Republic of Rose Island
Republic of Rose Island Repubblica dell'Isola delle Rose Respubliko de la Insulo de la Rozoj | |
|---|---|
| Micronation (unrecognized entity) | |
| Location | Adriatic Sea, near Emilia-Romagna, Italy |
| Area claimed | 0.0004 km2 (0.00015 sq mi) |
| Type | Offshore platform (seastead) |
| 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.
Although Rose Island had its own government, currency, post office, and commercial establishments, and the official language was Esperanto, 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.