Official Website of the Independent Kingdom of Mann

Kingdom of Mann as an Autonomous Sovereign Historical Institution

The Royal House of the Independent Kingdom of Mann, through His Royal Highness (HRH) King David Howe of Mann, embodies at least a millennium of balanced combination of royal houses, from 3 distinct dynastic lines, including many of the most powerful kings who helped develop the traditional foundations of much of world civilization.

The Kingdom of Mann has legalized status and recognition as part of the United Kingdom constitutional monarchy system, by royal assent and proclamation of Queen Elizabeth II in 2007, having binding effect by force of law.

It was legalized as the “Independent Kingdom of Mann”, establishing and confirming it as a separate, autonomous, historical institution, not connected to nor dependent upon any modern country, territory nor government.

The Independent Kingdom of Mann is a sovereign institution in its own right, having its own status, rights and authorities under modern international law. It is not dependent upon any other government for its royal sovereign status nor its autonomous existence.

Although it was legalized under the UK constitutional monarchy system, the Kingdom of Mann as a historical institution predates that system by many centuries, and its independent sovereignty thus supersedes that relatively modern system.

The Kingdom of Mann still retains substantial powers and authorities as both a historical and ecclesiastical institution. This enables it to continue advancing the heritage and historical missions of its ancestors, thereby making further contributions to modern civilization. Many of these traditional sovereign capabilities have practical significance and relevance in modern society.

The naming of the Kingdom as “of Mann”, and the word “Mann”, comes from the Celtic mythological figure named Manannán [1], who was the Irish deity of the sea, also appearing in Scottish legends, having strong affiliations with the “otherworld” and all forces “between the worlds”. This Celtic deity was said to have given the Irish King a magic cup, which breaks if three lies are spoken over it, and is made whole again if three truths are spoken. He is thus essentially a deity of “truth”. He was also said to protect the islands of the ancient Celtic Kingdom of Mann with his cloak of mist whenever trouble draws near.

By “Old English” grammar and syntax, the “Isle of Man” (formerly part of the Kingdom of Mann, but now a British “crown dependency” of the UK) is spelled with only one “n”, but the Kingdom and Royal House “of Mann” is spelled with a double “nn”, reflecting its ancient Celtic origins. The adjective describing things “of Mann”, related to the original Celtic Kingdom, is the more traditional word “Manx”.

Historically, the central region of the Kingdom of Mann was primarily in the Irish Sea off the West coast of England, at almost equal distance from Scotland and Ireland. The colonization of this region began some time before 6500 BC [2]. It was the central maritime trading center of Celtic nations, and is believed to be the place where Celtic languages developed [3]. The predominant shared language of the ancient Kingdom of Mann is called “Manx”, a combined dialect of Irish and Scottish Celtic Gaelic, which remains the official second language of the Isle of Man in the UK (after British English) [4].

Territorially, with respect to the United Kingdom, the Independent Kingdom of Mann has the status of a “deposed sovereign” or “non-ruling monarchy”. The Royal House of Mann has embraced its “non-ruling” status, which actually gives substantial benefits and advantages to the historical institution. This gives the Kingdom of Mann great flexibility and freedom to pursue its own historical missions, without any dependency nor risk of interference from any modern country nor government.

Under ecclesiastical Canon Law that is recognized as doctrines of modern international law, this “deposed” status still carries its own autonomous rights, giving the Independent Kingdom of Mann its own powers and authorities as a sovereign institution.

Although the Independent Kingdom of Mann was legalized under the UK constitutional monarchy system, due to its oldest royal line being of Manx Celtic origins from territories that are now part of the modern United Kingdom, it is not limited to the sovereign and dynastic rights of this royal line.

The Kingdom of Mann carries forward the collective heritage, knowledge and traditions of many other dynastic and ecclesiastical institutions, all directly related to the earliest origins of royalty, nobility, chivalry and knighthood.

This is the official website of the Royal House of the Independent Kingdom of Mann, representing the Kingdom as an autonomous sovereign, ecclesiastical, historical institution of royalty.

The information provided on this site is intended to educate the public, promote the autonomy and sovereignty of the Independent Kingdom of Mann as an institution under international law, honour the British Crown for its role and contributions, and to present the official positions and policies of the Royal House of the Kingdom of Mann. This site is also intended to provide a focal point for diplomatic and philanthropic cooperation with other royal and noble houses, governments, Church leaders, and non-profit organizations.

[1] Victor Kneale, “Ellan Vannin (Isle of Man) Britonia”, in John Koch, Celtic Culture, a Historical Encyclopedia, Santa Barbara, 2006, p.676.

[2] Richard Bradley, The Prehistory of Britain and Ireland, Cambridge University Press, 2007, p.8.

[3] John Kotch, “Tartessian: Celtic from the Southwest at the Dawn of History”, Palaeohispanica 9, 2009, pp.339-351.

[4] Manx Museum, Celtic Farmers (Iron Age) collections, Isle of Man.