Featured Image Credit: @peter_koenigreichdeutschland / Instagram
Topics: Germany, World News, Politics
Emily Brown
Topics: Germany, World News, Politics
Some people dream of being a king or queen when they grow up, but Peter the First actually made it happen.
Formerly known as Peter Fitzek, the self-appointed king has dubbed himself the ruler of "Königreich Deutschland", which translates to the Kingdom of Germany.
His rule began after he tried and failed to be elected mayor and as a member of parliament in Germany; events which he claims left him with no other choice than to start his own empire. Obviously.
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King Peter has conquered a castle in the German countryside and was sworn into his post about 10 years ago, having become one of approximately 21,000 Germans who intelligence agencies have branded a 'Reichsbürger', or Citizen of the Reich.
The Reichsburger encompasses several different groups, but generally relates to conspiracy theorists who don't agree with Germany's modern government.
Speaking to the BBC, King Peter claimed the resistance of his kingdom isn't violent, but said he has 'no interest in being part of this fascist and satanic system'.
The royal rules over 5,000 'subjects' in his kingdom, which prints its own money, has its own flag and even prints its own ID cards for residents.
He claims the coronavirus outbreak encouraged more people to join him in the Kingdom of Germany, explaining that he is buying up land across the countryside to ensure all of his residents have a place to live.
Residents are excused from paying tax and have access to the kingdom's own healthcare system. They don't observe German law, and children growing up there don't have to go to school - actions which are all illegal.
One resident who has recently joined Peter in the kingdom is named Benjamin, a man who told the BBC the kingdom 'can provide everything that you need in daily life'.
"Food and nourishment, social security, all these systems are there," he said, adding: "People who think for themselves today will often be condemned as conspiracy theorists. But it's a fact that these are often the people who stay up at night thinking about problems, not just their own but those of society and politics."
Though Peter has been ruling for years now, the Kingdom of Germany found itself in the spotlight recently after police in Germany arrested 25 people accused of plotting to overthrow the government with violence.
The arrests were made as part of a coordinated operation which included 3,000 officers.