The Principality of Sealand: Stories of Pirate Radios, Coups d’état, and Helicopter Raids

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The Principality of Sealand: Stories of Pirate Radios, Coups d’état, and Helicopter Raids

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2 жыл бұрын

The first 1,000 people to use the link will get a 1 month free trial of Skillshare: skl.sh/geograp...
Sealand is a swashbucklin' micronation and is the home of the Roughs Tower. It is the smallest 'country' in the world and you can only visit with an invitation by the royal family. Join us in finding out more about this nation.
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/ @geographicstravel
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Today I Found Out: / todayifoundout
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Business Blaze: / @brainblaze6526
Casual Criminalist: / thecasualcriminalist
Decoding the Unknown: / @decodingtheunknown2373

Пікірлер: 273

@geographicstravel 2 жыл бұрын

The first 1,000 people to use the link will get a 1 month free trial of Skillshare: skl.sh/geographics05221

@raythetse 2 жыл бұрын

I thought it was gonna say i get a 1 month free trip to sealand

@jwenting 2 жыл бұрын

sorry Simon, such claims are illegal under EU consumer protection law...

@j0njn 2 жыл бұрын

While of course I cannot pretend to speak on behalf of his majesty, as a landholding baron of Sealand I must say that I found this video to be quite excellent in its presentation of the great realm and its history. Splendid work.

@rubiconnn 2 жыл бұрын

As a Lord and fellow landowner I agree, it's great to share the amazing history of our great nation.

@quantidel 2 жыл бұрын

what land? lol

@kaltaron1284 2 жыл бұрын

@@quantidel A square meter or a few on a rusty former defense platform in the North Sea, duh. People buy that stuff for fun or out of principle not for any "real" value.

@j0njn 2 жыл бұрын

@@quantidel The seabed is still land, commoner 😜

@benbookworm 2 жыл бұрын

@@kaltaron1284 that land has as much value as any Bored Ape NFT! 😜

@bluesrocker91 2 жыл бұрын

I've long been fascinated by the story of Sealand... Surely it deserves a movie at least.

@shi117 2 жыл бұрын

I'm pretty sure there is already one but I don't remeber the name of it tho sadly.

@bluesrocker91 2 жыл бұрын

@@shi117 There was a film called Passport to Pimlico about a fictionql micronation in the UK, but I don't know of one about Sealand...

@anarchyantz1564 2 жыл бұрын

Seeing as the UN has refused to recognise Taiwan as a country since the 1970s, not recognising this as a micronation is nothing really

@slin2903 2 жыл бұрын

Why would they recognize two Chinas?

@SmileFile_exe Жыл бұрын

@@slin2903 they do recognise 2 congos so why not?

@FNLonely Жыл бұрын

They don't realize Taiwan because China sits on the UN Security Council, and has veto power so therefore making it nearly impossible for them to recognize Taiwan. Because China would never allow it, seeing as they claim domain over Taiwan. Open your history books and research this subjects folks. As the answers are out in the open for us to see.

@berniethekiwidragon4382 Жыл бұрын

@@SmileFile_exe Because one of the Chinas says no, and it is a permanent member of the UN Security Council.

@SmileFile_exe Жыл бұрын

@@berniethekiwidragon4382 sorry just like the UN i do not recognise some countries and the country you refer to is not recognised by myself.

@Tshow96 2 жыл бұрын

I'm a knight of Sealand. Best Christmas present I ever got

@montaguemonro565 2 жыл бұрын

As a knight of Sealand (had far too much to drink one night), I approve of this video!

@kaltaron1284 2 жыл бұрын

Not the worst mistake you can make while being drunk.

@Henchman_Holding_Wrench 2 жыл бұрын

Ah! A fellow knight in the wild!

@jasonsimons4411 Жыл бұрын

I would absolutely do this.. no booze required...

@kittywampusdrums4963 Жыл бұрын

As a Baron I can call you to fight for us lol. E MARE LIBERTAS!

@Dave-qn9dj Жыл бұрын

as a lord i agree wish i could go for a cuppa

@bushmanPMRR 2 жыл бұрын

The British do come in for a lot of criticism for a variety of reasons but you cannot help but be impressed with the ingenuity and sometimes downright sheer bonkersness from some of them! Long may it continue adding it's light to this sometimes rather dim and dismal world!

@Melody_Raventress 11 ай бұрын

Nothing like a bloke in a shed to change the world, or at least make it more interesting.

@Librarian356 2 жыл бұрын

As a lord of sealand, I give this video my full support

@TetraDax 2 жыл бұрын

Hosting Julien Assange on an off-shore plattform in international waters sounds like an excellent way to win a free visit by a CIA commando.

@oscaranderson5719 2 жыл бұрын

aw, only one? 😩

@kaltaron1284 2 жыл бұрын

@@oscaranderson5719 Why would they need more than one?

@oscaranderson5719 2 жыл бұрын

@@kaltaron1284 I mean, yeah, lol, but it still hurts

@reconsoldier135 2 жыл бұрын

More like a drone missile

@iGamezRo 2 жыл бұрын

I can imagine the guy starting to shoot at the CIA helicopter.

@siobhan-rae 2 жыл бұрын

I had a teacher in middle school who was given some kind of title by this principality and had a photograph on the wall.

@JoviusAquariums 2 жыл бұрын

You can buy those.

@canaan5337 2 жыл бұрын

Yeah I imagine it’s like how you can become a Scottish “lord” on the internet for a small fee.

@alexamg6675 2 жыл бұрын

I’m a lord of this nation it’s like 150$

@jarrodbarker5050 2 жыл бұрын

Was the picture of a penguin?

@GabrielMcKnight 2 жыл бұрын

I'm a Lord of The Principality of Sealand as well. Fun to be part of something exciting! Thank you, Simon, for doing justice in your Micronation Exploration for the Principality of Sealand!

@theshadowman1398 2 жыл бұрын

Always was fascinated by this place and imaged that eventually it would get a massive modern structure.

@RedXlV 2 жыл бұрын

@The Program Yeah, there's a definite chance that if Prince Michael had enough money coming in to significantly expand around the platform, the British government might decide that Sealand is no longer small enough to ignore. Which is unfortunate; it'd be really cool if Sealand expanded into something bigger. Like putting up a couple of wind turbines in the surrounding seabed to provide a permanent power source for that server farm concept.

@Stratonetic Жыл бұрын

@theprogram863 You're telling me my dreams of a floating football stadium are both impractical and an impediment to their sovereignty?

@tomrafal3655 2 жыл бұрын

A perfect example of English eccentricity. Totally bonkers but ultimately quite wonderful.

@toadscoper4575 2 жыл бұрын

Ngl, the story of Sealand sounds like it could be the plot for a Wes Anderson film 😂

@paulceglinski3087 2 жыл бұрын

Good video, everyone. Well done. Talk about wanting to be your own country. More power to them. All hail Sealand.

@Hadesdetecting 2 жыл бұрын

I went out on a boat trip to visit the other sea forts out there last week (shivering sands and red sands sea forts and knock john) awesome structures quite eerie sitting so far out in the sea.Great video as ever.

@KraftyKreator 2 жыл бұрын

Why not Sealand too? You could have just "knocked" and given an "ahoy matey" or whatever the equivalent to hailing a landmass. " I come in peace"?

@Hadesdetecting 2 жыл бұрын

@@KraftyKreator lol,it was a organized boat trip and that fort is to far round the coast.7 hrs on a little boat is long enough,wouldn't fancy a shot across the bow anyway

@KraftyKreator 2 жыл бұрын

@@Hadesdetecting Hopefully they would understand a white flag or something but admittedly getting attacked is a possibility.

@Vikotnick 2 жыл бұрын

I'm a knight of Sealand!

@chrisky3315 2 жыл бұрын

So much history to learn, your channel is awesome.

@twinbornnut9980 2 жыл бұрын

I have a few friends that play for the Sealand Seahawks, Sealands American football team, full of ballers too 🏈

@st.anselmsfire3547 2 жыл бұрын

When I was active duty, I remember being baffled by the sight of a merchant vessel chartered out of Sealand pulling into the Charleston Harbor. That was how I learned about the existence of this micro-state

@kittywampusdrums4963 Жыл бұрын

As a landholder Baron of our wonderful principality I was pleased to watch this well researched history and am proud to support a nation built on rogue radio pirates ignoring rules imposed on them which spiraled into the bastion that still stands to this day. E MARE LIBERTAS! LONG STAND SEALAND! LONG LIVE PRINCE MICHAEL!

@Khalrua 2 жыл бұрын

I've been a Baron there since 2018!

@rx7carl 2 жыл бұрын

I am a Lord of the Principality of Sealand. Got it for the novelty years ago

@grumpyoldwizard 2 жыл бұрын

It would be cool if there was a massive, under-water, city under the visible structure.

@andrewsoos2113 Жыл бұрын

You must play Bioshock.

@Stratonetic Жыл бұрын

Or one over it like on Kamino in StarWars?

@ignitionfrn2223 2 жыл бұрын

1:00 - Chapter 1 - Sea sentinels 3:25 - Chapter 2 - Battle of pirate radios 6:55 - Mid roll ads 8:15 - Chapter 3 - From the sea, freedom 10:55 - Chapter 4 - Coup on the high seas ! 13:35 - Chapter 5 - Bonkers intensifies 16:25 - Chapter 6 - So...is it actually a state 18:25 - Chapter 7 - Going to sealand for a cuppa - Chapter 8 - - Chapter 9 - - Chapter 10 -

@maxpayne2574 2 жыл бұрын

If Simon wanted this he would put it in the comments if you like his videos watch the damn ads if he makes no money we get no more videos.

@ScottGladstein 2 жыл бұрын

The real hero of Sealand.

@stashthevampede9480 2 жыл бұрын

The video is is like 20 min. You really need time stamps?

@rednightfire2655 2 жыл бұрын

people being butthurt over timestamps is cute.

@gristlybillow7050 2 жыл бұрын

sincronicity. was literally thinking about this the other day

@Microbex 2 жыл бұрын

//:meta.subject0512B22- the Matrix knows your position.

@gristlybillow7050 2 жыл бұрын

@@Microbex this deserves waaaaay more likes

@budwilliams6590 2 жыл бұрын

Oh. Thats so nice. I just love it when there is a commercial inside of a commercial... It's so commercial, ya know?

@countessk Жыл бұрын

I enjoyed hearing the history of Sealand. Thank you for doing the research for this video! I am proud to be a longtime Countess of the Principality. There are more of us than people may think!

@TheEvilCommenter 2 жыл бұрын

Good video 👍

@PastorOfMuppets91 2 жыл бұрын

The history of Sealand is fascinating, and I hope it continues to thrive for years to come. I got a Sealand Lordship so I could call my friends peasants with some legitimacy d:

@AtlasJotun 2 жыл бұрын

You just got added to my list of role models. Thanks... my liege XD

@TheAshCooper 2 жыл бұрын

I learned of this place years and years ago. And ever since have wanted nothing else but my own country.

@tylerrebik7700 2 жыл бұрын

Simon, you should do a video on Timika, a small sub-kingdom in Indonesia. I can see to it that you get a Knighthood for it. My adopted mother is the Sovereign.

@Iamthelolrus 2 жыл бұрын

I just looked it up,and it is really interesting, I second the idea of a video. Can I have a title too? Jk, mostly.

@gregoryturner9530 2 жыл бұрын

That's cool as hell

@stonewolf7850 2 жыл бұрын

Your mom being the Sovereign of the Mimika regency of Timika, is a quite a flex. It looks to be a beautiful place. 😍

@tylerrebik7700 2 жыл бұрын

@@stonewolf7850 I call it Heaven on Earth. Mother's grandmother, Queen Natasya I, was said to be a direct-descendant from the Legendary 4 Kings of Raja Ampat,

@Iamthelolrus 2 жыл бұрын

@@tylerrebik7700 if Simon doesn't make a video I think you should. Honestly it sounds interesting.

@als3022 2 жыл бұрын

Love micronations. Crazy individuals thumbing their nose at the world.

@gravyboat2370 2 жыл бұрын

Love the idea of this . Long may it continue

@jobbiejew 2 жыл бұрын

When Michael was a boy his bank statements always read Dear Master Bates…

@nicholasmartin787 2 жыл бұрын

I can make sealand out from my house, can see it clearly with a telescope, also the original Martello tower needs a video, I can get you photos of the ones along Essex coast I'm in Clacton. Also Jaywick the most deprived town in Britain could also do with a video, the houses were originally built at an average cost of £250, and I know people that have fallen through walls by leaning on them. The council's plan to revive town is to build a covered market that no one will visit and will be better described as a car boot sale, and to build over priced houses on a flood plan, which the entire town sits on.

@jamesinwood381 2 жыл бұрын

This story might sound absurd, what with squatting in an abandoned fortification, conducting legally gray activities, enduring whacky power struggles, and selling titles to anybody with a little money. It certainly grates against our modern concepts of republican or popular-national sovereignty as embraced by even the nominal monarchies of the West. But let an amateur historian point out that this is basically how pre-modern Europe politics worked. Many a tenth-century lord would have recognized their own path to power in Sealand's history, even if their 20th great grandchildren are loathe to admit it now. So, yes, my purchased barony is entirely legitimate, and long live the prince!

@swapshots4427 2 жыл бұрын

Bloody incredible. Grown men playing. Deviously of course.

@splitfries69 2 жыл бұрын

great vid

@reinatycoon3644 Жыл бұрын

This is so neat to hear about these cool little micronations on your channel! I've never heard of these weird little things wow!!

@ericgilbert8114 2 жыл бұрын

Slightly disappointed that there’s no Killer Whales involved

@sandybarnes887 2 жыл бұрын

Killer whales aren't whales 🙃

@Vanic00 2 жыл бұрын

"FRON THE SEA, FREEDOM!!!" Glory to Prince Michael. And Hail the Principality of Sealand, the world's first successful sea-stead!!!

@RedXlV 2 жыл бұрын

If I'd lived in the UK in the 1960s, I totally would've gone out to board Sunk Head Fort (the other Maunsell fort built outside British territorial waters) and claim it before the Royal Engineers demolished it in 1967.

@dutchskyrimgamer.youtube2748 Жыл бұрын

If I would do that I would chose to become a protectorate of Sealand. Actually Zealand should be given command over all remaining Maunsell forts, with only the waters around Roughs Tower as territorial water. The Maunsell Forts are a great opportunity to beat housing problems in Europe.

@madzen112 2 жыл бұрын

The most remarkable thing about Seeland, is how long you actually can exist in the gray areas of international law and popular support, a bit like a physical Bitcoin. If they ever started doing more serious things than pirate radio, like nuclear development or terrorist backing, more than likely, the British government would have a lot less tolerance.

@Nergal665 10 ай бұрын

Roy is my hero.

@musicurio 2 жыл бұрын

Amazing!

@zachmueller2912 Жыл бұрын

"You got yer loisenze fer that music m8"

@noahlogue3807 2 жыл бұрын

Awesome opening on a piece of naval history.

@ashcroft05 2 жыл бұрын

I've been waiting for this video for so long!

@matthewlawlis2421 Жыл бұрын

Pirate Radio is a great movie. Worth a watch if u havent seen it.

@maryscott9430 2 жыл бұрын

This is neat!! Im kinda rooting for them

@jaydeister9305 2 жыл бұрын

"heck yeah! we all need Sealand Identity Cards!!"

@safiremorningstar Жыл бұрын

I've heard of Sealand and it got me to wondering why more people didn't do what they did but with the free oil platforms that have been offered by many companies.

@byranwonderly538 Жыл бұрын

I learned of Sealand about 8 years ago. The first thing I did was to get my Lordship through the country. I achieved a dream of becoming a Lord Byran. Thank you Prince Michael! This is a good documentary. Enjoyed it very much.

@parrisracing2370 2 жыл бұрын

Because if this video, i am now a lord of sealand. As is my brother. Lolol

@twocvbloke 2 жыл бұрын

It does all seem very silly really, but kudos to them for keeping it going... :P

@user-cd4bx6uq1y Жыл бұрын

They definitely have some guns on there

@PeterShipley1 2 жыл бұрын

I was wondering when you where going to cover this, a bunch of my friends were involved with havenco.. I'm kind of surprised you didn't mention the havenco part

@Furtheronmusic 2 жыл бұрын

Love this one.

@lordrayden3045 2 жыл бұрын

I’ve been waiting for this video

@paulstewart6293 2 жыл бұрын

Great!

@iainsutherland1113 Жыл бұрын

I’d be interested to know about future plans for the Principality. From an engineery / geeky perspective, the concrete the towers are built from must be in desperate need of repair given the time they’ve been there. There’s no mention in the video about passed renovation which must be a concern.

@rami_ungar_writer 2 жыл бұрын

I'm surprised no one's either made a comedy movie or written a thriller novel based on this place.

@v.emiltheii-nd.8094 2 жыл бұрын

Hope I visit that place one day. If I get sn invitation, that is.

@gerrysongs4170 2 жыл бұрын

A commercial interrupted your commercial.

@paulcook7426 2 жыл бұрын

Was always going to happen eventually, but an ad interrupted by an ad!!

@joryharris8002 Жыл бұрын

@10:03 those workers were doing what now?

@mooreanonumbers 11 ай бұрын

This gives another meaning to radio piracy

@skwervin1 2 жыл бұрын

I'd be adding more platforms to increase the size and stability. Best place to survive a zombie apocalypse!

@adam23skyline 2 жыл бұрын

Don't use paisley with your cockles, it tastes horrible. Parsley is much nicer x

@beatlegreg07 Жыл бұрын

All ideas to begin a new country come from a night at the pub.

@Fuchswinter 2 жыл бұрын

I knew about Sealand but now I actually have a desire to go there. Something more interesting than Mallorca I reckon.

@ToudaHell 2 жыл бұрын

One of my favourate movies was The Boat that Rocked. It's about a pirate radio station in the 60s. It is awesome with lots of rock and roll. I highly recommend it.

@siggy6044 2 жыл бұрын

I had to back it up to hear the title again, it was called Pirate Radio in the US 😅

@ToudaHell 2 жыл бұрын

@@siggy6044 It's pirate radio. Radio stations in international waters broadcasting things that's illegal. In the 60s UK, it was rock and roll. And an awesome movie was born from that premise.

@andymcneil7085 2 жыл бұрын

Very interesting.

@bsjeffrey 2 жыл бұрын

if self determination is real, it's a nation and shouldn 't need permission from the world.

@cardboardempire 2 жыл бұрын

Corned Beef, Rice Pudding, Scotch. A proper UK diet.

@wolfgang757 Жыл бұрын

I seem to recall "Vril Energy" as a mid-last century crackpot thing.

@canaan5337 2 жыл бұрын

Prince Michael seems harmless enough but the guy that tried to take it by force wanted to be the head of a state so he could do crooked things worse than the mostly legal things the prince and his family refuse to do on principles

@vulpes7079 2 жыл бұрын

Things such as? Don't talk out of your arse

@NickDBaker 2 жыл бұрын

I have been obsessed with Sealand since I learned about it over a decade ago in high school from an excellent teacher. Thanks for doing a video on it!

@Caterfree10 2 жыл бұрын

I found out about Sealand from Hetalia. The Prince of Sealand also LOVES that his little micronation has representation among all the anthropomorphized nations too. :D

@hendyo_98 2 жыл бұрын

I was looking for a Hetalia comment. And yeah he does XD

@Caterfree10 2 жыл бұрын

@@hendyo_98 greetings fellow Hetalian! The fandom may be sleeping, but it never truly leaves. BD

@hendyo_98 2 жыл бұрын

@@Caterfree10 XDD

@russellfitzpatrick503 2 жыл бұрын

Possible a knighthood for Mr Whistler in Prince Bate's New Years Honours List????

@GeneralBrae 2 жыл бұрын

The most striking thing for me about this is that the guys behind it seem quite...sensible. You always expect stuff like this to be pulled by some bonkers conspiracy theorist like that Achenbach guy, not people who think Assange went too far and aren't happy about hosting dodgy stuff on servers. It's quite refreshing.

@ferociousgumby 2 жыл бұрын

I love me some microstate.

@dx1450 Жыл бұрын

One thing which wasn't mentioned in this video was the fact that when British territorial waters were extended from 3NM to 12NM, putting Sealand inside British territorial waters, the government of Britain claimed that it is British territory and not its own state. Of course, one could argue that it was a state before the territorial limit was changed, but all other nations will likely concede to the British government that the tower is British territory.

@jcmartin961 2 жыл бұрын

As a literary note: “Vril” was a term coined by tedious Victorian-era writer E. Bulwer-Lytton (of “It was a dark and stormy night” fame) in the early sci-fi novel, “Vril: The Coming Race”. Aliens live underground and Vril is their energy. And now, back to the video.

@Platinumsniper Жыл бұрын

The boat that rocked is also known as pirate radio

@roobscoob47 2 жыл бұрын

a 'Whistle-Out' to Whistler!

@tophers3756 2 жыл бұрын

Please tell me the present ruler prefers to be called Master Bates.

@PeachM0de 2 жыл бұрын

Arnaldo, I hope you’re well my friend!

@arnaldoteodorani277 2 жыл бұрын

Generally doing OK, thanks! What’s up?

@bodegacoast 2 жыл бұрын

".. manned by 300 Royal Navy personnel". How did they ever squeeze 300 people onto that tiny platform? Thirty I could believe, but not 300.

@SeraphRyan 2 жыл бұрын

from the old timey pictures from ww2, it looked bigger, whats left appears to be a base of something that was on top of it and probably sprawled out and higher than it is now. Looks can be deceiving too, simon did mention the legs had fairly large rooms for people to stay in.

@Henchman_Holding_Wrench 2 жыл бұрын

The photos make the platform look a lot smaller than it is. Both concrete towers are 24 feet in diameter and divided into 7 floors. The main deck has that central building on it which used to be the galley, the medical office, and the officers' quarters. There was a comms tower on the upper deck as well. It's basically a house on top of 2 medium sized apartment buildings. There's a blurry structural print in my Sealand knighthood documents and I got curious.

@EpicTeachingOfHistory 2 жыл бұрын

Hi dear Lords

@thenovicewildcamper9192 2 жыл бұрын

Mmmm cockles with chillies and paisley

@MrShanester117 2 жыл бұрын

26 people live there. Yet the entire comment section lives there 🤔

@Yakboy999 2 жыл бұрын

Heh I just posted a comment recommending doing this one yesterday.

@bronxer78 2 жыл бұрын

When will you cover LIBERLAND?! Liberland is a Libertarian micronation in the Danube with hundreds of thousands of citizens and some diplomatic recognition.

@justvincent2083 2 жыл бұрын

Hey!

@MrCosmin94 2 жыл бұрын

when I saw the platform in the thumbnail I was like wtf are they doing all day, probably bateing. and then the name of the prince, Bates !!!! what are the chances !!! hahah 🤣🤣

@Stratonetic Жыл бұрын

I could see them adding onto Sealand like the other platforms but I think a single building simply wouldn't do; imagine a whole city on stilts in the middle of the ocean centuries from now. Maybe they could start by building a stadium for that football team?

@neal7602 2 жыл бұрын

Imagine being the guy from Radio Caroline left hanging without his mates below, probably looking up to the people bombing him and calling up, "I would like to apologize!"