Theme : Esperanto 13a - Neutral Moresnet 1

When Napoleon's army lost against the 6th coalition in Russia in 1812 and in Leipzig in 1813, Europe had become a battlefield from Portugal to the Russian border. The whole continent was a patchwork of smaller and larger kingdoms, free states, and areas by force annexed to the french empire.
Under the leadership of the Austrian diplomat Klemens Werner Lothar von Metternich, a series of meetings with the 'old rulers' of Europe were organized, in the hope to recreate a more stable and peaceful Europe.

von Metternich in 1815

But despite of Napoleon's exile, Europe was devided.
Nationalists in Germany wanted the unification of a strong Germany, and the Italians, divided into many independent states, wanted the same. Smaller nations like the Czechs, for example, wanted more rights within the monarchy. And everybody wanted a constitution, human rights, and other novelties that threatened peace and order in Metternich’s eyes.

The congress of Vienna, resulted in the restoration of the French royal house of the Bourbons, where Louis XVIII was placed on the throne again.  The House of Orange got the 'Netherlands', the area that covers the current countries of Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. Also most of the German kingdoms were restored.

In the area between two kingdoms, there was a small area that was split into a western part, with the village of Moresnet in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and an eastern part 'Neu-Moresnet' in the Kingdom of Prussia. In the middle however, a zinc mine was claimed by both sides.  As both kingdoms disputed this area, but yet another war was not an option, the area became 'neutral' (Neutral Moresnet). Technically speaking, the area was not 'independent', it had no ruler on it's own, and was not recognized as a country on it's own. It can be considered as a kind of condominium.
But since both royal houses did not intervene in what happened in the 3.4 km² area, Neutral Moresnet became a playground for both countries.

The 256 inhabitants of the area, but the zinc mine in particular,  were ruled by a Dutch and a Prussian commissioner. Around the area, 60 numbered border stones were placed. This created a point were from 1830, after the independence of Belgium, 4 'countries' came together. The only place in the world were 4 borders had one common point.

current 3-country point (BE - NL - DE)

Because of the complex situation, the area of Neutral Moresnet became a tax haven, a shelter for men who wanted to escape military service in one of the countries, a place were gambling and casinos flourished, and the zinc mine brought wealth.

By 1886, the sentiment of becoming independent was nourished by the German doctor Wilhelm Molly, who started a committee for independence.
The Zinc mine was not profitable anymore, and Molly founded the Verkehrs Anhalt Moresnet. A company that issued stamps in October of that year. And indirect way to claim 'independence' and a new way to create funds for the area.

Napoleonic laws that were in use - von Metternich was not progressive when it came to new rules and oppinions - forbid the exploitaition of postal services by a non-governmental organization. 
Yet, a set of 8 stamps were issued in two variations: perforated and imperforated.

Imperforated set of Moresnet stamps 1886

 More than a century later, the Moresnet stamps are among the most searched stamps.

 to be continued...