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House of Tanna (Vanuatu)

Secessionist movement

See also:

Secessionist Islands (Vanuatu)
Vanuatu

House of Tanna

Nowadays, a polity called the “House of Tanna” claims to have inherited the kingdom of Antoine Fornelli. The activities of the Nation of Tanna are mainly in France and in Europe, but the head of the House of Tanna, styled "His Majesty The Traditional King Claude-Philippe I of Tanna", has made several journeys to Tanna.

According to its defunct website http://maisonroyaledetanna.com/maison_royale/historique.html:
“The Title of Prince of Tanna was conferred on HM by the late King Antoine I of Tanna himself in 1993. On July 10, 1994, this Title was confirmed and the Title of Hereditary Prince of Tanna was conferred on HM Claude-Philippe I. In 1998, when the late King Antoine I was very ill, HM Claude-Philippe I was appointed Crown Prince by H.M. King Antoine I. In 1999, before the late Antoine I was recalled to God, he renounced the crown for himself and his descendants and abdicated in favor of Crown Prince Claude-Philippe. The customary chiefs and dignitaries of the Royal House have confirmed their allegiances to him under the Name of: His Majesty The Traditional King Claude-Philippe I of Tanna."

The pictures taken in Tanna show clearly the existence of new flags on the island since the beginning of the 21th century.

1. 2008
“Since his accession to the throne, HM Claude-Philippe had been looking for a way to make himself useful to his people but communications being difficult with the island so wild and cut off from technology, the response was delayed until 2008 at the initiative of 'a young woman originally from Tanna but living in New Caledonia' who enabled the first distribution of school materials. At the same time, His Majesty being in contact with Chief Tom, she would be his messenger to deliver the new flag to him. It will be hoisted at the next Forcona meeting. At the headquarters of the movement, Chief Tom is delighted with the news he is going to share with the other chiefs.”
A picture of Chief Tom Kuhai released in 2008 shows a light blue flag with the green star and yellow circle, and a version of the coat of arms of Antoine Fornelli in the upper fly.
http://lh5.ggpht.com/-YKAaMJL3pqM/UAJRqr8QKDI/AAAAAAAABm4/T7wT6wdlmoQ/s1600-h/tomQG%25255B9%25255D.jpg
Olivier Touzeau, 1 April 2021

image by Olivier Touzeau, 1 April 2021
Source: http://maisonroyaledetanna.blogspot.com/2008/03/

The version of the coat of arms on this flag can be seen on the website of the House of Tanna
http://www.maisonroyaledetanna.com/index_2.html
Exact date of this flag unknown, probably at some point between 2000 and 2008.
Olivier Touzeau, 1 April 2021

image by Olivier Touzeau, 1 April 2021

"On March 24, 2008, a series of flags are hoisted for this celebration, this year the new flag received from HM Claude-Philippe I is being prepared. It is a brand new flag bearing the cypher (crowned monogram) of the King."
http://lh4.ggpht.com

This flag can be seen for example here, flown together with the flag of the USA, of Switzerland, and the state flag of Poland: http://lh6.ggpht.com

In 2009 (Source: http://maisonroyaledetanna.blogspot.com/2009/03), tee-shirts with the King's image on a background of this Tanna flag were offered on the island.

2. 2011
Source: http://maisonroyaledetanna.blogspot.com/2011/03/
"The king gave a large necklace to Chief Tom, president of Forcona who is his representative, and decorations to the 5 chiefs of Forcona who will also each receive a flag for their region, and to the President of the Provincial Government, to the officers of Antoine I, to the elders and to the men of vision."

Claude-Philippe's flag of Tanna flying next to the flag of Vanuatu: http://lh3.ggpht.com

Claude-Philippe's flag of Tanna with the flag of the USA, of Switzerland, and the state flag of Poland: http://lh5.ggpht.com

3. 2014
Source: http://maisonroyaledetanna.blogspot.com/2014/03/
"While the chiefs renew their allegiance to King Claude-Philippe, the sovereign will present a particular flag to each of the five major chiefdoms of the island, a project initiated by King Antoine who had attributed to each their emblem - they are painted on the island."
Olivier Touzeau, 1 April 2021

Four of the flags can be seen here: http://3.bp.blogspot.com

image by Olivier Touzeau, 1 April 2021

image by Olivier Touzeau, 1 April 2021
(exact drawing unknown for the last one, my drawing is a speculation)

"The five great tribes of the four cardinal points and the center then renew their loyalty to the sovereign and receive their flag and the representatives designated by the great chiefs a neck badge corresponding to the symbol attributed to them by the late King Antoine."
The flags are sky blue with the two red lines, and big white shield in the center with each tribe's emblem.
The emblems are:
- a Double anchor: http://4.bp.blogspot.com
- a Red Cross: http://4.bp.blogspot.com
- a Shark: http://2.bp.blogspot.com
- a Star on a sun: http://4.bp.blogspot.com
- an unknown symbol (maybe a cocoa pod): http://3.bp.blogspot.com
Olivier Touzeau, 1 April 2021

image by Olivier Touzeau, 1 April 2021

Flags spotted during the ceremony:
Switzerland, standard of the House of Tanna (white with the royal coat of arms), Claude-Philippe's 2008 flag of Tanna, USA, France http://2.bp.blogspot.com

Olivier Touzeau, 1 April 2021