Principality of Seborga
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| Principality of Seborga it: Principato di Seborga fr: Principauté de Seborga |
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| Micronation | |||
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| Motto: Sub Umbra Sedi (English: I Sat in the Shade) Anthem: "La Speranza" |
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| Status | Current | ||
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| Area claimed | 15 square kilometres (5.8 sq mi) | ||
| Membership | 312 | ||
| Date of foundation | 954 (pre-micronational) 1963 |
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| Leadership | Prince Marcello I (Marcello Menegatto), from April 25, 2010[1] | ||
| Organisational structure | Constitutional monarchy | ||
| Language | Italian, Ligurian, French | ||
| Purported currency | Luigino | ||
| Capital | Seborga | ||
| Demonym | Seborgan | ||
The Principality of Seborga is a micronation located in the northwestern Italian Province of Imperia in Liguria, near the French border, and in sight of Monaco.[2]
The principality is coexistent with, and claims the territory of, the town of Seborga, which is an Italian municipality.[citation needed]
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[edit] History
During the Middle Ages it became part of the feudal holdings of the Counts of Ventimiglia. By 954 it became the property of the Benedictine Monks of Santo Onorato of Lerins. In 1079 the Abbot of this monastery was made a Prince of the Holy Roman Empire, with temporal authority over the Principality of Seborga.[citation needed]
On 20 January 1729, this independent principality was sold to the Savoy dynasty's Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia, then ruled by Victor Amadeus II.
The argument for Seborga's present-day status as an independent state is founded on the claim that this sale was never registered by its new owner, resulting in the principality falling into what has been described as a legal twilight zone.
Subsequently, in 1815, the Congress of Vienna overlooked Seborga in its redistribution of European territories after the Napoleonic Wars, and there is no mention of Seborga in the Act of Unification for the Kingdom of Italy in 1861.
[edit] Princes of Seborga
In the early 1960s, Giorgio Carbone, then head of the local flower-growers co-operative, began promoting the idea that Seborga retained its historic independence as a principality.[3] By 1963 the people of Seborga were sufficiently convinced of these arguments to elect Carbone as their "Head of State". He then assumed the self-styled title Giorgio I, Prince of Seborga, which he held until his death in 2009.
Carbone's status as "Prince" was confirmed on 23 April 1995, when, in an informal referendum, Seborgans voted 304 in favour, 4 against, for the Principality's constitution, and in favour of independence from Italy.[4] Carbone reigned until his death on 25 November 2009.[5]
Prince Giorgio of Seborga has been styled with the honorific title Sua Tremendità ('Your Tremendousness' or 'Your Terrificness').[6]
| Title | Given name | Reign began | Reign ended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prince Giorgio I | Giorgio Carbone | 14 May 1963 | 25 November 2009 |
| Prince Marcello I | Marcello Menegatto | 25 April 2010[1][7] | reigning monarch |
[edit] Present Status
At present, Italy does not recognize the principality and considers Seborga a part of its territory. Italy also has not explicitly challenged the evidence laid out by Carbone due to lack of evidence on their part.[citation needed] Meanwhile the government of Italy provides all services for the citizens of Seborga, which implies the power of Italy over the principality.[citation needed]
Seborgans do not, and obviously cannot, object against Italian governance in the area.[citation needed] They still receive services from Italy and participate in the activities of the Italian government.
Some news agencies say that some states recognize the principality, and in fact, Burkina Faso, was said to have "opened" a consulate there[8][9][unreliable source], however, Burkina Faso rejects this claim[citation needed].
[edit] Government
The Principality of Seborga has a constitution ratified of April 23, 1995. The head of state and government is the Prince, elected to a term of seven years, with no term limit. The constitution provides a legislative parliament called the Priori, consisted of the elders of Seborga, which holds both legislative and judicial powers. The Priori selects the members of the Crown Council, which is the Cabinet of the Prince.[citation needed] The Crown Council is headed by the Chancellor, which also serves like a Prime Minister[10].[unreliable source?]
The Crown Council is consisted of:
- Mauro Carassale - State Secretary and Minister of Internal Affairs[list membership disputed]
- Giuseppe Bernardi - Minister of Finances, Tourism and Sports[list membership disputed]
- Mirco Biancher - Minister of Justice (Seals Attendant)[list membership disputed]
- Nina Döbler Menegatto - Minister of Foreign Affairs[list membership disputed]
- Mirko Ferrari - Minister of Motorization and Population Register[list membership disputed]
- Bruno Santo - Minister of Environmental Goods and Territory[list membership disputed]
- Domenico Falbo - Minister of Agricultural, Food and Forest Politicies[list membership disputed]
- Maria Carmela Serra - Minister of Instruction and Youth, Chancellor of the Crown Council[list membership disputed]
- Daniele Zanni - Minister of Health[list membership disputed]
Laws and other orders by the Prince and the Priori are required to have popular approval, therefore referendums are common in Seborga.[citation needed]
[edit] Military
Unlike other micronations, the Principality has an armed force consisting of one lieutenant, Lt. Antonello Lacala[11].[unreliable source?] This was an attempt to strengthen their claim of sovereignty. The Principality maintains good relations with the mayor of the commune, and sees that the police forces are provided by Italy.[citation needed]
[edit] Controversy
In June 2006 a minor controversy arose when a woman calling herself "Princess Yasmine von Hohenstaufen Anjou Plantagenet", who claims to be the rightful heir to the throne of Seborga, wrote to Italy's president offering to return the principality to the state.[6] Her claim was contested by the then-prince, Giorgio I (Giorgio Carbone), who asserted that there were no credible sources supporting her,[12] and said:
“Pah! No one’s ever even seen her as far as I know. I call her the ‘internet princess’.”
Her claim can be refuted on formal grounds[citation needed], since it is based on the claimed descendancy of thirteenth century Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II and the position of Seborga within the Empire. The position of the Holy Roman Emperor was not hereditary, but was based on election by Electors. As such, Frederick II never was private owner of the territory of Seborga[original research?]. In 1806, the Holy Roman Empire ceased to exist. The claim can also be refuted[citation needed] by the claimed descendancy, since there are no legitimate male descendants after the death of Conradine in 1268, when the House of Hohenstaufen ceased to exist.
There are no legitimate descendants in unbroken male line after the death of Conradin in 1268, when the House of Hohenstaufen ceased to exist. There are plenty of descendants of the Hohenstaufen via women (see a lot of authoritative genealogies - for example, Europäische Stammtafeln, and Genealogics[Full citation needed]).
[edit] Economy, folklore and tourism
Thanks to the publicity as a principality, tourism expanded. The principality's historic town centre was also restored, ensuring that its charms were protected from commercial overdevelopment.
A local currency, the luigino, was issued from 1994 to 1996.[13] The luigino is accepted inside the city (along with the legal currency, the euro, and before that both Italian lira and French franc); it is recognized by the International Bank,[citation needed] but without legal value outside the town. Some claim that the Italian government did not welcome this initiative.[citation needed] It is not clear what is the total amount of luigini issued.
The luigino's value is pegged at US$6.00, which would make it the world's highest-valued currency unit if it were considered an official currency. Stamps are also issued. The stamps have only a philatelic value, since the only post office is the Italian one. The tourist office currently issues a novelty Tourist Passport. It is not a recognised document valid for crossing international boundaries.
[edit] Gallery
[edit] See also
- Giorgio Carbone
- Marcello Menegatto
- Seborga
- List of extinct states
- Micronation
- Seborga luigino
- Diplomatic missions of the Principality of Seborga
- List of rulers of Seborga
[edit] Sources
- ^ a b Squires, Nick (27 April 2010). "Tiny Italian principality announces new monarch called 'His Tremendousness'". The Daily Telegraph. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/7639617/Tiny-Italian-principality-announces-new-monarch-called-His-Tremendousness.html. Retrieved 18 June 2010.
- ^ "Self-Proclaimed Micronations", WorldStatesmen.org
- ^ "Prince of Seborga fights on for 362 subjects", Italy Magazine, 15 June 2006
- ^ "Noel Gallagher is my choice for monarch", Caitlin Moran, The Times, 30 January 2006
- ^ Obituary: "His Tremendousness Giorgio Carbone", Daily Telegraph, 27 November 2009.
- ^ a b "Battle rages for His Tremendousness's throne", Malcolm Moore, Daily Telegraph, 13 June 2006
- ^ "The King of Nylon: 'kingdom' of Seborga ruled by hosiery heir". The Metro (London). 28 April 2010. http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/823736-the-king-of-nylon-kingdom-of-seborga-ruled-by-hosiery-heir. Retrieved 18 June 2010.
- ^ Burkina Faso Recognizing Seborga The Telegraph
- ^ Burkina Faso consulate Times Online
- ^ [1]
- ^ [2]
- ^ "Prince of Seborga fights on for 362 subjects", Italy Magazine, 15 June 2006
- ^ "Seborga (Principality of) - Coins of Seborga", The Imperial Collection
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Seborga |
Coordinates: 43°49′N 7°41′E / 43.817°N 7.683°E
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