Syland: a strange pseudo-state in Europe that has declared its independence

MacEacheran wrote that the story began with an email she received from Prince Michael of Syland in May. “You can talk to me,” he wrote. A brief introduction led the journalist to a story that is sometimes even hard to believe. Self-proclaimed kings, land claims, historical anomalies, wartime in England, pirated radio stations and even shellfish fishing …

The Duchy of Syland is considered the smallest country in the world. It fully adapts to an anti-aircraft platform off the coast of England built during World War II. The platform was built in 1942, along with a number of other fortresses that were supposed to defend the country from Nazi attacks. At the height of the war, about 300 Royal Navy soldiers were stationed there, and it was eventually abandoned since 1956. But only in a decade, when in 1966. the former major in the British Army occupied it and announced the establishment of a new microstate here.

Syland, located 12 km from the coast, may not seem like an exceptional fort at first glance. It is a fairly desolate looking platform with container-like buildings. When you sail in a boat and want to go out, you have to forget the feeling of fear: when the wind lashes and the waves break, you will have to disembark.

But this building hides fantastic stories, from gangsters to attempts to occupy it. The place was even named “Cuba off the east coast of England” even in classified UK documents.

It may sound like a movie, but it is actually the story of an Essex working class family who turned the fort into a microstate. “Dreams were born here, freedom from power was given, British eccentricity reigned here, with all its solemnity and pomp,” writes the BBC journalist.

Calling himself Prince Syland, Michael Bates has told the BBC his story, which has so far not been heard by most of the world.

“I was 14 years old when I first came over the summer holidays to help my dad. I thought it would be just a 6-week adventure, ”Bates said by phone from his main home in Essex. – And I really didn’t think it would be a story that would last more than 50 years. It was a strange life, because sometimes we lived there without interruption for months, waiting for a boat to arrive with the necessary things from the mainland. I looked at the horizon and all I saw from morning until night was just the North Sea. “

Just 0.004 sq. M. The geopolitical situation km in Syland is not so simple. No country recognizes Syland, although Michael assures that his microstate never requested it. “We don’t expect that,” he said openly. – Remember: During the war, the platform was illegally built out of British territorial waters, but everyone was too busy to pay attention to it. The British had to destroy it when they had the chance, but were not prepared to do so. Now, decades later, Syland is still here. “

What attracts people to create their own microstates? George Dunford, co-author of Microstates: A Lonely Planet’s Guide to Created Nations, says that people are motivated by dissatisfaction with power and a desire to manage their own affairs.

“Syland is an exceptional case, even he has managed to survive for so long,” Dunford said. – The American family would have been considered a dissident, but the United Kingdom was a much more tolerant place in the 1960s. Bureaucrats probably thought that such a solution to the problem would create more problems than the problem itself. They tried several times, there were attempts at occupation, but Syland survived. “

Microstates on their own de facto recognition is based on the 1933 Montevideo Convention on the rights and obligations of States. It provides 4 criteria for microstates: population, territory, government and relations with other states. “It is the last criterion that microstates are most excited about, sometimes trying to get other states to recognize them,” Dunford explained. “Syland ignores it and says it is a sovereign country with its own government.”

The history of Syland’s founding is like that of Kafka’s book. 1965 Michael’s father Paddy Roy Bates, a former army commander, a fisherman, founded Radio Essex. This pirated radio was founded in another disused fort at sea: Knock John. At the time, such radio stations became so popular that the UK government even passed a law banning radio stations at sea.

P.Rates then moved his station deeper into the sea, in international waters. He in 1966. On Christmas Eve he settled yesterday in an abandoned fort, legally or not. Nine months later, in 1967. On September 2, he announced the founding of the Duchy of Syland, a romantic gesture on the birthday of his wife Joana.

The search for independence was not easy. 10 days earlier, several helicopters and a ship with explosives were sent to another nearby fort. He was ordered to explode.

Michael and his mother were in Syland at the time, and they described the incident in their autobiography: “The helicopters turned over the fort and the ship sailed from below to disembark the men and help with the explosives. When detonated, pieces of concrete and steel flew through the air hundreds of feet, some falling half a mile from the scene of the blast.

We felt the shock waves in Syland, and it was said that they were felt even in the UK mainland. The remains floated for a few more days. The men especially sailed as close to Syland as possible and yelled at us, “You’re next!” However, the Bates family platform was never attacked by authorities.

Most people lived in Syland in the early 1970s, when there were 50 people here, including family, friends, and workers. The fort suddenly became a symbol of anti-government protests, although life there was certainly not like a hippie idyll.

“Nothing worked,” said Michael. – We start with candles, then switch to kerosene lamps and generators. It is good that the fort was completely dry; If you did not know that you are in the sea, you would not say. I’ve spent years there, it was my home. “

Since then, Syland has struggled to act as a state, at least in part. The coat of arms, the constitution, was formed. It has a flag, a hymn, even a soccer team. On the money there is a portrait of Princess Joan. About 500 Syland passports are issued.

“My father never had a plan to establish his own state,” said Michael, the owner of his own shellfish fishing business. – He was simply offended by the government’s attempt to shut down his pirated radio station. Since then, he has fought against the British government and won. Syland still has its independence.

The most controversial episode in Syland’s history took place in 1978, when a group of Germans and Dutch attacked Syland one August night. They were hired by Alexander Achenbach, who called himself Prime Minister of Syland, but no longer agreed with Bates on the future of the “country”.

Bates and his wife were in England at the time. Arriving at Syland with helicopters and ships, the attackers took Michael hostage, but managed to break free and use the weapons stored on the platform to take even the intruders and A. Achenbach as hostages.

“It was even necessary for the German ambassador, along with an official delegation from the London embassy, ​​to fly by helicopter and negotiate the release of Aachbach,” said Michael. – So they are negotiating de facto gave us recognition. “

Independence is not cheap for Syland. To maintain it (including the salaries of two guards who live on the platform year-round), an online store is created that sells royal t-shirts, stamps and titles. The title of lord, lady, baron or baroness costs from 32 euros.

Ordinary trips to Syland are, of course, impossible. To enter it, you must receive an official invitation from the prince, who visits the platform 2-3 times a year. Now it has only a few employees.

“Syland has always seemed quite volatile, but the current prince has made him more or less stable,” Dunford said. – That’s what I like in microstates. The way they parody the pomp of true nationalism is amazing. ” Michael revealed that he receives around a hundred citizenship cards every day: people from different parts of the world offer to swear allegiance to the flag.

“Our story turns people on,” said Michael. – We do not live in a society where people like to be told what to do and how to do it. Everyone is fascinated by the idea of ​​freedom and freedom of power. The world needs inspiring territories like ours, and there aren’t many places yet. “