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Minquiers, Bailiwick of Jersey

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Two groups of small islands (mainly rocks) belonging to the Bailwick of Jersey in Saint Malo Bay. In 1953 the International Court in the Hague turned down French claim and confirmed British sovereignty.

In September 1998 the French writer, Jean Raspail (who claims to be a lawful king of Araucania-Patagonia) organized an invasion and take-over of Minquiers in the name of the Patagonian Kingdom and in the retaliation for British occupation of Falklands/Malvinas. The blue-white-green flag of Araucania-Patagonia was hoisted by seven "commandos" and plaques and stickers were posted on the buildings. Next day a passing British yachtsman spotted, with horror, unfamiliar flag, took it down and hang the Union Jack over British domain. Jean Raspail agreed later to the flags exchange in the UK embassy in Paris and was surprised by the publicity the prank generated.
Chris Kretowicz, 10 April 2001

The whole story is more or less correctly described but some details are erroneous. First, Jean Raspail never claimed to be a "lawful King of Araucania-Patagonia". The lawful King is still Orélie-Antoine I and Raspail is Consul General of Patagonia. Jean Raspail is not a looney. In material not yet added to our Araucania-Patagonia page, I explain his relation with Patagonia and quote the flag-related pages of his book on the Kingdom of Patagonia. Raspail was involved in several ethnological and exploration missions in America before becoming a successful writer. His books deal with people who decided that their dreams should become reality. Although I don't share Raspail's ultra-conservative and anti-modernist ideology, I must admit the quality of his books.

There was not one but two "invasions" of