European microstates

Map of the European microstates

AEuropean microstateorEuropean ministateis a very smallsovereign stateinEurope.In modern usage, it typically refers to thesix smallest states in Europe by area:Andorra,Liechtenstein,Malta,Monaco,San Marino,andVatican City(theHoly See).

Andorra, Liechtenstein, Monaco and Vatican City aremonarchies(Vatican City is an elective monarchy ruled by the Pope). These states trace their status back to the first millennium or the early second millennium except for Liechtenstein, created in the 17th century.

Microstatesare small independent states recognised by larger states. According to the qualitative definition suggested by Zbigniew Dumieński (2014), microstates can also be viewed as "modern protected states, i.e. sovereign states that have been able to unilaterally depute certain attributes of sovereignty to larger powers in exchange for benign protection of their political and economic viability against their geographic or demographic constraints."

In line with this definition, only Andorra, Liechtenstein, Monaco, and San Marino qualify as "microstates" as only these states are sovereignties functioning in close, but voluntary, association with their respective larger neighbours.LuxembourgandCypruswhich are far larger than all the European microstates combined, nonetheless share some of these characteristics.

List of states often labelled as microstates

Arms	Flag	Microstate	Capital city	Area	Notes
		Andorra	Andorra la Vella	468 km2(181 sq mi)	The Principality of Andorra used to be afeudalremnant high in thePyrenees,afiefdomheld jointly by theBishop of UrgellinSpainand theCount of FoixinFrance,with a population of approximately 89,000. TheCounty of Foixmerged into theFrench Crownin 1607 and thus the King of France and then thePresident of Francetook the place of the Count of Foix. Since 1993 Andorra has been a parliamentary democracy, but it maintains two Co-Princes, one being France's elected head of state and the other being theBishop of Urgell.It has been independent since 1278.Catalanis its sole official language.
		Liechtenstein	Vaduz	160 km2(62 sq mi)	The Principality of Liechtenstein is the sole remainingpolityof theHoly Roman Empire,having been created out of the counties ofVaduzandSchellenbergin 1719 as a sovereign fief for the wealthy AustrianHouse of Liechtenstein.Its population is over 35,000. Owing to its geographic position betweenSwitzerlandandAustria,it was not swallowed up during the reorganisation of Germany following theFrench Revolution,and avoided incorporation into theGerman Empirelater in the 19th century.
		Malta	Valletta	316 km2(122 sq mi)	The Republic of Malta is anarchipelagoof seven islands in the centralMediterranean Seaand has a population of around 446,000 (2013 estimate),meaning it has a larger population than several non-microstates, notablyIcelandwhich has a population of around 325,000 (2014 estimate).People first arrived about 5200 BC from the nearby island ofSicily.It gainedindependencefrom theUnited Kingdomas aCommonwealth realmin 1964, and became a republic in 1974. Malta is a member of theCommonwealth of Nationsand the only microstate to be a full member of theEuropean Union.Roman Catholicismis the officialstate religion.
		Monaco	None (city-state)	2.02 km2(0.78 sq mi)	The Principality of Monaco on theFrench Riviera,ruled by theHouse of Grimaldisince the 13th century, achieved full independence only following the cession of the surroundingNiceregion fromPiedmontto France in 1860. Monaco is located on the Mediterranean Sea, tucked into theMaritime Alpsand has a population of around 35,000. Its constitutional monarchy is led byPrince Albert II.The population is 95% Roman Catholic. French, English, Italian, andMonégasqueare the most widely spoken languages. Its economy is based on light manufacturing, banking and financial services, shipping and trade, R&D in biotechnology, marine environments, and tourism.
		San Marino	Città di San Marino	61 km2(24 sq mi)	The Republic of San Marino,also known as theMost Serene Republicof San Marino,is the oldest surviving sovereign constitutionalrepublicin the world.It is the continuation of a monastic community founded in 301 A.D. and is the last survivor of a large number of self-governing Italian communes from the Middle Ages, having survived the consolidation of Italy into medium-sized territorial states in the 15th century and theunification of Italyin the 19th century, largely owing to its remote location in a valley of theApenninesand its decision to offer sanctuary to leaders of the unification movement. It has a population of approximately 30,000.
		Vatican City	None (city-state)	0.49 km2(0.19 sq mi)	A sovereign Vatican state was established by theLateran Treatyof 1929 between the Pope and the government ofBenito Mussolini,in which the Pope recognised the Italian state in exchange for establishingRoman Catholicismas thestate religion,and recognition of the Pope's sovereignty over a tiny state entirely surrounded by the city ofRome.Its population is about 800, of whom about 450 reside in its territory. TheHoly Seeis a unique sovereign entity under international law distinct from Vatican City with thepopeas the head of both, maintaining diplomatic and official relations with over 170 states and entities and participating in variousinternational organisationseither in its own capacity or on behalf of Vatican City.

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. They also 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 theEuropean Union,while the other five European microstates have obtained specialrelations with the European Union.Many of the microstates have also entered into acustoms unionwith their larger neighbours to improve their economic situation (Vatican City and San Marino withItaly,Liechtenstein withSwitzerland,Monaco withFrance). Most of them lack clearly marked borders; for example, Monaco forms a continuous metropolitan area with its neighbouring French communes (the largest beingBeausoleil) and has many streets running across or along the border.

Similar entities

Dependencies

While the microstates have sovereignty over their own territory, there are also a number of smallautonomous 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 anotherstateormonarch.

• Akrotiri and Dhekelia(BritishOverseas Territory)
• Åland(autonomous countyofFinland)
• Bailiwick of Guernsey(BritishCrown Dependency), a part of theChannel Islands,consisting of three separate sub-jurisdictions:Alderney,Guernsey,andSark
• Bailiwick of Jersey(British Crown Dependency), a part of the Channel Islands
• Faroe Islands(self-governing territoryof theKingdom of Denmark)
• Gibraltar(British Overseas Territory)
• Isle of Man(British Crown Dependency)
• Mount Athos(autonomous monastic community inGreece)

Sovereign Military Order of Malta

Flag of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta

TheSovereign Military Order of Maltais aCatholiclay orderthat is a traditional example of a sovereign entity under international law other than a state.

Unlike the Holy See, which is sovereign over the Vatican City, the Order has no territory. However, its headquarters, located inPalazzo MaltaandVilla Malta,are grantedextraterritorialityby Italy, and the same status is recognised byMaltaregarding its historical headquarters, located inFort St Angelo.The Order is the direct successor to the medievalKnights Hospitaller,also known as the Knights of Malta, and today operates as a largely charitable and ceremonial organisation.

It haspermanent non-state observer statusat theUnited Nations,has full diplomatic relations, including embassies, with 100 statesand is in more informal relationships with five others. It issues its own stamps, coins, passports, and license plates, and has its ownarmy medical corps.

Historical small territories

The wars of theFrench Revolutionand theNapoleonic Warscaused the European map to be redrawn several times. A number of short-livedclient republicswere created, and thefallof theHoly Roman Empiregave sovereignty to each of its many survivingKleinstaaten.The situation was not stabilised until after theCongress of Viennain 1815. FollowingWorld War IandWorld War IIa number of territories gained temporary status asinternational zones,protectoratesor occupied territories. A few of them are mentioned here:

Historical small territories

Name	Start date	End date	Modern-day state(s)	Notes
Couto Misto	10th century	1868	Spain/Portugal	Independent microstate on the border between Spain and Portugal
Duchy of Naples	840	1137	Italy	The Duchy survived the withdrawal of the Byzantine Empire and remained independent until subsumed by theKingdom of Sicilyin 1137
Republic of Lucca	1160	1805	Italy	The Republic was absorbed into thePrincipality of Lucca and Piombino(a client state of theFirst French Empire) between 1805 and 1815, and formed the independentDuchy of Luccabetween 1815 and 1847, as a consequence of theCongress of Vienna
County of Santa Fiora	1274	1633	Italy
Senarica	1343	1797	Italy	Smallest independent state to hold that distinction for so long
Gersau	1433	1798	Switzerland
Republic of Mulhouse	1347	1798	France
Republic of Ragusa	1358	1808	Dubrovnik,Croatia
Republic of Cospaia	1440	1826	Italy	Created after an error byPope Eugene IVduring the sale of territory to theRepublic of Florence.A small strip of land went unmentioned in the sale treaty and its inhabitants promptly declared themselves independent.
Republic of Saint-Malo	1590	1594	Ille-et-Vilaine,France
Republic of Paulava	1769	1795	Lithuania	A completely independentrepublicfounded by aLithuanian noblePaweł Ksawery Brzostowskiwith its own President, parliament, laws and army. The state was recognised by the Grand Duke and KingStanisław August Poniatowski.
Gozo	1798	1800	Gozo,Malta
Free City of Kraków	1815	1846	KrakówPoland
Neutral Moresnet	1816	1920	Kelmis,Belgium	Neutral Moresnet was acondominiumbetween theNetherlandsandPrussiaover a disputed zinc mine.
Free Cities ofMentonandRoquebrune	1848	1849	France	TheFree Cities of Menton and Roquebruneseceded fromMonacoin 1848. In November 1849 they were annexed bySardinia,and in 1861 were annexed by France.
Republic of Kruševo	3 August 1903	13 August 1903	Municipality of Kruševo,North Macedonia
Free State of Schwenten	6 January 1919	10 August 1919	Świętno,Poland
Free State of Bottleneck	10 January 1919	23 February 1923	Hesse,Germany
Free City of Danzig	1920	1939	Gdańsk,Poland
Klaipeda Region	1920	1923	Lithuania	The territory was placed under French control under theTreaty of Versaillesin 1920, but was occupied by Lithuania in 1923 in theKlaipėda Revolt
Free State of Fiume	1920	1924	Rijeka,Croatia
Territory of the Saar Basin	1920	1935	Saarland,Germany	Following World War I, the Saar was a League of Nations mandate under French control, until areferendum in 1935saw over 90% of voters opt to return to Germany.
Saar Protectorate	1945	1956	Saarland,Germany	Following World War II, France governed the Saar directly as a protectorate, surrounded by France proper to the west and theFrench Zone of Occupationof Germany to the east.
Free Territory of Trieste	1947	1954	Divided betweenItaly,SloveniaandCroatia	Trieste had been occupied by Italy following the end of World War I, and was notionally recreated as a Free Territory following the end of World War II, when it was divided between areas of Allied and Yugoslav control, formalised in 1954 with the Allied part being returned to Italy.

Historical dependencies

Several historical territorial dependencies and colonies have also formerly existed in Europe, under the sovereignty of anotherstateormonarch.These include:

• Heligoland(Britishcolonyfrom 1807 to 1890), an island off the coast of Germany (of which it is now part)

Popular culture and sports

• Association footballclubAS Monaco,though based in Monaco, plays in theFrench football league system.In contrast, Malta maintains its ownleague systemwith a 14-teamtop division.
• Some of the European microstates are members of theGames of the Small States of Europe(GSSE); several of the island dependencies compete in theIsland Games,alongside several other island dependencies from elsewhere in the world. Countries that participate at the Games of the Small States of Europe are: Andorra, Cyprus,Iceland,Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco,Montenegroand San Marino.
• Monaco (from 1959 to 1979 and 2004 to 2006), Malta (since 1971), Andorra (from 2004 to 2009), and San Marino (debut in 2008, then from 2011 onwards) are or were contestant countries ofEurovision Song Contest.

See also

• Enclave and exclave
• Games of the Small States of Europe
• List of fictional European countries

External links

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