Roughs Tower, constructed in 1942 and inhabited by 150-300 UK Royal Navy personnel, had been deserted since the end of World War II. On September 2, 1967, the fort was occupied by [Paddy Roy Bates]?, a British subject and [pirate radio]? broadcaster, who claimed it as his own. At that time, the United Kingdom claimed territorial waters of three nautical miles from its coast. Thus, Roughs Tower was in international waters, outside the territorial jurisdiction of any state. After consulting with several laywers, Bates declared the fortress to be an independent state, named it Sealand, and declared himself and his wife, [Joan Bates]?, to be its sovereign rulers -- [Prince Roy]? and [Princess Joan]?.
Roughs Tower, constructed in 1942 and inhabited by 150-300 UK Royal Navy personnel, had been deserted since the end of World War II. On September 2, 1967, the fort was occupied by [Paddy Roy Bates]?, a British subject and [pirate radio]? broadcaster, who claimed it as his own. At that time, the United Kingdom claimed territorial waters of three nautical miles from its coast. Thus, Roughs Tower was in international waters, outside the territorial jurisdiction of any state. After consulting with several laywers, Bates declared the fortress to be an independent state, named it Sealand, and declared himself and his wife, [Joan Bates]?, to be its sovereign rulers -- [Prince Roy]? and [Princess Joan]?.
Changed: 17c17
Sealand's claims for de jure and of de facto recognition have repeatedly been analyzed by law professors and others. One criteria for statehood under international law are those contained in the Montevideo Convention, namely a defined territory, permanent population, government and the capacity to enter into relationships with other states. As these criteria are commonly understood, a "permanent population" does not entail a population of any specific size; however, the character of that population is taken into account. Thus, the situation of the Vatican, where citizenship (approximately 170) and residency are primarily based on occupation, is less clear than the population of Pitcairn Island, which has a population approximately the same as Sealand (<50) but whose population is primarily hereditary and permanent. Similar arguments can be made with respect to the other three Montevideo convention criteria.
Sealand's claims for de jure and of de facto recognition have repeatedly been analyzed by law professors and others. One set of criteria for statehood under international law is contained in the Montevideo Convention, namely a defined territory, permanent population, government and the capacity to enter into relationships with other states. As these criteria are commonly understood, a "permanent population" does not entail a population of any specific size; however, the character of that population is taken into account. Similar arguments can be made with respect to the other three Montevideo convention criteria.
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