Timeline of Ladonian Events

A country can be claimed as a country when it is in control of its territory. That was the basis for the decision to declare Ladonia independent of Sweden on 2 June 1996

1980:

    • July 31: Lars Vilks starts building a sculpture at the nature reserve Kullaberg, in the northwest corner of county Skåne. A few days later the sculpture is named “Nimis”.

1982:

    • Nimis is “discovered” and the authorities become aware of it. This begins a series of unforeseen developments and is the start of a number of civil and criminal complaints that drag on through the courts until 2004.

1983:

    • The District Court convicts Vilks for Nimis

1984:

    • Joseph Beuys buys Nimis from Vilks; the price is 1500 US dollars. The Court of Appeal in the case of Nimis overturns the District Court’s conviction of Vilks.

1985:

    • Sabotage! Vandals torched Nimis and the flames destroy 2/3 of the piece.

1986:

    • Vilks’ conviction for “obstructing the passable” is upheld by the Court of Appeals. He is to pay a fine of 25 SEK (~$2.50 USD) for each count. He was charged with 40 counts of obstructing the passable (1000 SEK, or ~$100 USD). Jeanne-Claude & Christo buy Nimis after the death of Joseph Beuys.

1991:

    • Vilks starts the work on the “stone book” Arx in reinforced concrete. He is soon reported to the police. Arx is completed in 1998.

1992:

    • The police are inspecting the crime (Arx) reported in 1991.

1994:

    • Vilks is convicted for building Arx and is fined 10,000 SEK (~$1000 USD) by the District Court in Helsingborg.

1995:

    • The Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court settle the ruling of District Court over Arx.

1996:

    • The Chancellor of Justice (similar to the Supreme Court in the US) finds in favor of Vilks and convicts the County Administrative Board in Skåne for bad handling and passiveness concerning Nimis and Arx.
    • June 2nd: Ladonia is declared as an independent nation. This was done because the courts held that the Swedish authorities did not have control over the territory and could not prosecute nor enforce their own court rulings. Ladonia began accepting citizenship applications and formed a parliament. Vilks is named the Chancellor.

1997:

    • Once the milestone of 1,000 citizens had been reached, the first election was held.
    • The election was to decide on a system of government, ratify a constitution, elect a president, and elect a Queen (since there was not one already).
    • Through general elections, it was decided that Ladonia would be a remoni (republican monarchy) with a Queen and a President. Ywonne I Jarl was elected the first Queen of Ladonia, and Fernando Rodrigues (Brazil) was elected the first President of Ladonia.
    • Ladonia acquires a colony in Norway (Telemark) acclaimed in May 17 (National Day in Norway).
    • Unrelated to the colony in Norway, a Ladonian embassy was built in Falkenberg, Sweden.
    • The first official State Visit takes place.

    1998:

      • County Administrative Board in Skåne reopens the case against Nimis and Arx and demands that they are removed.
      • The tourist association in the nearby town, Höganäs, protests against the County Administrative Board since the area now has become a great tourist attraction.
      • The County Administrative Board demands help from the Enforcement Service.
      • Senior enforcement officer Möllerberg establishes that the decision of demolition should be possible to be executed immediately.
      • The District Court denies the demand of demolition.
      • The Danish Minister of Culture Elsebeth Gerner-Nielsen pays an official visit in Ladonia.

    1999:

      • Omfalos is created. A stone piece made out of reinforced concrete and stones, 1,6 m high.
      • “The Gyllenstiernska Krapperup Foundation” reports Vilks to the police over the matter of Omfalos.
      • Vilks answers to the allegations is that he’s not the artist and that he merely has named the piece.
      • The Enforcement Service recommends demolition in April 1999. Vilks appeals this in District Court.
      • In August, Vilks is called to police interrogation. The police report is relinquished since no crime can be proved.
      • August 27 the District Court pays visit to Ladonia. Lawyer Magnus Holme indignantly burst out at Vilks: “You’ll end up in the slammer.”
      • The Foundation demands 100,000 SEK in damages, legal expenses and that all the art-pieces to be removed, Vilks is acquitted on all counts with the exception of Omfalos. Judge Svensäter in District Court assigns Vilks as the maker of Omfalos. The Foundation appeal against the decision of the District Court to the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court gives leave to appeal.

    2000:

      • The second presidential election is held, Fernando Rodrigues wins a second term in office.
      • Court of Appeal pays visit to Ladonia in August. The ruling of the Court of Appeal is in September and follows District Courts line: Vilks is not the owner of Nimis and Arx and therefore the decision of demolition made by Enforcement Service can’t be directed against Vilks. The ruling of removal for Omfalos, however, stood fast.
      • County Administrative Board in Skåne makes an official request to make an exception of the Ladonian area from the nature reserve. Hereby the sculptures wouldn’t be illegal any longer, an indirect acknowledgement that Swedish law does not apply to Ladonian territory.
      • The Gyllenstiernska Krapperup Foundation appeals in October to the Supreme Court.

    2001:

      • The Supreme Court gives no leave to appeal. The ruling of the Court of Appeal stands hereby fast. The Foundation demands removal through the aid of The Enforcement Service concerning Omfalos.
      • In April, the Swedish Artist Ernst Billgren buys Omfalos, the price is 10,000 SEK. The Enforcement Service supports the removal of Omfalos.
      • Billgren and Vilks appeal the decision in District Court in Malmö. District Court informs of occasional inhibition of the order. The owner Billgren requests that: “Omfalos cannot be harmed”.
      • Vilks agrees with the owner Billgren to find an “artistically interesting solution” of the removal of Omfalos. Vilks applies with the County Administrative Board in Skåne to blow up Omfalos by 100 kilos of dynamite as a tribute to Alfred Nobel in connection with the 100-years anniversary of the Nobel price.
      • On December 7, the County Administrative Board in Skåne makes a secret decision, which only the Enforcement Service receives. The authorities went into action on the Sunday morning of December 9 2001 and removed Omfalos with the aid of a boat with a hydraulic crane.

    2002:

      • In January, Vilks requests permission from the County Administrative Board to erect a memorial monument over Omfalos. The answer comes on February 27. Vilks is permitted to erect an 8 cm (about 3 inch) monument.
      • February 22, Omfalos is collected from the Enforcement Service and placed in Mölle.
      • September 26 ,the District Court informs that the Enforcement Service demand of 92,500 SEK (~$925 USD) for the removal is justified, in addition to this, legal expenses of 11,000 SEK (~$110 USD) are also due. The matter is appealed.
      • Approximately 4000 Pakistan citizens apply for citizenship in Ladonia in hope for a better life. The news gets global distribution and Ladonian citizenship rolls increase rapidly from 5000 to 10,000 (however, no Pakistan citizens were accepted because they misunderstood the nature of citizenship).

    2003:

      • The third presidential election is held, Fernando Rodrigues wins a third term in office.
      • In January, the Court of Appeal decides that they give no leave to appeal to the ruling of District Court of a total 103,500 SEK. The matter is appealed to Supreme Court.
      • On March 27 Omfalos is transported to Stockholm.
      • July 5: Ladonia declares war on Sweden and USA.
      • July 7: Ladonia also declares war on San Marino. The owner Ernst Billgren donates Omfalos to Moderna Museet.
      • August 29-31: A delegation from Ladonia attends the first Summit of Micronations in Helsinki, Finland. During the three day event, representatives of six micronations had a round table discussion and a gala evening in the historical setting of Finlandia House and they each opened temporary embassies at Harakka island. An extensive reader on micronations was published and can be found here: http://www.muu.fi/amorph03/impressum.html 

    2004:

      • President Rodrigues resigns, and Vice-President Countess Kicki von Hanekll succeeds him becoming the second President of Ladonia.
      • The Swedish Supreme Court stipulates the ruling of District Court over the 103,500:-. Vilks sues the State for 300,000 SEK over damages that Omfalos contracted in the removal.

    2007:

      • The fourth presidential election is held. Daniel Jiminez becomes the third President of Ladonia. He served as Vice President of Ladonia under President Countess Kicki von Hanekll.

    2008:

      • President Jiminez resigns after a no confidence vote in the Cabinet. Vice-President Fredrik Larsson succeeds him to become the fourth President of Ladonia and will serve out the term until the next election.

    2010:

      • The fifth presidential election is held. Perhaps as a commentary on the people’s weariness of politicians, the people elect The President’s Old Shoes as the Commander-in-Chief and fifth President of Ladonia. Former President Fredrik Larsson, as the second place vote winner, goes back to being Vice-President.

    2011:

      • Queen Ywonne I has disappeared, and her disappearance sparked a Constitutional crisis in Ladonia. After an exhaustive search and much debate, the Cabinet of Ministers exercised their Constitutional right to remove the reigning Queen and her line of succession from the throne. Once the throne was officially declared vacant, candidates for Queen were nominated from the Cabinet of Ministers and an election was held.
      • 2 June – Ladonia National Day: The Minister of Customisations was elected to replace Queen Ywonne I and proclaimed Carolyn I, Queen of Ladonia
      • 28 June: Ladonia joins Twitter
      • 19 September: The coronation of Queen Carolyn I was held on 19 September 2011 at Nimis. It was attended by members of the new Royal Family, the State Secretary, the Minister of Art and Jump, and members of the Swedish media.

    2012:

    Ladonia sends a delegation to Polination 2012 London. This is the first conference the new Queen attends.

    2014:

      • July: Ladonia sends a delegation to Polination 2014 in The Free Republic of Alcatraz (Italy). The Queen announces policy changes regarding “war” and issues official end of war declarations on San Marino, USA and Sweden.
      • December: Hurricane Sven devastated Ladonia, destroying Wotan’s Tower completely, knocking over the Tower of the Winds, and demolishing the Queen’s Throne. Reconstruction of the Tower of the Winds began as soon as weather permitted in 2015.

    2015:

    • Ladonia sends a delegation to the Inaugural MicroCon (in Anaheim, California)

    2016:

    • 25 November: Arsonists set fire to several structures in Ladonia. Nimis was 25% damaged, but the Tower of the Winds was completely destroyed. No one claimed responsibility and Swedish authorities believe it was arson and plan to treat it as such should the culprit be found.

    2021:

    • 31 July: The 40th anniversary of Nimis was celebrated in Ladonia at Nimis. A celebration jump was performed by the Minister of Art and Jump, Fredrik Larsson. Speeches were given by the Minister of Art and Jump, the Prime Minister Frans Brood, and the State Secretary (who is also the artist who created Nimis and the founder of Ladonia) Lars Vilks.
    • 3 October: Ladonia’s founder and State Secretary, Lars Vilks, was tragically killed in an auto accident in Sweden. Ladonians around the world mourned and resolved to continue on to preserve his legacy.