View source for Principality of Trinidad

{{Short description|Short-lived unrecognized state}}
{{Other uses|Trinidad (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox country
|native_name = 
|conventional_long_name = Principality of Trinidad<br><small>Principauté de Trinidad {{in lang|fr}}<br>Principado de Trinidad {{in lang|pt}}</small>
|common_name = Trinidad 
|status    = [[List of historical unrecognized countries|Unrecognized state]]
|era         = 
|event_start = 
|date_start  = 
|year_start  = 1893
|event_end   = 
|date_end    = 
|year_end    = 1895
|p1 = First Brazilian Republic
|flag_p1 = Flag of Brazil (1889–1960).svg
|p2 = United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
|flag_p2 = Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
|s1 = First Brazilian Republic
|flag_s1 = Flag of Brazil (1889–1960).svg
|image_flag  = Flag of the Principality of Trinidad.svg
|image_coat = Coat of arms of the Principality of Trinidad.svg
|symbol_type = 
|image_map = TrindadeMapCruiseOfTheAlerte.jpg
|image_map_caption = Map of Trinidad from the book, ''The Cruise of the Alerte''
|national_motto = 
|national_anthem = 
|capital     = 
|common_languages = [[English language|English]], [[French language|French]], [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]]
|government_type = Self-proclaimed monarchy
|title_leader = Prince
|leader1     = [[James Harden-Hickey|James I]]
|year_leader1 = 1893–1895
|stat_year1   = 
|stat_pop1    = 
|currency     = 
}}

The '''Principality of Trinidad''' (not to be confused with the [[Republic of Trinidad and Tobago]]) was a short-lived unrecognized state declared in 1893<ref>"To Be Prince of Trinidad: He Is Baron Harden-Hickey," ''New York Tribune'', Nov 5, 1893, p 1</ref> when the American [[James Harden-Hickey]] claimed the uninhabited [[Trindade Island]] in the South Atlantic. He declared himself James I, Prince of Trinidad,<ref name="oldsmoke">Bryk, William, [http://www.nypress.com/15/50/news&columns/oldsmoke.cfm News & Columns] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060430105931/http://www.nypress.com/15/50/news%26columns/oldsmoke.cfm |date=2006-04-30 }}, ''[[New York Press]]'', v 15 no 50 (Dec 10, 2002)</ref><ref>"Principality of Trinidad: John H. Flagler's Son-in-Law Is Its Sovereign, Self-Proclaimed as James I," ''New York Times'', June 10, 1894, p 23</ref> and intended for the islands to become a [[military dictatorship]] under his leadership.<ref name="oldsmoke" />  Britain and Brazil later argued over the territory, and it is now a part of the state of [[Espírito Santo]] in southeastern Brazil.<ref>"Mr. Hickey's Trinidad Invaded: Great Britain's Warship Barracouta Takes Possession of the Land While the Prince Is in California," ''New York Times'', Jun 18, 1895, p 3</ref><ref>"Trinidad's Prince Awake: An Appeal to Washington Against Brazil and Great Britain," ''New York Times'', Aug 1, 1895, p 1</ref><ref>"Grand Chancellor of Trinidad: Significant Phases in the Ascent of Male Comte de la Boissiere to His Elevated Diplomatic Post," ''New York Times'', Aug 2, 1895, p 9</ref><ref>"Trinidad's Case in Washington: Courteously, the Chancellor Would Permit Britain's Cable Station and Use It, but There Is Graver Trouble," ''New York Times'', Aug 7, 1895, p 1</ref><ref>"Trinidad's Diplomat in Action: M. de la Boissiere Asks that His Sovereign's Land Be Recognized as a Neutral Principality," ''New York Times'', Aug 9, 1895, p 5</ref><ref>"Trinidad's Prince at Work: Grand Chancellor de la Boissiere Tells How the War Between Great Britain and Brazil Will Be Averted," ''New York Times'', Jan 24, 1896, p 9</ref><ref>[http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/br-trin.html Flags of the World - Trindade and Martins Vaz Islands (Brazil)]</ref>

==Name==
The original name of the island, ''Trindade'', is Portuguese for "[[trinity]]"; ''Trinidad'' is the Spanish [[cognate]]. It is unclear why Harden-Hickley chose to translate the name from Portuguese into Spanish, and not English. Earlier, nearby [[Ascension Island]] had been renamed from its original Portuguese name ''Ascensão'' when it passed into British hands.

== History ==
While traveling to [[Tibet]] before his marriage, Harden-Hickey noticed the tiny island of Trindade in the South Atlantic Ocean, which had never been claimed by any country and was, legally, ''[[terra nullius]]''. In 1893, wanting an independent state where he could serve as its ruler, he claimed the island and proclaimed himself James I, the Prince of Trinidad.
[[File:Stamp of the Principality of Trinidad 1893 5f.jpg|thumb|Stamp of the Principality of Trinidad, 5f, 1893]]
He designed postage stamps, a national flag and [[coat of arms]], and established a [[chivalric order]], the Cross of Trinidad. He bought a [[schooner]] to transport colonists, appointed M. Le Comte De la Boissiere as Secretary of State, and opened a consular office at 217 West 36th Street in [[New York City]]. He issued [[government bond]]s to finance the construction of infrastructure on the island.

In July 1895, the [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|British]] tried to take possession of the island, basing their claim on the 1700 visit by English astronomer [[Edmund Halley]].<ref name="oldsmoke" /> The British planned to use the island as a telegraph cable station.<ref name="oldsmoke" /> However, Brazilian diplomatic efforts pressed a successful claim to Brazilian sovereignty, based on the island's discovery in 1502 by Portuguese navigators.

To demonstrate sovereignty over the island, the state of Espírito Santo, which took the island, built a landmark on 24 January 1897.

===Today===
Today, Brazil marks its presence with a permanent [[Brazilian Navy]] base on the main island.

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Micronations}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Trinidad, Principality Of}}
[[Category:Former unrecognized countries]]
[[Category:Former principalities]]
[[Category:Former monarchies of South America]]
[[Category:Micronations]]
[[Category:States and territories established in 1893]]
[[Category:1893 establishments in South America]]
[[Category:1895 disestablishments]]
[[Category:Modern history of Brazil]]
[[Category:History of Espírito Santo]]
[[Category:States and territories disestablished in 1895]]