The European microstates

The European microstates are a handful of very small sovereign states on the European continent and the surrounding islands. The smallest of these, Vatican City, is also the smallest nation in the world. Microstates are small independent states and they should not be confused with "micronations", which are neither states nor independent. “Sovereign” redirects here. ... For other uses, see State (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... Animated, colour-coded map showing the various continents. ... A microstate is a sovereign state having a very small population or very little land area - usually both. ... This article is about entities that are not officially recognised by world governments or major international organisations. ...

Microstates

Andorra

The Principality of Andorra is a feudal remnant high in the Pyrenees, a fiefdom held jointly by the Bishop of Urgell in Spain and the Count of Foix in France, with a population of approximately 70,000. The County of Foix merged into the French Crown in 1607 and thus the King of France and then the President of France took the place of the Count of Foix. It has been independent since 1278. Catalan is its official language. Roland pledges his fealty to Charlemagne; from a manuscript of a chanson de geste Feudalism, a term first used in the late modern period (17th century), in its most classic sense refers to a Medieval European political system comprised of a set of reciprocal legal and military obligations among the... Pic de Bugatetin the Néouvielle Natural Reserve Central Pyrenees For the mountains in Victoria, Australia, see Pyrenees (Victoria). ... Fief depiction in a book of hours Under the system of feudalism, a fiefdom, fief, feud, feoff, or fee, often consisted of inheritable lands or revenue-producing property granted by a liege lord, generally to a vassal, in return for a form of allegiance, originally to give him the means... The Bishop of Urgell is the Roman Catholic bishop for Urgell in Catalonia, Spain and also the ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra. ... County of Foix coat of arms The independent counts of Foix, with their castle overlooking the town of Foix, now in southernmost France, governed their county of Foix, which corresponded roughly to the eastern part of the modern département of Ariège (the western part being Couserans). ... Kings ruled in France from the Middle Ages to 1848. ... The President of France, known officially as the President of the Republic (Président de la République in French), is Frances elected Head of State. ... Catalan IPA: (català IPA: or []) is a Romance language, the national language of Andorra, and a co-official language in the Spanish autonomous communities of Balearic Islands, Catalonia and Valencia, and in the city of LAlguer in the Italian island of Sardinia. ...

Liechtenstein

The Principality of Liechtenstein is the sole remaining polity of the Holy Roman Empire, having been created out of the counties of Vaduz and Schellenberg in 1719 as a sovereign fief for the wealthy Austrian House of Liechtenstein. Its population is over 30,000. Owing to its geographic position between Switzerland and Austria, it was not swallowed up during the massive reorganisation of Germany following the French Revolution, and avoided incorporation into the German Empire later in the 19th century. For other uses, see Polity (disambiguation). ... This article is about the medieval empire. ... Vaduz and its exclaves in Liechtenstein Coordinates: , Area  - City 6. ... Schellenberg is a municipality in the lowland area of Liechtenstein, on the banks of the Rhine. ... Princely Family of Liechtenstein HSH Prince Hans-Adam II HSH Princess Marie HSH Prince Alois HSH Princess Sophie HSH Prince Joseph HSH Princess Marie-Caroline HSH Prince Georg HSH Prince Nikolaus HSH Prince Maximilian HSH Princess Angela HSH Prince Alfons HSH Prince Constantin HSH Princess Marie HSH Prince Moritz HSH... The French Revolution (1789–1815) was a period of political and social upheaval in the political history of France and Europe as a whole, during which the French governmental structure, previously an absolute monarchy with feudal privileges for the aristocracy and Catholic clergy, underwent radical change to forms based on... For German colonial territories, see German Colonial Empire. ...

Malta

The Republic of Malta is an archipelago of seven islands in the central Mediterranean Sea and has a population of around 400,000 meaning it has a larger population than several non-Microstates, notably Iceland. People first arrived on Malta about 5200 BC. It gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1964. Malta is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations and the European Union. The Mergui Archipelago The Archipelago Sea, situated between the Gulf of Bothnia and the Gulf of Finland, the largest archipelago in the world by the number of islands. ... Mediterranean redirects here. ... BC may stand for: Before Christ (see Anno Domini) : an abbreviation used to refer to a year before the beginning of the year count that starts with the supposed year of the birth of Jesus. ... The Commonwealth of Nations as of 2008. ...

Monaco

The Principality of Monaco on the French Riviera, ruled by the House of Grimaldi since the 13th century, achieved full independence only following the cession of the surrounding Nice region from Piedmont to France in 1860. The Quai des États-Unis in Nice on the French Riviera at night. ... “Grimaldi” redirects here. ... This article is about the French city. ... For other uses, see Piedmont (disambiguation). ...

Monaco is located on the Mediterranean Sea, tucked into the Maritime Alps and has a population of around 35,000. Its constitutional monarchy is led by Prince Albert II. The population is 95% Roman Catholic. French, English, and Italian are the three most widely spoken languages. Its economy is based on light manufacturing, banking and financial services, shipping and trade, R&D in biotechnology, and marine environments. Tourism is also a profitable industry for Monaco. Maritime Alps The Maritime Alps are a mountain range in the south-western part of the Alps. ... Albert II, Prince of Monaco (Albert Alexandre Louis Pierre Grimaldi; born 14 March 1958), styled His Serene Highness The Sovereign Prince of Monaco, is the head of the House of Grimaldi and the current ruler of the Principality of Monaco. ...

San Marino

The Most Serene Republic of San Marino is the last survivor of a large number of self-governing Italian communes from the Middle Ages. It survived the consolidation of Italy into medium-sized territorial states in the 15th century and the unification of Italy in the 19th century, largely owing to its remote location in a valley of the Apennines and its decision to offer sanctuary to leaders of the unification movement. It has a population of approximately 30,000. For other uses, see San Marino (disambiguation). ... Italian unification, also known as Risorgimento (resurrection), was a historical process by which the Kingdom of Sardinia (ruled by the Savoy dynasty with Turin as its capital) gradually conquered the Italian peninsula, including the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, the Duchy of Modena, the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, the Duchy... The Apennine Mountains (Greek: Απεννινος; Latin: Appenninus--in both cases used in the singular; Italian: Appennini) is a mountain range stretching 1000 km from the north to the south of Italy along its east coast, traversing the entire peninsula, and forming, as it were, the backbone of the country. ...

Vatican City

The State of the Vatican City is the last remnant of the former Papal States, the lands in central Italy ruled directly by the Pope. After the unification of Italy in the 19th century the Papal States had become formally part of the Kingdom of Italy, but the Vatican disputed this claim of geographic authority, and the papacy continued to exercise de facto political control over an area around St Peter's Basilica^{[citation needed]} in Rome. A sovereign Vatican state was later established by the Lateran Treaty of 1929 between the Pope and the Italian government, in which the Pope recognised the Italian state in exchange for establishing Roman Catholicism as the state religion, and recognition of the Pope's sovereignty over a tiny state located entirely within the city of Rome. Its population is between 600 and 700. Coat of arms Map of the Papal States; the reddish area was annexed to the Kingdom of Italy in 1860, the rest (grey) in 1870. ... For other uses, see Pope (disambiguation). ... Interior view, with the nave of the Cattedra in the back St. ... The Lateran Treaties of February 11, 1929 provided for the mutual recognition of the then Kingdom of Italy and the Vatican City. ... The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ... For other uses, see Rome (disambiguation). ...

Economic policies and relationship with the European Union

Main article: Microstates and the European Union

The European microstates are all of limited size and population, and have limited natural resources. As a result, they have adopted special economic policies, typically involving low levels of taxation and few restrictions on external financial investment. Malta is a full member of the European Union, while the other five European microstates have obtained special relations with the European Union. Many of the microstates have also entered into a customs union with their larger neighbours to improve their economic situation (Vatican City and San Marino with Italy, Liechtenstein with Switzerland, and Monaco with France). The five European microstates encompassed by the European Union There are a number of small microstates in Europe; due to their size they are often closely linked with another larger state and now most European microstates have special relations with the European Union. ... The five European microstates encompassed by the European Union There are a number of small microstates in Europe; due to their size they are often closely linked with another larger state and now most European microstates have special relations with the European Union. ... A customs union is a free trade area with a Common External Tariff. ...

Dependencies

While the microstates have sovereignty over their own territory, there are also a number of small autonomous territories, which despite having (in almost all cases) their own independent Government, executive branch, legislature, judiciary, police, and other trappings of independence, are nonetheless under the sovereignty of another state or monarch. For other uses, see State (disambiguation). ... Louis XIV, king of France and Navarre (Painting by Hyacinthe Rigaud, 1701). ...

• Akrotiri and Dhekelia (British overseas territory, United Kingdom)
• Åland (Autonomous province, Finland)
• Faroe Islands (External territory, Denmark)
• Gibraltar (British overseas territory, United Kingdom)
• Bailiwick of Guernsey (British crown dependency)
• Isle of Man (British crown dependency)
• Bailiwick of Jersey (British crown dependency)
• Mount Athos or the Autonomous Monastic State of the Holy Mountain (Autonomous monastic state, Greece)

Anthem God Save the Queen Akrotiri and Dhekelia (Occupied Areas) Sovereign Base Areas indicated in pink. ... A United Kingdom overseas territory (formerly known as a dependent territory or earlier as a crown colony) is a territory that is under the sovereignty and formal control of the United Kingdom but is not part of the United Kingdom proper (almost exclusively Great Britain and Northern Ireland). ... “Aland” redirects here. ... This article is about the monarchy of the United Kingdom, one of sixteen that share a common monarch; for information about this constitutional relationship, see Commonwealth realm; for information on the reigning monarch, see Elizabeth II. For information about other Commonwealth realm monarchies, as well as other relevant articles, see... The Isle of Man is situated in the Irish Sea between Great Britain and Ireland, and the bailiwicks of Jersey and Guersey are situated in the English Channel to the west of the Cotentin Crown dependencies are possessions of The Crown in Right of the United Kingdom, as opposed to... Capital Karyes Official languages Koine Greek, Church Slavonic, Modern Greek, Russian, Serbian, Georgian, Bulgarian, Romanian (both liturgical and civil use), Modern Greek (civil use) Government  -  Head of State2 Dora Bakoyannis  -  Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I Area  -  Total 390 km²  150 sq mi  Population  -   estimate 2,250  Demonyms: Athonite, Hagiorite (English); Αθωνίτης, Αγιορίτης (Greek). ...

Other entities

• The Holy See is a unique sovereign entity under international law distinct from Vatican City with the Pope as the head of both, maintaining diplomatic and official relations with over 170 states and entities and participating in various international organizations either in its own capacity or on behalf of Vatican City.

• The Sovereign Military Order of Malta is a Catholic order that is a sovereign entity under international law and has permanent observer status at the United Nations. The Order is the direct successor to the medieval Knights Hospitaller, also known as the Knights of Malta, and today operates as a largely charitable and ceremonial organization. It is a traditional example of a sovereign entity other than a state. Its headquarters in Rome are granted extraterritoriality by Italy. Unlike the Holy See, which is sovereign over the Vatican City, SMOM has no sovereign territory, yet does have full diplomatic relations, including embassies, with 100 states^[1] and is in more informal relationship with five others. It issues its own stamps, coins, passports, and license plates, and has its own military.

• Many people often debate over the small artificial island of Sealand off the coast of the United Kingdom, which has asserted independence since the 1960's, however, very few actually accept it as a nation.

For other uses, see Pope (disambiguation). ... For the political science journal, see International Organization. ... Motto Tuitio Fidei et Obsequium Pauperum(Latin) Defence of the faith and assistance to the poor Anthem (Latin) Hail, thou White Cross Capital Palazzo Malta, Rome Official languages Italian Government  -  Grand Master Fra Andrew Bertie Currency Scudo The Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and... A religious order is an organization of people who live in some way set apart from society in accordance with religious devotion. ... In addition to the current 191 member states, the United Nations welcomes several other international agencies, entities, and one non-member state (for several years prior to their admission after a referendum in 2002, Switzerland was also an observer state). ... UN redirects here. ... The Knights Hospitaller (also known as the , Sovereign Order of Saint John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta, Knights of Malta, Knights of Rhodes, and Chevaliers of Malta; French: Ordre des Hospitaliers) is a Christian organization that began as an Amalfitan hospital founded in Jerusalem in 1080 to provide... Extraterritoriality is the state of being exempt from the jurisdiction of local law, usually as the result of diplomatic negotiations. ... Before Mexico City, Tenochtitlan was an artificial island of 250,000 inhabitants (Dr. Atl) Dejima, not allowed direct contact with nearby Nagasaki Our Lady of the Rocks (Gospa od Å krpjela) in Montenegro An artificial island is an island that has been constructed by humans rather than formed by natural means. ... Sealand may refer to: Principality of Sealand, a micronation on an offshore facility off the coast of Suffolk. ...

Historical small territories

The wars of the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars caused the European map to be redrawn several times. A number of short-lived client republics were created, and the fall of the Holy Roman Empire gave sovereignty to each of its many surviving component states. The situation was not stabilized until after the Congress of Vienna in 1815. Following World War I and World War II a number of territories gained temporary status as international zones, protectorates or occupied territories. A few of them are mentioned here: Combatants Austria[a] Portugal Prussia[a] Russia[b] Sicily[c] Sardinia  Spain[d]  Sweden[e] United Kingdom French Empire Holland[f] Italy Etruria[g] Naples[h] Duchy of Warsaw[i] Confederation of the Rhine[j] Bavaria Saxony Westphalia Württemberg Denmark-Norway[k] Commanders Archduke Charles Prince Schwarzenberg Karl Mack... During Napoleons invasions to Italy,many client (puppet) republics were established. ... This article is about the medieval empire. ... The Congress of Vienna by Jean-Baptiste Isabey, 1819. ... “The Great War ” redirects here. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000...

• Couto Mixto, ?-1864
• Gersau, 14th century-1798
• Free City of Kraków, 1815–1846 (now Kraków)
• Neutral Territory of Moresnet, 1816–1919
• Free City of Danzig, 1920–1939 (now Gdańsk)
• Free State of Fiume, 1920–1924 (now Rijeka)
• Free Territory of Trieste, 1947–1954 (Trieste)
• Saar, 1945–1956
• Republic of Ragusa, between the 14th century and 1808 (now Dubrovnik)

There are very few or no other articles that link to this one. ... Gersau is a commune in Gersau District in the canton of Schwyz & in Switzerland Stubs Categories: Switzerland geography stubs ... The Free City of Kraków (Polish: Wolne Miasto Kraków), also known as Republic of Kraków (Rzeczpospolita Krakowska), was a city-state created by the Congress of Vienna in 1815 and controlled by its three neighbors, Russia, Prussia and Austria until 1846. ... For other uses, see Krakow (disambiguation). ... Unofficial flag of Moresnet (1883) Moresnet or Neutral Moresnet was a tiny European territory of about 3. ... Flag of Danzig The Free City of Danzig refers to either of two short-lived city-states which were centered on the present-day Baltic port known as GdaÅ„sk (German: Danzig). ... For alternative meanings of GdaÅ„sk and Danzig, see GdaÅ„sk (disambiguation) and Danzig (disambiguation) Motto: Nec temere, nec timide (No rashness, no timidness) Coordinates: , Country Voivodeship Powiat city county Gmina GdaÅ„sk Established 10th century City Rights 1263 Government  - Mayor PaweÅ‚ Adamowicz Area  - City 262 km²  (101. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Free state of rijeka. ... Rijeka (in local Croatian dialects Rika and Reka; Fiume in Italian and Hungarian. ... Zone A and Zone B of the Free Territory of Trieste Capital Trieste Language(s) Italian, Slovenian, Croatian Government Republic Historical era Cold War  - Established September 15, 1947  - Partition October 26, 1954  - Treaty of Osimo October 11, 1977 Area  - 1947 738 km2 285 sq mi Population  - 1947 est. ... For other uses, see Trieste (disambiguation). ... The Saar, corresponding to the current German state of Saarland, was a protectorate under French control between 1947 and 1959. ... Borders of the Republic of Ragusa, 1426-1808 Capital Ragusa Language(s) Latin, Italian since 1492 Religion Roman Catholic Government Republic Duke  - 1808 Auguste Marmont Historical era Renaissance  - Treaty of Zara June 27, 1358  - Invasion by France January 31, 1808  - Annexed October 14, 1808 Area  - 1808? 1,500 km2 579... Look up Dubrovnik in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

See also

• Microstates and the European Union
• Enclave and exclave
• Games of the Small States of Europe

The five European microstates encompassed by the European Union There are a number of small microstates in Europe; due to their size they are often closely linked with another larger state and now most European microstates have special relations with the European Union. ... This cites very few or no references or sources. ... Member countries The Games of the Small States of Europe (GSSE) (Jeux des Petits Etats dEurope, Giochi dei Piccoli Stati DEuropa, Smáþjóðaleikar Evrópu, Juegos de los Pequeños Estados de Europa) is a biannual multi-sport event, that has been organized by the National Olympic...

References

1. ^ The Order's official website lists them in this table.

• Article from The Economist, Dec. 24, 2005, "Castles in the Air"
• GlobaLex, "The Micro-States and Small Jurisdictions of Europe"