'King of Germany' in court on suspicion of leading a criminal organization

Peter Fitzek, self-proclaimed 'King of Germany', faces court for leading a criminal organization. His group, 'Kingdom of Germany', rejects German authority and claims to have its own constitution and currency. Fitzek, who crowned himself in 2012, aims to establish a separate state. Authorities estimate around 1,000 members, despite Fitzek's claim of 6,000. The group was banned in 2025 for violating constitutional laws and promoting antisemitic conspiracy theories. Fitzek and four others are charged with leading a criminal organization, forgery, and tax evasion. Fitzek denies all charges as the trial, spanning 52 days until September 2027, begins.