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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.

The principality is coexistent with, and claims the territory of, the town of Seborga, which is an Italian municipality.

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.

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.

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. 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. Carbone reigned until his death on 25 November 2009.

Prince Giorgio of Seborga has been styled with the honorific title Sua Tremendità ('Your Tremendousness' or 'Your Terrificness').

Status

When the princely abbacy ceased to exist, Seborga, if not bought by Piedmont-Sardinia, would have reverted to Ventimiglia (which since 1139 was subordinate to Genoa) or else become terra nullius. The new state of Italy thus either inherited Seborga, as successor state to both Genoa and Piedmont-Sardinia, or annexed it. Seborga thus became an ordinary Italian comune, as the democratically elected mayor explicitly acknowledges.

There is no tension between the Principality of Seborga and the Italian government. Law enforcement, public health, telecommunications, school services and all other public services are provided as in the rest of Italy. Seborgans regularly pay taxes, participate in the Italian administrative life, and vote in local and national (Italian) elections. For instance, in the elections of the Senate in 2001 the voter turnout was 84.21%.

It has been claimed that several states have recognized Principality of Seborga, and one state, Burkina Faso, has even opened a consulate there.

www.hohenstaufen.org.uk

Government

This is the actual Seborgan government:

• Mauro Carassale: State Secretary and Minister of Internal Affairs
• Giuseppe Bernardi: Minister of Finances, Tourism and Sports
• Mirco Biancheri: Minister of Justice (Seals Attendant)
• Nina Döbler Menegatto: Minister of Foreign Affairs
• Mirko Ferrari: Minister of Motorization and Population Register
• Bruno Santo: Minister of Environmental Goods and Territory
• Domenico Falbo: Minister of Agricultural, Food and Forest Politicies
• Maria Carmela Serra: Minister of Instruction and Youth, Chancellor of the Crown Council
• Daniele Zanni: Minister of Health

Military

Unlike other micronations, the Principality has an armed force consisting of one lieutenant, Lt. Antonello Lacala. This was an attempt to strengthen their claim of sovereignty. The Principality maintains good relations with the mayor of the commune, and they see that the police forces are provided by Italy rather than them as not.

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. Her claim was contested by the then-prince, Giorgio I (Giorgio Carbone), who asserted that there were no credible sources supporting her, 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 , 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 . In 1806, the Holy Roman Empire ceased to exist. The claim can also be refuted 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).

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. 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, but without legal value outside the town. Some claim that the Italian government did not welcome this initiative. 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.

Gallery

See also

• Giorgio Carbone
• Seborga
• Kingdom of Tavolara
• List of extinct states
• Micronation
• Seborga luigino
• Diplomatic missions of the Principality of Seborga

Sources

1. ^ Squires, Nick (27 April 2010). "Tiny Italian principality announces new monarch called 'His Tremendousness'". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 18 June 2010.
2. "Self-Proclaimed Micronations", WorldStatesmen.org
3. "Prince of Seborga fights on for 362 subjects", Italy Magazine, 15 June 2006
4. "Noel Gallagher is my choice for monarch", Caitlin Moran, The Times, 30 January 2006
5. Obituary: "His Tremendousness Giorgio Carbone", Daily Telegraph, 27 November 2009.
6. ^ "Battle rages for His Tremendousness's throne", Malcolm Moore, Daily Telegraph, 13 June 2006
7. "The King of Nylon: 'kingdom' of Seborga ruled by hosiery heir". The Metro. London. 28 April 2010. Retrieved 18 June 2010.
8. Burkina Faso Recognizing Seborga The Telegraph
9. Burkina Faso consulate Times Online
10. "Prince of Seborga fights on for 362 subjects", Italy Magazine, 15 June 2006
11. "Seborga (Principality of) - Coins of Seborga", The Imperial Collection

External links

• Official site
• Turism Office
• Official English language blog
• Sleeping in Seborga

43°49′N 7°41′E / 43.817°N 7.683°E / 43.817; 7.683

• Misplaced Pages neutral point of view disputes from September 2011
• Micronations
• Micronations in Italy
• Geography of Liguria
• 954 establishments
• States and territories established in 954
• Countries that are enclaves of Italy
• Principalities
• Secessionist towns and cities