Minerva is located about 400 miles south of Fiji and 260 miles west of Tonga, and was the location of a group of unclaimed underwater reefs and atolls. In 1971, dredging and construction commenced at the atolls in order to build up and expand existing dry islands and create new islands. The Republic of Minerva was declared independent and sovereign on January 19, 1972.

On June 15, 1972 King Taufa'ahay Tupou IV of Tonga, illegally and against the dictates of International Law, issued a royal declaration stating that the Kingdom of Tonga sought to extend jurisdiction into the sovereign territory of Minerva, claiming legitimacy through claims that the Minervan Atolls were traditional fishing grounds for Tongan peoples.

On June 21, 1972, after only six short months of existence, the Republic of Minerva was ruthlessly invaded by Tongan security forces and the Minervan flag torn down. Tonga continued on to illegally occupy Minervan territories.

Shortly after the events on June 21, the occupation, coupled with serious economic difficulties and sheer lack of resources to liberate their country, the government of Minerva was forced into exile by the end of 1973. More than three decades later, the Kingdom of Tonga maintains hostilities.

After years of failed attempts at liberation and control, on October 1, 2003, a reformed Minervan government was founded. The newly created constitutional monarchy – established as the Principality of Minerva – was established with the vision to establish Minerva as a functional and active member of international community of states.

International Law defines territorial waters as 12 Nautical Miles of a state's coast. The Minerva Atolls or Reefs existed outside of this legal limit from any surrounding sovereign entities - namely Tonga and Fiji - and therefore was legally defined as an extra-national territory, and thus the Republic of Minerva was legally established in the territories in 1972. Later that year, in an unwarranted and illegal act of agression, the Kingdom of Tonga invaded and occupied Minervan territories. Tonga justified this occupation by noting that Tongans used the area for fishing. The Republic was forced into exile in 1972.

In 2003 the Principality was established as the new and official government of the Minervan state, with no official ties to any representatives of the old Republic regime; it is noteworthy to mention that while the Principality was not directly endorsed by the founders of the Republic and that the individuals who were associated with the Republic and it's subsequent collapse no longer wish to be associated with the Minervan State in any way, they did communicate to the Principality that that they had no continuing interest in maintaining the Republic and that the Principality had full right to establish itself as the legitimate government of the isles, becoming the obvious and logical sucessor.

The Sovereign Prince, when asked about this subject, stated that "it is important to remember the Republic, despite the failings of the regime, because it is undeniably our own history; it is a part of our heritage that we, and history, simply cannot ignore. Republic founders said that they no longer could manage the Minervan State, and that the Principality had full leave to do as they wished. The founders of the Republic may not like us, and they may disagree with us on a number of issues, but they cannot deny their weakness and abandonment, and they cannot ignore our resolve and legitimacy. "

The Principality of Minerva meets all the qualifications for statehood as defined by Article 1 of the Montevideo Convention on the Rights and Duties of States (1933), which states: "The state as a person of international law should possess the following qualifications: (a) a permanent population; (b) a defined territory; (c) government; and (d) capacity to enter into relations with the other states." Minerva's minor diplomatic recognition notwithstanding, Minerva is a sovereign state, both de facto and de jure, based on these criteria.

Self-Determination is the deciding by the inhabitants of a territory on the form of government they shall have, without reference to any other authority. The principle of self-determination gained acceptance after the First World War, and is today by far the most acceptable means of establishing sovereignty. It is enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, which has been acceded to by most of the states of the world, and in other major international agreements.

Perhaps the strongest argument for sovereignty over Minerva is based on the principle of self-determination. When the Constitution of the Principality of Minerva was created, the government of the islands became one truly representative of the will of the residents and citizens of Minerva. This exercise of self-determination confirmed the government's exercise of sovereignty over Minerva and confirmed it as the legitimate government.