3. The Kingdom of Tavolara
In 1836, Giuseppe Bertoleoni, a shepherd of Corsican-Genoese origin, declared himself King of Tavolara Island, off Sardinia’s coast. He claimed that King Charles Albert of Sardinia verbally recognized his sovereignty during a visit. The Bertoleoni family continued to rule the island, with Giuseppe’s son, Paolo I, succeeding him. Despite Italy’s unification in 1861, the kingdom maintained its independence, with Paolo I seeking recognition from the new Italian government. The family still resides on the island, with Tonino Bertoleoni, a descendant, managing a restaurant and serving as the current claimant to the throne.
