Leonard Casley
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name = Leonard Casley
| title = Leonard I, Prince of Hutt
| image = Leonard Casley at Hutt River Province (cropped).jpg
| caption = Casley in 2010
| reign = 21 April 1970 – {{nowrap|11 February 2017}}
| succession = Prince of Hutt River
| moretext =
self-proclaimed
| predecessor =
| successor = Graeme Casley
| spouse = {{marriage|Shirley Butler
|1947|2013|reason={{abbr|wid.|widowed; her death}}}}
| issue = 7, including Graeme Casley
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1925|8|28}}
| birth_place = Kalgoorlie, Western Australia
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2019|2|13|1925|8|28|df=y}}
| death_place = Geraldton, Western Australia
}}
Leonard George Casley (28 August 1925 – 13 February 2019), also known as Prince Leonard, was the founder of a self-proclaimed micronation, the Principality of Hutt River, within the Australian state of Western Australia.{{Cite web |last=Siegel |first=Matt |date=17 May 2012 |title=Micronation Master: Prince Leonard of Hutt River |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2012-05-17/micronation-master-prince-leonard-of-hutt-river |website=Bloomberg |access-date=1 March 2020 |archive-date=1 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200301065437/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2012-05-17/micronation-master-prince-leonard-of-hutt-river |url-status=live }} He governed Hutt River from 21 April 1970 until his abdication in February 2017 at a coronation ceremony that placed his son Graeme Casley on the throne.{{Cite news |last=Pearlman |first=Jonathan |date=13 February 2019 |title=Prince Leonard, founder of Australian micronation, dies at 93 |work=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/02/13/prince-leonard-founder-australian-micronation-dies-93/ |access-date=1 March 2020 |archive-date=1 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200301053739/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/02/13/prince-leonard-founder-australian-micronation-dies-93/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last=Mann |first=Francesca |date=13 February 2019 |title=Hutt River micro-nation founder Prince Leonard dead aged 93 |work=Perth Now |url=https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/royal-family/hutt-river-micro-nation-founder-prince-leonard-dead-aged-93-ng-b881104543z |access-date=1 March 2020 |archive-date=17 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200217164300/https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/royal-family/hutt-river-micro-nation-founder-prince-leonard-dead-aged-93-ng-b881104543z |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last=Dunlop |first=Greg |date=20 February 2017 |title=Hutt River: The Australian farm with a 'royal' family |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-38964465 |access-date=1 March 2020 |archive-date=10 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190810225401/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-38964465 |url-status=live }}
Having pursued a number of occupations, Casley eventually settled on farming, purchasing a large wheat farm near the towns of Northampton and Geraldton in the 1960s where he came to own {{Convert|75|km2|sqmi}}. In 1970, he declared independence and founded Hutt River Province in response to a dispute with the Government of Western Australia over what the Casley family considered draconian wheat production quotas. "His Royal Highness Prince Leonard I of Hutt" was the style used by Casley from the creation of the principality until his death.
Early life
Leonard Casley was born in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, to George William Casley, who worked on the railways, and Enes (née Hunter).{{Cite news |last=Onishi |first=Norimitsu |date=2011-02-01 |title=Rewards for Rebellion: Tiny Nation and Crown for Life |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/02/world/asia/02australia.html |access-date=2020-08-24 |issn=0362-4331}}{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article34319333 |title=Family Notices |newspaper=Western Argus |volume=32 |issue=1646 |location=Western Australia |date=8 September 1925 |access-date=24 August 2020 |page=15 |via=National Library of Australia}} Growing up alongside younger brother Mervyn, Casley was a high school dropout who left his education during his childhood when he was studying in sixth standard.{{Cite news |date=16 June 2017 |title=Hutt River 'micronation' leaders lose Australian tax battle |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-40298433}}{{Cite web |last=Pash |first=Chris |date=21 April 2016 |title=This 46-year-old Australian micronation has finally been recognised by Buckingham Palace |url=https://www.businessinsider.com.au/australias-oldest-micronation-finally-gets-recognition-from-buckingham-palace-2016-4 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160422045747/http://www.businessinsider.com.au/australias-oldest-micronation-finally-gets-recognition-from-buckingham-palace-2016-4 |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 April 2016 |website=Business Insider Australia}}https://www.myheritage.com/names/leonard_casley {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231112232205/https://www.myheritage.com/names/leonard_casley |date=12 November 2023 }} Leonard Casley - Historical records - MyHeritage. Retrieved 6 September 2020 – via MyHeritage.
Career
Casley worked for a shipping company based in Perth. Although he left school at 14, he described himself as a mathematician and physicist; he also claimed to have written articles for NASA.{{cite web|author=Brendan Hutchens|date=16 April 2003|title=Prince Leonard|url=http://www.abc.net.au/dimensions/dimensions_people/Transcripts/s833528.htm|access-date=28 July 2007|work=George Negus Tonight: people|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Commission|quote=took the title 'Prince', his wife became Princess Shirley, and together they turned their principality into a tourist destination.|archive-date=23 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110423114220/http://www.abc.net.au/dimensions/dimensions_people/Transcripts/s833528.htm|url-status=live}}
=Military service=
Casley served in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) between 1943 and 1946, including in Borneo.{{Cite web |title=World War Two Service - Veteran Details - Casley, Leonard George |url=https://nominal-rolls.dva.gov.au/veteran?id=930632&c=WW2#R |publisher=Department of Veterans's Affairs |access-date=2020-08-24 |archive-date=12 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231112232208/https://nominal-rolls.dva.gov.au/veteran?id=930632&c=WW2#R |url-status=live }}
Hutt River Province
File:Prince Leonard Bust (14389745770).jpg
In 1969, Casley established what he called the Hutt River Province in protest at quotas being placed on wheat. He declared independence on 21 April 1970.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article110350353 |title=For God, Queen and Hutt River |newspaper=The Canberra Times |volume=45 |issue=12,793 |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |date=24 April 1971 |access-date=24 August 2020 |page=10 |via=National Library of Australia |archive-date=4 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241004023310/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110350353 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article110697089 |title=Trouble in the land of Prince Leonard |newspaper=The Canberra Times |volume=46 |issue=13,003 |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |date=28 December 1971 |access-date=24 August 2020 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia |archive-date=4 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241004023311/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110697089 |url-status=live }}{{Cite episode|title=The Mouse that Roared|series=Landline|series-link=Landline (TV series)|url=https://www.abc.net.au/landline/the-mouse-that-roared/400444|network=ABC|date=18 April 2010|accessdate=24 August 2020|archive-date=9 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210509143043/https://www.abc.net.au/landline/the-mouse-that-roared/400444|url-status=live}}{{Cite magazine |date=16 June 1975 |title=The Prince of Hutt River. |magazine=Time|pages=32–33}}{{Cite news |last=Macbeth |first=Alex |date=2010-04-23 |title=A man's Hutt is his castle |language=en |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/a-mans-hutt-is-his-castle-20100423-tjbp.html |access-date=2020-08-25 |archive-date=21 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191021220657/https://www.smh.com.au/national/a-mans-hutt-is-his-castle-20100423-tjbp.html |url-status=live }}
He created its own flag and tax system governed by laws which were enacted by his self-declared government consisting five ministers. Leonard sought to evade paying Australian taxes, and was found to owe $3 million in income tax in 2017.{{Cite web |last=McGowan |first=Michael |date=13 February 2019 |title=Prince Leonard, who seceded from Australia to form micro-nation Hutt River, dies aged 93 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/feb/13/prince-leonard-who-seceded-from-australia-to-form-micronation-hutt-river-dies-aged-93 |website=The Guardian |access-date=1 March 2020 |archive-date=4 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241004023415/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/feb/13/prince-leonard-who-seceded-from-australia-to-form-micronation-hutt-river-dies-aged-93 |url-status=live }} As part of this tax case, he sought to justify his position on the basis of the pseudolegal Strawman theory.{{Cite news |date=16 June 2017 |title=WA's Hutt River 'royals' must pay $3 million tax bill after 'gobbledegook' defence fails |work=WA Today |url=https://www.watoday.com.au/national/western-australia/was-hutt-river-royals-must-pay-3-million-tax-bill-after-gobbledegook-defence-fails-20170616-gwsjm3.html |access-date=20 August 2020 |archive-date=4 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241004023311/https://www.watoday.com.au/national/western-australia/was-hutt-river-royals-must-pay-3-million-tax-bill-after-gobbledegook-defence-fails-20170616-gwsjm3.html |url-status=live }} Although Casley created stamps, micronation currency (Hutt River Dollar), visas, and passports for his sovereign state, the federal Government of Australia never officially recognised Hutt River as an official and independent nation, and later, it became a well-known tourist attraction in Australia.
=Abdication=
In January 2017, Casley Leonard announced that, after ruling for 45 years, he would be stepping down as prince, to be succeeded by his youngest son, Graeme. With a number of potential sons and daughters, the successor was nominated by Casley and approved by a crown committee. Some commentary at the time had expected his older son, Ian, to be the successor.{{cite web|url=http://www.businessinsider.com.au/prince-leonard-is-handing-over-control-of-australias-oldest-micronation-2017-1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170130233958/http://www.businessinsider.com.au/prince-leonard-is-handing-over-control-of-australias-oldest-micronation-2017-1|url-status=dead|archive-date=30 January 2017|title=Prince Leonard is handing over control of Australia's oldest micronation|first=Chris|last=Pash|date=31 January 2017|work=Business Insider}}{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-09-06/australias-oldest-micro-nation-monarch-considers-retirement/6749604|title=Hutt River Principality: Monarch of Australia's oldest micro-nation considers passing baton to heir|author=Sarah Taillier|date=6 September 2015|work=ABC News|access-date=2 February 2017|archive-date=2 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202154141/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-09-06/australias-oldest-micro-nation-monarch-considers-retirement/6749604|url-status=live}}
In June 2017, Casley was ordered by the Supreme Court of Western Australia to pay $2.7 million unpaid tax.{{Cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-06-16/hutt-river-province-decision-on-ato-fight/8624450 |title=Australia's oldest micro-nation founders ordered to pay $3m tax bill |last1=Neuweiler |first1=Sebastian |first2=Joanna |last2=Menagh |date=16 June 2017 |work=ABC News |access-date=19 April 2018 |language=en-AU |df=dmy-all |archive-date=17 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180517001728/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-06-16/hutt-river-province-decision-on-ato-fight/8624450 |url-status=live }}
Personal life
Casley was married to Shirley (née Butler) until her death on 7 July 2013,{{cite news|date=10 July 2013|title=Hutt River's 'princess' Shirley Casley dies aged 85|newspaper=theaustralian.com.au|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/hutt-rivers-princess-shirley-casley-dies-aged-85/story-e6frg6nf-1226677017279|access-date=10 July 2013}} when the principality went into a period of mourning, closing some of its services.{{cite news|author=Yolanda Zaw|date=10 July 2013|title=Tributes for Hutt River matriarch|work=The West Australian|publisher=Au.news.yahoo.com|url=http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/wa/17938862/tributes-for-hutt-river-matriarch/|access-date=30 April 2014|archive-date=19 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130719205754/http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/wa/17938862/tributes-for-hutt-river-matriarch/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|date=9 July 2013|title=Hutt River principality princess dies peacefully|publisher=ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-09/hutt--river-principality-princess-dies-peacefully/4809000?section=wa|access-date=30 April 2014|archive-date=26 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230226022830/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-09/hutt--river-principality-princess-dies-peacefully/4809000?section=wa|url-status=live}} She was styled as "Her Royal Highness Princess Shirley of Hutt, Dame of the Rose of Sharon", and she played host to dignitaries and diplomatic representatives visiting the principality each year,[https://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/02/world/asia/02australia.html?_r=1 Rewards for Rebellion: Tiny Nation and Crown for Life] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308212946/https://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/02/world/asia/02australia.html?_r=1 |date=8 March 2021 }} The New York Times 1 February 2011 as well as receiving television crews and magazine journalists. She was the patroness and chair of the board of directors of the Red Cross of Hutt, a parallel organisation to the International Red Cross.{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20120709041419/http://www.hutt-river-province.com/PHR_Profile_of_Princess_Shirley.htm HRH Princess Shirley]}} Principality of Hutt River.com
As an adherent of hermeticism, Casley privately published a number of research papers and books on the subject. He is the subject of a permanent exhibit at the National Museum of Australia in Canberra.[http://www.abc.net.au/tv/programs/landline/old-site/content/2010/s2875856.htm "The Mouse that Roared"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241004023310/https://iview.abc.net.au/show/landline/old-site/content/2010/s2875856.htm |date=4 October 2024 }}, ABC News, 18 April 2010{{cite web|title=Exhibitions: Eternity – Separation|url=http://www.nma.gov.au/exhibitions/now_showing/eternity/separation|access-date=13 May 2007|work=NMA Homepage|publisher=National Museum of Australia|archive-date=10 June 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070610225126/http://www.nma.gov.au/exhibitions/now_showing/eternity/separation/|url-status=live}}
Death
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- [http://www.principality-hutt-river.com/gov/HRH_Prince_Leonard_Memorial_Wall.htm Leonard Casley] at Principality of Hutt River
{{S-start}}
{{S-reg|}}
{{s-break}}
{{s-new|reason=Principality formed}}
{{s-ttl|title=Prince of the Hutt River Province
(self-proclaimed)|years=
21 April 1970 – 11 February 2017}}
{{S-aft|after=Graeme I}}
{{S-end}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Casley, Leonard}}
Category:Royal Australian Air Force personnel of World War II
Category:Monarchs who abdicated
Category:Monarchy of Australia
Category:Micronational leaders
Category:People from Kalgoorlie