Last modified: 2013-12-07 by zoltán horváth
Keywords: antigua | barbuda | antigua and barbuda | redonda |
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In 1865 Mathew Shiel, an Irishman devoted to the
transportation, claimed this island, which in that era was not
belonging to any country, for himself as kingdom. His son
Philippe Shiel, born some months before, was proclaimed as king
Philippe I. Short time afterwards, the British declared the
island as their possesion and incorporated it into Antigua (1872)
and the claim of the Shiel was forgotten. When king Philippe I
grew up, he claimed the throne but didn't not adopt a flag. He
died in 1947 and order the succession to the poet John Gawsworth
(John I). John I resigned in 1966 (with effects in 1967) in
favour of Arthur John Roberts, but on the death of John I in
1970s the crown was claimed by John Wynne-Tyson (John II). In
1984 he was recognized as king by the "noble" Cedric
Boston (Cedric I) and after an agreement, in 1989, William Gates
acceded to the throne.
Jaume Ollé, 28 October 2000
image by Antonio Martins, 18 February 2010
The first flag was adopted by John I in 1949.
Jaume Ollé, 28 October 2000
image by Antonio Martins, 18 February 2010
reported wrong flag
image by Antonio Martins, 18 February 2010
The first flag held until 1980, when it was modified to a
queerly similar design to the Flag of the National
Geographic Society remaining the previous flag as personal
standard. Mc Meekin [meeXXe]
says that this flag was preserved as Personal standard of the
king after 1980 (probably until 1997) but the current king said
that is wrong. The flag that was adopted in 1980 was created as
Royal standard and no "state flag" existed. (royal
standard is considered de facto the state flag). This is the
second flag 1980 - 1997 according to Mc Meekin.
However, the arrangement of the stripes is wrong and must be
(according to the king) BLUE-GREEN-MAROON.
Jaume Ollé, 28 October 2000
At <www.antiguanice.com>,
we can read that one of the claimants tot the Redonda
crown, King Robert the Bald, died 27 August 2009. He was
succeeded by King Michael the Grey, who can be seen with the
Blue-Green-Maroon flag (and crown, cape and shorts).
Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 14 January 2010
image by Jaume Ollé'
In 1997 royal standart and (de facto) state flag was changed
by H.M. King Robert the Bald. The design was changed and Coat of
Arms added.
Jaume Ollé, 28 October 2000
Antonio Martind asked: "Why the shades of green, red and
brown are different on these two images?"
Mainly the difference is because that in the old one I used the
shades according to an image in my archives of the flag of
National Geographic (image in McMeeking [meeXXe] book is of course b/w
with international color code at the side), and the new image is
according the later version that was submitted to the king.
Jaume Ollé, 11 November 2000
image by Jaume Ollé'
Redonda is a desert islet of 1.6 square km (only 1.3 according
to Encyclopaedia Universalis) belonging to Antigua-and-Barbuda.
The Kingdom of Redonda was proclaimed on July 1865 by the Irish
negociant Matthew Dowdy Shiel from Montserrat. He celebrated on
Redonda with a group of friends the birth of his first son (and
his ninth child). Rhum helped him to proclaim himself King of
Redonda. The King abdicated on 21 July 1880 and his son Matthew
Philip was crowned as King Felipe by the bishop of Antigua. The
young King moved to London where he became a successful novelist,
and never saw again Redonda. When he died in 1947, the young poet
John Gawsworth became Juan I of Redonda and created an
"intellectual aristocracy", giving nobless titles to
famous artists such as Henry Miller, Lawrence Durrell, Dorothy
Sayers and Dirk Bogarde. Juan I rapidly bankrupted (once again
because of alcoholic beverages) and tried to sell Redonda to a
member of the Swedish royal family, the transaction being
cancelled by the British authorities. He finally gave the title
to Juan II (Artur John Robert), who himself gave him to the
current King Leo V, the history teacher William Leonard Gates.
The Court lives in exile in London and meets in the Fitzroy
Tavern, Guiness being the official beverage of the Court. The
Kingdom release stamps, The Times of Redonda (official gazette).
The motto is 'Floreat Redonda!' (May Redonda flourishes!)
There are at least five competitors to Leo V, including Robert I
who wants to use the rock as a naturists' camp and an American
who wants to proclaim the Republic.
The flag is horizontally divided blue-white-blue (2:1:2) with a
golden crown in the upper blue stripe.
Source: Bruno Fuligni in Franciae Vexilla #16/62 [vfr], December 1999.
Ivan Sache , 19 December 1999
The flag reported by Vexilla Francia a is absolutely unknown to
the current king. In a communication he describe the flag that as
very close that the one I reported (but order of stripes was
changed three years ago by Decree of the king). He also explain
about the name of the North point of the island, that is named
Anton Gaudi Point, from the genial architect born in Reus
Jaume Ollé, 23 October 2000
There are various pretenders for the kingdom of Redonda and
that is why various flags exist. This flag is King Leo's flag.
Bruno Fuligni (author of "L’Etat c’est
moi" [ful97]), 12 January
2004
red.gif)
image by Jaume Ollé'