Principality of Pontinha

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Flag on the observation deck of the Principality of Pontinha (2016)

The Principality of Pontinha is a micronation of around 178 m 2 on the rock formation of the former Forte de São José , around 70 meters off the coast of Funchal on Madeira . This fort was a fortress of the Knights Templar in earlier times . Like other micronations, the principality is not recognized by other states.

history

Pontinha around 1900

The art teacher Renato Barros from Funchal , who also has Portuguese nationality, describes himself as Prince Dom Renato Barros I , absolute ruler of the territory, which he acquired in 2000 for 25,000 euros and declared a sovereign state in 2007. The sovereign rights were granted to the owner of the territory in a royal letter from Charles I of Portugal in 1903. In the same year Charles I had sold the area to the wealthy Blandy family to help finance the construction of the port. Their heirs were no longer interested in the former fortress and sold it to Barros.

present

The top of the rock formation with viewing platform (2016)

In 2009, on the territory of the Principality of Pontinha, a four- inch long nail was found along with three skeletons and three swords , one of the thousands of the type used by the ancient Romans for crucifixions . Archaeologists date it to the first or second century AD. It was in good condition and kept in a decorated box, suggesting that it was worshiped as a sacred nail .

In 2014 the Principality of Pontinha had four citizens: Renato Barros, his wife and their two children. Tourists have free access to the micronation without having to show their passports. When the then President of Madeira, Alberto João Jardim learned of the establishment of the principality in 2007, he offered to buy the island back, but Barros refused. The island supplies itself with electricity via a wind turbine and solar cells, as a connection to the Madeira grid was refused.

Recognition, relations with Portugal and the European Union

Portugal does not recognize the secession from Madeira, but neither does anything against the tiny, unarmed principality, whose ruler sees himself as a pacifist . For its part, the Principality of Pontinha has decided not to use its 200-mile zone , which overlaps with Madeira , to levy port fees on the cruise ships that frequently call in and to smuggle African boat refugees into the European Union .

The Principality of Pontinha in turn recognizes Tibet as an independent state.

location

The former island is now part of the harbor mole of Funchal .

Web links

Commons : Principality of Pontinha  - collection of images

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Countries that do not exist. (No longer available online.) In: Salzburger Nachrichten. March 21, 2016, archived from the original on August 11, 2016 ; Retrieved July 7, 2016 .
  2. ↑ a b c d e f g Renato Barros: Experience: I founded my own country. In: The Guardian. November 14, 2014, accessed July 7, 2016 .
  3. ↑ a b c I am the state. How a Portuguese art teacher became ruler of an Atlantic island. In: Der Spiegel 1/2015, p. 94 , December 29, 2014, accessed on July 7, 2016 .
  4. ↑ Nail from Christ's crucifixion found? In: The Telegraph. March 2, 2010, accessed July 11, 2016 .
  5. ↑ Royal Proclamation No. 1 / 2010. Subject: recognition of Tibet as an independent state. In: Website of the Principality of Pontinha. September 18, 2010, accessed July 11, 2016 .

Coordinates: 32 ° 38 ′  N , 16 ° 55 ′  W