Principality of Filettino
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Principality of Filettino (it) Principato di Filettino | |
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 Flag
 Coat of arms
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| Motto: Nec flector, nec frangor | |
| Capital | Filettino |
| Official languages | italiano |
| Government | Principality |
• Prince regent | Carlo Taormina |
• Prime Minister | Pasquale Squitieri |
| Establishment | 2011 |
| Population | |
• 2012 census | 560 |
| Currency | Fiorito |
Website Site web | |
Filettino is a village located about 70 km east of Rome and about 30 km north of Frosinone. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 542 and an area of 77.5 km2. Filettino borders the following municipalities: Canistro, Capistrello, Cappadocia, Castellafiume, Civitella Roveto, Guarcino, Morino, Trevi nel Lazio, Vallepietra. This village declared independence in 2011 from Italy due to taxes. In 2012, micronation ceases to operate.
History
Originally a place of the Aequi, and remaining a tiny hamlet until the time of Christ, it became a safe haven for those fleeing from Saracen invasions in 800 A.D, due to its mountainous location. In 1297 it fell under the control of Pietro Caetani, nephew of Pope Boniface VIII, whose family became notorious as cruel and oppressive, crushing various uprisings until the last of the Filettino Caetanis was executed in 1602 at Castel Sant'Angelo in Rome. In the same year it was entered by Pope Clement VII into the Apostolic Chamber and was thus subsequently absorbed into the Papal States until the States themselves were annexed to the Kingdom of Italy in 1870.
Campaign for protest
In August 2011, following an Italian government announcement that all villages with under 1,000 residents would have to merge with nearby villages in order to cut administrative costs, forcing Filettino to merge with the neighbouring town of Trevi nel Lazio, the village's mayor Luca Sellari started a campaign for Filettino to become an "independent state". The village began to print its own currency, the fiorito, which translates as "flowered", referring to how Filettino will "flower under its new guise", according to the mayor, and alluding to the currency first minted in 13th-century Florence, the florin. The citizens intended to invite prince Emanuele Filiberto, from the deposed Italian royal family, to become the Prince of Filettino. Lawyer Carlo Taormina was ultimately appointed to the position.
The protest movement created its own coat of arms (motto: "Nec flector, nec frangor" — we won't bow or break). A first meeting with entrepreneurs concerning the establishment of a "National Bank of the Principality of Filettino" was held 5 September 2011. On 12 May 2012, the first meeting of a council of 12 ministers led by director Pasquale Squitieri was held to ratify the proposed principality's constitution.