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Republic of Saugeais

In France, there is a very tiny Republic, called the Republic of Saugeais.This Republic is neither an imaginary land, nor a self proclaimed "want-to-be independent" country.This very tiny nation is composed of twelve communes of Franche-Comte in France and resulted of privileges given in the Middle-Ages by a local Seigneur. Little by little a territory appeared around the commune and abbey of Montbenoit (Departement of Doubs) and in 1947 a Republic was proclaimed under the benediction of the Prefet of the Departement.This Republic is not recognised by France but it is so tiny that it disturbs nobody.The president of this Republic has powers in culture, sport and tourism matters and has met officially the French president Valery Giscard D'Estaing in the 1970's.

This Republic has a flag, arms and a hymn.The flag is black, red, yellow vertically stripped.On the middle of the red field may appear the arms.The arms are divided into four fields: the first shows the head of a mitra yellow on red, the second shows a chevalry helmet white on red, the third a pine tree white on blue and the fourth a blue river on green.The flag has the proportions 2:3.The arms are not very heraldical.The colours of the flag may recall the fact that some German settled this region in the past.They are also the colours of the Franche-comte but more precisely the colours of the town of Besancon.

pascal vagnat 21-NOV-1995