A man who turned a tiny island into his own country says the Portuguese government is threatening him with 'military power'

Then, in 1903, King Dom Carlos I of Portugal sold the fort along with its dominion, putting the island under public international law, according to the website. None of its owners since 1903, including the Blandy family, exercised the sovereignty that Prince Renato II claims was legitimised by the King's charter in 1903.

A man who turned a tiny island into his own country says the Portuguese government is threatening him with 'military power'

In 2000, the Blandys sold the island to Barros. In 2007, the Portuguese government declared the documents signed by King Dom Carlos I "authentic and legitimate," according to the Principality website. After this, Renato Barros claimed self-determination for Pontinha and named himself its autonomous ruler, Prince Renato II.

Portugal has yet to recognise the sovereignty of the principality, while the United Nations is analysing its case for independence. The Portuguese government was not immediately available for comment.

A man who turned a tiny island into his own country says the Portuguese government is threatening him with 'military power'

The fort is "the home of the Prince, the official address and place of all official events, political, military and artistic," Barros said. "I am the Prince, a statesman, a politician, a military leader, an artist and a performer."

A man who turned a tiny island into his own country says the Portuguese government is threatening him with 'military power'

While the Prince spends much of his time on the island, he still teaches at a school on the mainland, making the country's GDP roughly zero.

Renato also owns an art gallery on Madeira and the rest of his free time is spent fighting "23 court cases" against the Portugese government, which he describes as being made up of "thieves."

A man who turned a tiny island into his own country says the Portuguese government is threatening him with 'military power'

There are only four official citizens of Pontinha: Prince Renato II, his wife, and two children. Only the Prince lives inside the fort. He freely admits that the rest of his family consider him "crazy."

A man who turned a tiny island into his own country says the Portuguese government is threatening him with 'military power'

When Barros first bought the island, he went to speak to the governor of Madeira. He introduced himself as the ruler of a neighbouring state. The governor quickly offered to buy the island.

When Barros declined, the governor said he would disconnect electricity to the island, The Guardian first reported. Now, Barros generates energy for his nation from a windmill and solar panel.

A man who turned a tiny island into his own country says the Portuguese government is threatening him with 'military power'

There are plans to create the University of the Principality to teach a course on "Management of a Country." The course is targeted at members of the global elite who may want to "make the leap" to unilateral independence in the face of incompetent governments worldwide, a ccording to the Principality of Pontinha website.

A man who turned a tiny island into his own country says the Portuguese government is threatening him with 'military power'

For now though, Prince Renato II is worried about the Portuguese state using "military power" against him to regain control of the tiny territory.

"Portugal and the international community know that UN rules [are] not being respected according to rules [such] as [the] IMO [the International Maritime Organisation] and ISPS's [The International Ship and Port Facility Security] new safety standards," he said.

A man who turned a tiny island into his own country says the Portuguese government is threatening him with 'military power'

The self-declared Prince has grand plans for the development of his island, which he points out is the "only country in the world 100% self-sufficient in energy terms."

"The sovereignty dream is always present," the Prince said. "Every man is master of his castle and dreams of the chance to emancipate."

A man who turned a tiny island into his own country says the Portuguese government is threatening him with 'military power'

A man who turned a tiny island into his own country says the Portuguese government is threatening him with 'military power'

A man who turned a tiny island into his own country says the Portuguese government is threatening him with 'military power'

A man who turned a tiny island into his own country says the Portuguese government is threatening him with 'military power'

A man who turned a tiny island into his own country says the Portuguese government is threatening him with 'military power'

A man who turned a tiny island into his own country says the Portuguese government is threatening him with 'military power'

A man who turned a tiny island into his own country says the Portuguese government is threatening him with 'military power'

A man who turned a tiny island into his own country says the Portuguese government is threatening him with 'military power'

A man who turned a tiny island into his own country says the Portuguese government is threatening him with 'military power'

A man who turned a tiny island into his own country says the Portuguese government is threatening him with 'military power'

A man who turned a tiny island into his own country says the Portuguese government is threatening him with 'military power'

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