Principality of Snake Hill
The Principality of Snake Hill, also known simply as Snake Hill is a self-proclaimed sovereign state, or micronation located in Australia. Snake Hill has roughly hundreds of citizens, and claims land the size of Monaco. Snake Hill claimed independence on 2 September 2003, and Princess Paula claimed it was a right to secede, citing "The U.S., as you well know, seceded from England in 1776, It’s a remedial right, a last resort."[2][1]
Principality of Snake Hill
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Flag | |
Official languages | English |
Religion | Christianity |
Demonym(s) | Snake Hiller |
Government | constitutional monarchy |
• Monarch | Princess Helena |
• Duke | Princess Paula |
Independence from Australia | |
• Declaration of Independence | 2 September 2003[1] |
History
A family of Australian residents could no longer afford to pay taxes, and after litigation over a mortgage and being Inspired by the Principality of Hutt River, they did legal research and came to the conclusion that forming a country would be completely legal under Australian law, and they thus declared independence on 2 September 2003.[3]
The micronation was featured in Lonely Planet's Micronations: The Lonely Planet Guide to Home-Made Nations.[1]
In 2010, Helena was crowned Princess Helena after the 2010 death of her husband, Prince Paul, who was supposedly assassinated by a sniper.[3]
In late February 2011, a judge of the Supreme Court of Australia dismissed the Snake Hillers' argument that the bank's actions were outside the jurisdiction of the court, and that it was a matter of international law and must be referred to the High Court of Australia or the International Court of Justice.[4]
Culture
Snake Hill has two main newspapers, The Snake Hill Gazette and Snake Hill Women. Snake Hill also claims to operate a Church and issue its own currency.[5]
Royalty
Princess Helena is the head of state of Snake Hill, who ascended to the throne after the death of her husband Prince Paul. Princess Helena's daughter is Princess Paula.[3]
See also
References
- Micronations - John Ryan. Google Books. Lonely Planet Publications Party Ltd. September 2006. ISBN 978-1741047301. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
- Manhire, Toby (3 April 2012) Australia: the world's "Micronation Central". New Zealand Listener. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
- Matt Siegel, The Royal Me. April 2012 issue. The Atlantic. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
- Lamont, Leonie (7 March 2011) Snake Hill nation fights back against banks. The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
- https://web.archive.org/web/20080801161740/http://www.members.lycos.co.uk/snakehill/links.html