Unlike your normal micronation, Elleore's history has many facets. There is the isle itself, the people behind the establishment of the Kingdom and the most intriguing legend around the prehistory. Therefore this section is divided into a number of subsections. 

The History of the Isle

Elleore is shaped like an 'L', 300 m in east-west and 200 m in north-south direction. It is located in Roskilde Fjord, 4 km north of the city of Roskilde. Since the Reformation, the isle belonged to the City of Copenhagen. In 1847, they sold it to a well-known City Councillor.

In the year 1907, Elleore was destined to become famous all over Scandinavia. Ole Olsen, a great movie pioneer, decided to record a movie there called 'Lion Hunt on Elleore'. He had two adult lions acquired from Hagenbeck in Hamburg/Germany and transferred to the isle. There were mock-up palm trees and game hunters in tropical clothing hunting the lions, who were finally killed.
The real death of the lions brought the Danish Minister of Justice, Mr. Alberti, into the picture. He banned the movie from all Danish cinemas, which caused worldwide press coverage. It premiered in Sweden and was a runaway success all over Scandinavia. 
In conjunction with other shady dealings, Mr. Alberti had to resign his Cabinet post soon after the Elleore affair.

By 1944, the isle had passed into the possession of a Reverend Lange. After much deliberation he decided to sell it to the founders of Elleore, as they could convince him that the isle would offer pleasure to many people in this way.

The Founders of the Kingdom

In 1834, Danish historian Frederik Barfod (1811-1896) - in cooperation with a charity - founded a boys school where most of the lessons were free of charge. This concept was very successful, and the teachers soon formed a close-knit community. The language teachers of Barfod School founded the ‘Societas Findani’, named after St. Fintan, who many centuries ago in Ireland also taught pupils free of charge, on 17 February 1938 (St. Fintan’s Day).

The society pursued the extraordinary aim of establishing their own state where St. Fintan’s ideas could be realized - no mean feat in the middle of war-torn Europe. The group who was soon called ‘The Immortals’ began to search for somewhere outside the school grounds to establish this state. Two of their number formed the ‘Great Land and Sea Commision’ and went on a long fact-finding mission in a sailing boat. They looked at isles as candidates for a purchase. Finally, they found Elleore, a most suitable isle in Roskilde Fjord. After serious deliberations and negotiations with the owner, the deal was struck on 27 August 1944. Elleore was to be the home of the society’s Findanian state – the Kingdom of Elleore was born.

The Legend

According to the legend of Elleore, the Krune Convent Chronicles were unearthed at the ruins of the Convent building. They paint a colourful if inventive and surprising picture of the prehistory of Elleore and its connection to St. Fintan himself. So be aware that the following paragraphs are best read with a pinch of salt.

In the 6th century, the monk St. Fintan lived an ascetic life of mildness and kindness in Ireland, where he founded Clonenagh Monastery. As patron saint of Elleore, the date of his death (17 February 603) is Elleore’s National Day. In Elleore he is regarded as the ‘great teacher’.

By the 8th century, the monastry belonged to the strict reform movement of the Irish Church called ‘culdaeism’. During the following century, the Church in Rome tried to suppress that movement in their efforts to unify the Church. At the same time, Viking raids increased on Irish shores. So in the 10th century, the monks from Clonenagh were forced to leave their home to seek shelter elsewhere. They first went to the Isle of Man, where they stayed for a while. They continued further North until they reached the isle of Amitsoq near Greenland.

After staying there for a while, living conditions become insufferable, so that the monks decided to retrace their steps and sail back South. However, adverse westerly winds drove them to the southeast instead, so that they reached Danish waters. Eventually, they arrived in Roskilde Fjord and found the isle of Elleore, where they went ashore on 17 February 944. By a surprising coincidence, this is also St. Fintan’s Day.

The monks were delighted with their new home and went to work, building Krune Convent. A long history of able abbots and monks ensued, with a nuns’ convent alongside. This long era of peace and prosperity for the isle came to an abrupt end in 1535, when during the Reformation the citizens of Roskilde stormed Elleore and destroyed the convent. The monks and sisters had to flee and seek sanctuary in the surrounding region. The last abbot is quoted as forecasting that Elleore would rise again someday. He was to be proven right many centuries later.

The era after the eviction from their home is termed ‘Misery’. Nevertheless, it proved to be very productive for the fine arts. Books and plays were written, paintings were created, songs were sung, all still revered today. The universities of Elleore hold lectures on these subjects to educate the citizens in their rich artistic history.

In 1944, the ‘Societas Findani’ purchased the isle of Elleore. Thus the Kingdom of Elleore was born.

Life in the Kingdom

The language teachers of Barfod’s School in Copenhagen who had formed the ‘Societas Findani’, decided to acquire an island base for their activities. This was no small project, and a commission was sent out to check out the options. After long negotiations the society finally managed to purchase the isle of Elleore.
So in August 1944, Elleore emerged as Scandinavia’s fourth largest kingdom.

In the beginning, when the country was still young, government was organized in the form of a secret cabinet. This meant that the people’s power was somewhat limited.

When Elleore had matured for some decades, the citizens found it unsuitable to have a secretive leadership. The famous Revolution occurred in August 1969, when the then underground Revolutionary Party seized the entire political leadership of the country to push through political reforms. As an immediate reaction to the conflict settled by negotiation, the political system was restructured. After that, administrative organs were created and a ‘normal’ cabinet of ministers was installed. As there were no hard feelings all through this difficult phase, the event was called ‘Cultured Revolution’ in the aftermath.

In the same year, there was one of the numerous attempts by Danish authorities to infringe on Elleore’s sovereignty. A ship full of youthful invaders from Roskilde landed, intent on a takeover. However, after passing through passport checkpoints, the ensuing ‘battle’ was decidedly undramatic. Later that year, officials from both sides concluded the Roskilde Peace agreement.

The busiest time of each year is Elleuge (Elleweek). This is the only time of the year most citizens spend in their home country. During the other 51 weeks they are said be ‘on an extended stay abroad’. The capital of Elleore, Maglelille is put up each year and consists of the great town hall tent and many other tents of the citizens grouped around it as defined by the town map. During this week, colourful competitions are held. One is Ellympics, where unusual sporting events are staged (Calf-throwing, Crackers, Andalusian Mountain Ludo). Another is the Ellevision Song Contest.

Other important events throughout the year are the Court Ball in spring and Land Cadet Academy Courses. They are held outside Elleore, however, because the isle is a bird sanctuary protected by the European Union and may only be ‘settled’ during Elleweek.

There are four universities in Elleore, where unsurprisingly courses are only held during Elleweek. These are Sankt Fintans Univertetet, Cathedral Universitetet, Højekjøbing Universitets Center (H.U.C.) as well as Academiet for Skjønne Kunster (A.S.K.).

Elleore has begun to issue postage stamps in 1947. Up to the present day, more than 1000 issues have seen the light of day. The earlier ones are really hard to find nowadays. Since 1962, there have also been annual Christmas label issues.
A number of banknotes and coins have also been issued by Elleore’s National Bank over the decades. Between the 1950’s and 1979, a bewildering array of monetary units was in use. Not for all of them coins or banknotes actually existed. In 1979, the Leo d’Or was introduced to replace all the others. There are some coins denominated in Leo d’Or.

The official publication of the country is Elleblad, It started in 1944 with rather primitive printing techniques, but nowadays after more than 70 years, it is a colourful A5-sized magazine. With this medium, the Government can inform its citizens about important events, decisions, stamp issues, etc.