In the North Sea, just outside England's territorial waters, Fort Roughs perches atop two massive concrete caissons. The 1800-square-foot platform was used as an artillery base during World War II, then abandoned. In 1968, Paddy Roy Bates seized the structure and dubbed it the Principality of Sealand. He named himself Prince and his wife Princess, and soon produced a constitution, a flag, a national anthem, stamps, money, and passports.
Sealand is the world's smallest nation, and it's sovereignty was upheld by a British court in 1968. The micronation even won a mini-war with the Netherlands and Germany in 1978.
Today Roy of Sealand lives in Spain because of his heath, and Roy's son, Prince Michael, has succeeded him to the Sealand throne. The fort houses an internet provider called HavenCo.
See Sealand's Official Site for more info.
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