Buzz
Initially, Bertoleoni intended to escape to the island to avoid fines for having two wives; later, he chose to stay here.
Life in Bertoleoni, the smallest kingdom in the world
Located off the northeast coast of Sardinia, Italy, is Tavolara, an island measuring 5 km in length and 1 km in width. Except for two ends, most of it consists of sheer cliffs. The narrow strip of land with a long beach is the only inhabited area on the island.
Bertoleoni claims to be the ruling family of the 'Kingdom of Tavolara' and declares it the 'smallest kingdom in the world.' The members of this family are also the sole residents on the island, living for over 200 years.
Bertoleoni arrived on the island in 1807 and decided to permanently settle here with two wives and children. Initially, Bertoleoni chose this place to evade taxes, not to pay fines for having multiple wives.
In 1836, the title bestowed upon him was by the ruler of Sardinia, Carlo Alberto, during his visit to Tavolara.
According to AmusingPlanet, Bertoleoni's ascent to the throne and rule over the kingdom of Tavolara unfolded simply and swiftly. When Carlo Alberto visited Tavolara for leisure, the 24-year-old son of Bertoleoni welcomed him, introducing himself as the king of the island.
After 3 days of warm hospitality from the Bertoleoni family, Carlo expressed his satisfaction, joyfully stating, 'Paolo, you are indeed the king of Tavolara.'
A few years later, as the Italian government attempted to reclaim the island as public property, Paolo went to Turin to meet Carlo Alberto and revisit the past. Here, the young man was granted a recognition paper by King Carlo, officially declaring 'Paolo is the king of Tavolara.'
Since then, that piece of land has been under the rule of the Bertoleoni family. Seven generations have lived in this small territory, sustaining themselves through goat farming and fishing. As tourism developed, the descendants of King Bertoleoni also started selling souvenirs to visitors. They also jointly manage two restaurants on the island.
In the early 1900s, Queen Victoria of England curated a collection of images of world leaders at that time. She sent a photographer to Tavolara, capturing images of the royal family Bertoleoni. Today, the photograph of the Bertoleoni family still hangs in the Buckingham Palace Museum in London and on the walls of the island's restaurants.
In 1934, the island was annexed by Italy. By 1962, NATO established a base on the eastern half of the island, restricting a portion of its territory. Today, the Bertoleoni family owns only 50 hectares of land on the island.
Although no longer holding the title of king or ruler, the succeeding generations of the Bertoleoni family continue to reside here, serving as the 'guardians of the island.' Furthermore, they are actively striving to gain recognition from the government and the world, asserting Tavolara as a sovereign nation and the smallest kingdom globally.
According to Anh Minh/Vnexpress
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Reference: Travel guide Mytour
MytourDecember 15, 2017
