Article Principality of Sealand
Summary: Sealand, the world’s smallest country, started as a WWII British naval installation, turned into a pirate radio station, and finally its own “country.”
Posted by: Elliot Feldman
Sealand. Sealand is the world’s smallest country, a fortified pontoon barge standing on two cylindrical towers. During World War II, it was little more than an anti-aircraft installation dubbed Rough Towers by the British Royal Navy. It was built in international waters outside the UK’s three-mile territorial water.
In 1956, all British Royal Navy personnel evacuated the installation, leaving it uninhabited for years.
During the 1960s, the installation was occupied by several international pirate radio stations, the most famous being Radio Caroline run by Irish businessman Ronan O’Rahilly.
The First Pirate Radio War
In 1967, Paddy Roy Bates, owner of pirate radio station Radio Essex, decided to take over Rough Towers. In doing so, Bates and his associates “invaded” Rough Towers, forcing Radio Caroline’s staff off the installation. When Radio Caroline owner O’Rahilly heard that Bates had set up shop, he sent a boatload of men to retake Rough Towers. They, however, were driven off when Bates began throwing Molotov Cocktails at the boat. They never came back.
Strangely, Paddy Roy Bates never did set up Radio Essex on Rough Towers. Instead, he decided to live there with his family and friends. After all, it was the sixties.
The Second Rough Towers War
In 1968, Royal British Navy workmen attempted to enter what Bates had determined to be his “territorial waters.” After Bates drove them away, he was summoned to appear in an English court. The magistrate ruled that Paddy Roy Bates and the other inhabitants of the installation weren’t subject to penalty because they lived outside the three-mile limit of British territorial waters.
“The Royal Principality of Sealand”
In 1975, Bates declared the former Royal Navy defense installation “The Royal Principality of Sealand,” complete with a flag, a national anthem, a constitution, and even its own currency and postage. He invested millions to refurbish and reconstruct the former sea barge fortress’s interior, “a luxurious palace” according to the official Sealand News web site.
The Third Rough Towers War
In 1978, a group of armed German and Dutch citizens led by one Professor Alexander Achenbach, a former Sealand “citizen”, invaded Sealand when Bates was away from the installation on business, taking Bates’ son as a prisoner.
Not easily intimidated, Bates hired a helicopter and a group of armed men. They retook Sealand and freed his son. Bates held Achenbach and the others as “traitors” and imprisoned them. When the German government petitioned the UK for Paddy Roy Bates to release their citizens, the English government cited the 1968 ruling, stating that Sealand was out of their jurisdiction. The Germans then sent a diplomat to negotiate with Bates. Several weeks later, Achenbach and the others were released.
Back in Germany, Professor Achenbach and the others declared themselves “Sealand’s government in exile.”
Sealand Today
In 2006, the Rough Towers caught fire due to an electrical failure, causing extensive damage. Bates and the others rebuilt it.
In 2007, Sealand was offered for sale through an auction house. According to the BBC, the asking price is about $750 million.
A sidenote: For 16 British Pounds, anyone can buy an “official” Principality of Sealand” Noble Title such as Lord, Lady, Baron, or Baroness.