Republic of Saugeais

Republic of Saugeais Micronation
Coat of arms
Motto: Dé san qu’y a dèz hounnous â mondou Since men were in the world
Anthem: Hymne du Saugeais("Hymn of Saugeais") by Joseph Botillon, 1910
Status		Current
Location		Eastern France, on the Swiss border
Capital		Montbenoît
Official languages		French, Langue Saugette
Membership		11 municipalities
Organizational structure		Republic
-	President	Georgette Bertin-Pourchet
Establishment
-	Declared	1947
Area claimed
-	Total	40 km2 15 sq mi
Population
-	estimate	4337
Purported Currency		Saugeais Sol, Euro
Time zone		CET

The Republic of Saugeais (French: La République du Saugeais) is a long-lived self-proclaimed micronation located in eastern France, in the département of Doubs. The republic comprises the 11 municipalities of Les Alliés, Arçon, Bugny, La Chaux-de-Gilley, Gilley, Hauterive-la-Fresse, La Longeville, Montflovin, Maisons-du-Bois-Lièvremont, Ville-du-Pont, and its capital Montbenoît.

In 1947, the prefect of the département of Doubs came to Montbenoît to attend an official event. The prefect had lunch in the Hôtel de l'Abbaye in Montbenoît, which was owned by Georges Pourchet. As a joke, Pourchet asked the prefect "Do you have a permit allowing you to enter the Republic of Saugeais?" The prefect asked for details on the mysterious republic, which Pourchet made up on the spot. The prefect responded by appointing Pourchet president of the Free Republic of Saugeais.

Georges Pourchet died in 1968 and his wife Gabrielle initially succeeded as president. She retired in 1970 but remained active in Montbenoît, helping the parish priest to preserve the abbey. To raise funds, a festival was organised in 1972, during which Gabrielle Pourchet was elected by acclamation President for life.

President Gabrielle Pourchet appointed a prime minister, a general secretary, twelve ambassadors and more than 300 honorary citizens. A song written in the Langue Saugette, a Franco-Provençal dialect, by Joseph Botillon in 1910 was adopted as the republic's national anthem. A banknote was released in 1997, and the French Postal Service issued a postal stamp commemorating the republic in 1987.^[1]

Gabrielle Pourchet died on 31 August 2005, at the age of 99, and her daughter Georgette Bertin-Pourchet succeeded as president.

List of presidents

1. Georges Pourchet (1947 – 1968)
2. Gabrielle Pourchet (1968 – 1970)
3. Gabrielle Pourchet (1972 - 31 August 2005)
4. Georgette Bertin-Pourchet (since 2005)

Sources and external links

• FOTW Flags Of The World website featuring information on the flag of the republic.