Giorgio I, Prince of Seborga
| His Serene Highness Giorgio I | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Giorgio I | |||||
| Prince of Seborga | |||||
| Reign | 14 May 1963 – 25 November 2009 | ||||
| Predecessor | Position created | ||||
| Successor | Marcello I | ||||
| Born | 14 June 1936 Seborga | ||||
| Died | 25 November 2009 (aged 73) Seborga | ||||
| Burial | |||||
| |||||
Giorgio I, Prince of Seborga (Giorgio Carbone; 14 June 1936 – 25 November 2009), was an Italian-Seborgan who served as the first prince of the Principality of Seborga.[1][2]
In the early 1960s, Carbone, began promoting the idea that Seborga retained its historic independence as a principality.[3] By 1963, the people of Seborga were convinced of these arguments and elected Carbone as their Head of State, although without any legal power. Henceforth, he was to be known under the self-styled title Giorgio I, Prince of Seborga. Carbone was known locally as Sua Tremendità or "Your Tremendousness".[1]
He continued to hold the office until his death on 25 November 2009.
Life
In the early 1960s, Carbone, 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 convinced of these arguments and elected Carbone as their Head of State, although without any legal power. Henceforth, he was to be known under the self-styled title Giorgio I, Prince of Seborga. Carbone was known locally as Sua Tremendità or "Your Tremendousness".[1]
He made a rare TV appearance in the 2005 BBC programme How to Start Your Own Country.[4]
In January 2006, Carbone announced that he would abdicate upon reaching the age of 70, apparently as a result of a row over rebuilding the village centre, but he didn't and continued to hold the office until his death.[5] Even so, this decision was the subject of a feature on the BBC World Service radio programme World Today on 25 January 2006.[6]
In June 2006, a power struggle arose when a woman calling herself "Princess Yasmine von Hohenstaufen Anjou Plantagenet", who claimed to be the rightful heir to the throne of Seborga, wrote to Italy's president and offered to return the principality to the state.[7]
Carbone died from complications due to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis on 25 November 2009 at the age of 73.[8] He was succeeded by Marcello Menegatto, whose reign began on 25 April 2010.[9][10]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 'His Tremendousness' oversaw the Italian village of Seborga, The Washington Post, 4 December 2009
- ↑ Obituary: "His Tremendousness Giorgio Carbone", Daily Telegraph, 27 November 2009
- ↑ "Prince of Seborga fights on for 362 subjects" Archived 2007-04-12 at the Wayback Machine, Italy Magazine, 15 June 2006
- ↑ Episode 3, For King and Country
- ↑ "Wanted: prince to rule village", Richard Owen, The Times, 24 January 2006
- ↑ "The best of the World Today", BBC, 16 January 2006
- ↑ "Battle rages for His Tremendousness's throne", Malcolm Moore, Daily Telegraph, 13 June 2006
- ↑ Giorgio Carbone, Elected Prince of Seborga, Dies at 73, By DOUGLAS MARTIN, The New York Times, 12 December 2009
- ↑ Squires, Nick (27 April 2010). "Tiny Italian principality announces new monarch called 'His Tremendousness'". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 18 June 2010.
- ↑ "The King of Nylon: 'kingdom' of Seborga ruled by hosiery heir". The Metro. London. 28 April 2010. Retrieved 18 June 2010.
External links
- Good night, sweet Prince, The History Blog
- Principality of Seborga, Self Herald