Giorgio I, Prince of Seborga
Encyclopedia
Giorgio Carbone was an Italian
who claimed to be head of state
of the Principality of Seborga
, a micronation
whose extent is the Italian town of that name, but whose independent status is not recognised outside of Seborga. He had assumed the title of Giorgio I, Prince of Seborga.
Giorgio I, Prince of Seborga. Carbone is known locally as 'Sua Tremendità' or 'Your Tremendousness'.
He made a rare TV appearance in the 2005 BBC
programme How to Start Your Own Country
Episode 3 "For King and Country".
In January 2006 Carbone announced that he would abdicate
on reaching the age of 70, apparently as a result of a row over rebuilding the village centre, but he failed to follow through on his promise. Even so, this decision was the subject of a feature on the BBC World Service
radio
programme World Today on 25 January 2006.
In June 2006 a power struggle arose when a woman calling herself "Princess
Yasmine von Hohenstaufen Anjou Plantagenet", who claims to be the rightful heir to the throne
of Seborga, wrote to Italy's president
offering to return the principality to the state. The claim has since been proven frivolous and void.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
who claimed to be head of state
Head of State
A head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...
of the Principality of Seborga
Principality of Seborga
The Principality of Seborga is a micronation located in the northwestern Italian Province of Imperia in Liguria, near the French border, and in sight of Monaco....
, a micronation
Micronation
Micronations, sometimes also referred to as model countries and new country projects, are entities that claim to be independent nations or states but which are not recognized by world governments or major international organizations...
whose extent is the Italian town of that name, but whose independent status is not recognised outside of Seborga. He had assumed the title of Giorgio I, Prince of Seborga.
Biography
In the early 1960s Carbone, the head of the local flower-growers co-operative, began promoting the idea that Seborga retained its historic independence as a principality. By 1963 the people of Seborga were convinced of these arguments and elected Carbone as their Head of State, although without any legal power. Henceforth he was to be known under the self-styled titleFalse titles of nobility
False titles of nobility are supposed titles of nobility that have been fabricated and are not recognised by any government and were not so recognised in the past, even in countries in which titles of nobility once existed or still exist. They have received an increasing amount of press attention,...
Giorgio I, Prince of Seborga. Carbone is known locally as 'Sua Tremendità' or 'Your Tremendousness'.
He made a rare TV appearance in the 2005 BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
programme How to Start Your Own Country
How to Start Your Own Country (TV series)
How To Start Your Own Country was a six-part BBC Television documentary comedy series aired between August and September 2005. The show was presented by British writer/comedian Danny Wallace and followed his quest to start his own country in his flat in Bow, London...
Episode 3 "For King and Country".
In January 2006 Carbone announced that he would abdicate
Abdication
Abdication occurs when a monarch, such as a king or emperor, renounces his office.-Terminology:The word abdication comes derives from the Latin abdicatio. meaning to disown or renounce...
on reaching the age of 70, apparently as a result of a row over rebuilding the village centre, but he failed to follow through on his promise. Even so, this decision was the subject of a feature on the BBC World Service
BBC World Service
The BBC World Service is the world's largest international broadcaster, broadcasting in 27 languages to many parts of the world via analogue and digital shortwave, internet streaming and podcasting, satellite, FM and MW relays...
radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
programme World Today on 25 January 2006.
In June 2006 a power struggle arose when a woman calling herself "Princess
Princess
Princess is the feminine form of prince . Most often, the term has been used for the consort of a prince, or his daughters....
Yasmine von Hohenstaufen Anjou Plantagenet", who claims to be the rightful heir to the throne
Pretender
A pretender is one who claims entitlement to an unavailable position of honour or rank. Most often it refers to a former monarch, or descendant thereof, whose throne is occupied or claimed by a rival, or has been abolished....
of Seborga, wrote to Italy's president
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
offering to return the principality to the state. The claim has since been proven frivolous and void.
External links
- Obituary: "His Tremendousness Giorgio Carbone", Daily Telegraph, 27 November 2009
- Obituary: "Giorgio Carbone, Elected Prince of Seborga, Dies at 73", The New York Times, 12 December 2009 [fails to record the date of death]