1960s
This article includes an overview of the events that occurred within micronationalism during the 1960s decade. Succeeding the 1950s and preceding the 1970s, the decade comprised the Early Modern Era (1933–1963) and the Seasteading Era (1964–1972).
After the establishment of the United Republics of Jamtland, Herjeådalen and Ravund and the Principality of Seborga in 1963, a seasteading boom began with the foundation of the Republic of New Atlantis by writer Leicester Hemingway—brother of fellow writer Ernest Hemingway—in 1964. The was followed by numerous unsuccessful attempts at creating seasteads, including Operation Atlantis and the Republic of Rose Island in 1968. Meanwhile, the Principality of Sealand—now one of the "Big Three"—was established in 1967 by Roy Bates, located on an offshore platform in the North Sea. The Italian Navy used explosives to destroy the seasteading facility of Rose Island in 1969, one of the earliest and best-known examples of antimicronationalism. In 1968, following the death of Georges Pourchet, wife Gabrielle succeeded him as the president of the Republic of Saugeais; she would continue to serve as president until 2005.
Events
- 1 January 1961: Erik II den Storartede succeeds Leo I den Lille (who ruled between 1949-31 December 1960) as the king of the Kingdom of Elleore in Denmark.
- c.1964: The Sultanate of M'Simbati becomes inactive during this decade.
- 1968: Following the death of Georges Pourchet (who ruled between 1947–1968), his wife Gabrielle succeeds him as the president of the Republic of Saugeais in France.
- Micronational Seasteading Boom (1964–1973)
- 1965: The United States Attorney's office in southern Florida files suit against two seasteading micronations for allegedly promoting illegal gambling—Atlantis, Isle of Gold and the Grand Capri Republic.
- 1966: The bamboo raft located approximately 9.7 kilometres (6.0 mi) off the coast of Jamaica to which the Republic of New Atlantis lays claim—constructed out of steel, iron piping and rock—is destroyed by tropical storms.
- 1968: Hoping to attract libertarians in the United States to Operation Atlantis, dermatologist Werner Stiefel writes The Story of Operation Atlantis under the pseudonym Werner K. Stevens, self-publishing it via his own Atlantis Publishing Company.
- November 1968: Michael Bates, son of Roy Bates, fires shots at a British navy vessel in the vicinity of the Principality of Sealand. Some of the vessel's occupants state they were intending to evict the Bates family from the fortress, while others state that they were simply attempting to repair a buoy. On 25 November, a court in Chelmsford, Essex, England rules that because the incident occurred outside of British territorial waters, the court possessed no jurisdiction. Bates cites this case as evidence of de facto sovereignty.
- 13 February 1969: The Italian Navy uses explosives to destroy the seasteading facility of the Republic of Rose Island, claiming that Rose Island is a ploy to raise money from tourists while avoiding national taxation. This act is later portrayed on postage stamps issued by Rosa's self-declared government-in-exile.
- March 1969: The British Overseas Territory of Anguilla refuses an offer by Stiefel, in search of a base for his micronation, to sell the Prickly Pear Cays in the Leeward Islands to Operation Atlantis.
Foundations
- 1963
- 1964
- 1965
- 1967
- 1968