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg and not even the Vatican, but the self-proclaimed kingdom of Sealand. Have not you heard anything about him? Although, perhaps, this is not surprising, because the smallest kingdom in 2006 was burnt to the ground. But the most famous torrent tracker of illegal content "The Pirate Bay", which deals with the free distribution of films, music and software, trying to circumvent international laws on the protection of copyright and related rights, several years ago started collecting money for the purchase of the state of Sealand. Will the smallest state in the world become the property of "pirates" is not clear.

And the story of Silenda began in 1967, when P.R. Bates, a major of the British Army retired, proclaimed the beginning of his rule in the new state. Note that in 1966, Bates created his own radio station, for which he was fined by the authorities. That's when he decided to declare himself Roy I and establish such laws as he likes. Having survived only one year, the smallest state in the world was subjected to occupation by the British authorities. On the approach to the fortress of the sovereign young principality of British patrol boats, the prince's couple responded with warning volleys into the air. Fortunately, the conflict ended without sacrifice, except for Bates himself, against which the trial was launched. The decision of the court was unprecedented: the judge of Essex County stated that the case was outside his jurisdiction, i.e. de facto recognized that the smallest state in Europe is sovereign.

This decision was due to the fact that the principalitySealand was founded before the entry into force of the 1980 Maritime Convention, which contains an item on the prohibition of the construction of artificial structures and embankments on the high seas, and before the decision to extend the sovereign zone of the United Kingdom to 12 miles in 1987. In this regard, it turns out that the settlers could well have founded a colony on the Rafs Tower platform.

Undoubtedly, the smallest state in EuropeIs the Vatican, but the principality of Sealand, located near the shores of Great Britain, also has all the signs of statehood specified in the Montevideo Convention. According to the form of state structure, this is a constitutional monarchy, with Roy I and Joanna I as head of state, although their son Michael I. is directly in charge since 1999. In Silende there is a flag, a coat of arms, a Constitution, a state currency - the Sylandian dollar - and even the football team. And the permanent population of the principality consists of only five people!

In June 2006, the artificial island burned downas a result of a short circuit, and his monarch decided to expose Siland for sale, asking for 65 million pounds sterling. After the death of Roy I Bates in a nursing home in October 2012, the Crown Prince will have to decide the fate of the principality. I wonder if the smallest state in the world will belong to the "pirates"?