In 1903, Jacques Lebaudy, the eccentric heir to a massive French sugar and biscuit empire, decided that ordinary high society was too boring. Using his immense wealth, he purchased a yacht named the Frasquita, hired a mercenary crew, bought hundreds of rifles, and set sail for the coast of Northwest Africa near Cape Bojador. Landing on the coast of present-day Western Sahara, Lebaudy formally declared the region the Empire of the Sahara and designated himself Emperor Jacques I.
He immediately drafted a complex constitution, designed military uniforms, minted custom currency, and established an order of knighthood. However, his imperial reign quickly hit severe practical obstacles. A group of his sailors was promptly captured by local Moorish tribesmen, prompting diplomatic outrage and military intervention from France and Spain.
Unbothered by the international dispute, Lebaudy relocated his court to London's Savoy Hotel, where he issued pompous press releases, attempted to appoint ambassadors, and demanded recognition from European monarchs. Dubbed the Emperor of Sahara by mockingly amused newspapers, Lebaudy's delusions grew increasingly paranoid over the years. He eventually moved to New York, where his erratic behavior culminated in a fatal encounter in 1919 when his wife shot him in self-defense during one of his violent fits.