Who knows knows how many Monte Cristos, as we call ourselves, live around the world. They would seem no different than any other peoples living ordinary lives on the streets of London, Paris, New York, or even a small town. Without a recognised government or homeland to conduct a proper census, who can say. We may never know. But, in spirit we are legions.

After the Santorini Compact that would eventually witness the freedom of Greece from Ottoman Turkish rule, the decendants of pirates Red Beard and Dragut returned to their respective lands of exile, primarily in North America, Spain and Italy.

For much of the 20th Century they fell out of touch with each other, like all of mankind becoming embroiled in the wars, politics and problems of the world, unable to focus on the cause of their native land.

In the Fall of 2004, by the grace of the miracle that is the internet, they were able to get together in cyber space, and to re-form the Provisional Revolutionary Government that had originally met with Napoleon on a lovely day in 1814, at his villa just outside Portoferraio on Elba, believing they had won the cause of a free and independent Monte Cristo.

The Provisional Government today is lead by the Great Council of the Republic, composed of three Counts; Valter Giuliani, Jorge Fernandez Vidal and Stephen Vogelsang, all holding government posts. In their civilian lives Jorge is a coin maker and designer in Northern Spain, Valter is a political activist in Northern Italy and Stephen is numismatic researcher living in California. All are decendants of the famed Monte Cristo pirates Red Beard and Dragut.

At the 2006 G8 summit in Russia, a great rally was held to demand recognition of Monte Cristo independence. Leading the protests were local women waving Monte Cristo and traditional pirate skull n' crossbones flags. One woman, decked out all in black, commented; "We stopped Putin as he entered the Kremlin and asked if his government intended to recognize Monte Cristo. He replied that it was not on the immediate agenda. I was so angry that I overcharged him 50 kopecks for his piroshki".

The Official Platform of the Monte Cristo Provisional Government: (Governo Provvisorio della Repubblica Rivoluzionaria di Monte Cristo) calls for the following;      1) The continued maintenence and protection of Monte Cristo's environment as part of the Tuscan Archipelago National Park. 2) The establishment of horse and/or donkey stables and trails on the island to enable the few annual visitors to explore the island in an environmentally friendly manner, under the watchful eyes of Forest Ministry guards and of course, our new mascot, Bob jr., son of Bob the partisan the goat. 3) The establishment of a small oceanographic station, perhaps in connection with the Jacques Cousteau Foundation or Scripps of San Diego, to help monitor, preserve, protect and perhaps even help to repopulate marine species across the archipelago. 4) Continued dialogue with other states to achieve recognition for the Republic and exiled Government of Monte Cristo 5) Using our website, coins, postcards and products to further awareness of the rich environmental, historical and mythological history of the island of Montecristo. 6) Admission of Monte Crsito to the European Union.

We are pleased to welcome Monte Cristos from around the world, and hope that they will register for citizenship, or purchase a coin or other product that helps to fund this website, as well as a variety of worthwhile charities around the world.

Although far too numerous to list here, Monte Cristos have distinguished themselves in nearly every field over the centuries, from science, to politics, to the arts. Just a few of those "Famous Monte Cristos";

Top Row: Voltaire (philosopher), Robert Taylor (actor), Jerry Garcia (musician), Anthony Bourdain (chef & television host), Darth Vader (ok, not Darth Vader, but the 12th Century Norman Viking, Garth Vaderstrom, believed to have been the basis for the Star Wars character) Middle Row: Langston Hughes (writer), Glenn Miller (band leader), Stephen Hawking (astronomer), Jacques Cousteau (oceanographer) Bottom Row: Bonnie Prince Charlie Stuart (King of Scotland exiled, briefly on Montecristo), Adam Sandler (comedian, awarded Order of the Green 2008), Father Guido Sarducci (comedian) and Benkamin Franklin (American founding father, visited briefly while ambassador to France).

Charities: A part of the proceeds goes to a variety of charities, such as; Caritas Catholic Charities of Espana (www.caritas.es/), Catholic Charities USA (www.catholiccharitiesusa.com), Polish American Congress Charitable Fund (www.PolAmConChairFound/default.asp), Fondazione Exodus Online (www.exodus.it/) and Umanitaria Onlus of Italy. We are strong supporters of the Agenzia per il Turismo del Archipelago Toscana, Calatia, Portoferraio, Elba 57037 at www.aptelba.it). We support only peaceful and lawful efforts in advancing worthy causes. Our founders were a rough and tumble lot to be sure. A different age!