Republic of Rose Island Repubblica dell'Isola delle Rose | |
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Micronation (unrecognized entity) | |
Area claimed | 0.0004 km2 (0.00015 sq mi) in the Adriatic Sea, near Emilia-Romagna, Italy |
Type | Offshore platform |
Claimed by | Giorgio Rosa |
Dates claimed | 1 May 1968–26 June 1968 (Italian Navy assumed control) or 26 February 1969 (disestablished) |
The Republic of Rose Island (Esperanto: Respubliko de la Insulo de la Rozoj; Italian: Repubblica dell'Isola delle Rose, both literally "Republic of the Island of the Roses") was a short-lived micronation on a man-made platform in the Adriatic Sea, 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) off the coast of the region of Emilia-Romagna, Italy, built by Italian engineer Giorgio Rosa, who made himself its president and declared it an independent state on 1 May 1968.[1][2]
Although Rose Island had its own government, currency, post office, and commercial establishments, and the official language was Esperanto,[1] it was never formally recognized as a sovereign state by any country of the world. The Italian government viewed it as a ploy by Rosa to raise money from tourists while avoiding national taxation. Rose Island was occupied by Italian police forces on 26 June 1968, subjected to a naval blockade, and eventually demolished in February 1969.[3][4]