In 1971 an Australian dredging ship was hired, and work was begun. Soon enough, parts of the reefs were permanently above the high tide mark, and on January 19, 1972 the new “Republic of Minerva” was proclaimed. It wasn’t much to look at. No homes, businesses or anything else you’d normally associate with a country - just a few acres of dry, barren land peeking out from the Pacific. It did have a flag, though, and it began issuing its own coinage.

Unfortunately for Mr. Oliver, neither investment dollars nor international recognition was forthcoming. In fact, the only country to react to the proclamation of the new “Republic” was the neighbouring Kingdom of Tonga - and it wasn’t thrilled. Tonga’s monarch, King Taufa’ahau Tupou IV, decided to throw his weight behind eradicating the upstart new island. (At over 400 pounds (200 kg), His Majesty held the Guinness Book of World Records title for heaviest monarch, so this threat was not to be taken lightly.)
A Tongan force comprising 90 members of a prisoner work detail, as well as a 4-piece band, made the voyage to the new island. Upon landing, the party hauled down the Minervan flag, played a rousing version of the Tongan national anthem, and claimed the land for Tonga. The short-lived “Republic of Minerva” was dead.

The moral of the story? If you’re fortunate enough to own a private island, by all means enjoy your “private kingdom” - just don’t be foolish enough to call it that. Especially if you’re anywhere near Tonga.

Filed under: Island Industry, Islanders