List of micronations

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The Principality of Sealand has been described as the world's best-known micronation.[1]

Micronations, sometimes also referred to as model countries and new country projects, are ephemeral, self-proclaimed entities that claim to be independent sovereign states but which are not acknowledged as such by any recognised sovereign state, or by any supranational organisation. They should not be confused with microstates, which are recognised independent states of a small size, nor should they be confused with unrecognised states, which have indisputably real claims to sovereign state status.[2]

Motivations for the creation of micronations include theoretical experimentation, political protest, artistic expression, personal entertainment or the conduct of criminal activity.[3] Micronations can also exist in various forms, including in the physical world (on land, at sea and in outer space), online, in the minds of their creators—or some combination of these. Some micronations have even managed to extend their operations into the physical world by issuing coins, flags, postage stamps, passports, medals, and other items.

List

Official title Flag Founded Description
Aerican Empire File:Aericaflag1.gif 1987 An eccentric tongue-in-cheek micronation founded by Canadian Eric Lis as a child, and maintained for the several decades since. It claims various terrestrial and interplanetary territories as Aerican land.[4]
Aeterna Lucina 1978 An Australian micronation founded by a self-proclaimed baron, who claimed properties he owned in New South Wales as its territory. Several associated businessmen were charged in 1990 with land and visa fraud.[5]
Akhzivland 1952 A micronation located in Israel and founded by a hippy and former sailor named Eli Avivi. It consists of a coastal enclave, formerly part of the Arab village of Akhzib, whose 10,000 residents were expelled during the 1948 war.[6][7]
Aramoana 1980 A small New Zealand community that declared itself independent to protest the building of an aluminium smelter on nearby land.
Atlantium 1981 A global sovereignty group based in Australia that was founded in Sydney by Geroge Francis Cruickshank.[8]
Avram 1980s A non-territorial micronation founded by an eccentric self-proclaimed "duke" who was later elected to the Tasmanian state parliament.[9]
BjornSocialist Republic File:BSR flag.gif 2005 A self-proclaimed Marxist state of about 6 square metres (7.18 sq yd) located on a stone "that looks like a tractor" in Lake Immeln, Scania, Sweden. It is recognised by Ladonia.[10][11][12][13]
Bottleneck 1919 Bottleneck was formed in 1919 following the Allied occupation of the western Rhineland in post-WWI Germany.[14]
British West Florida 2005 A micronation intending to revive the former British colony of the same name.[15]
Conch Republic File:Conch Republic flag.gif 1982 A group claiming tongue-in-cheek independence from the US in protest at a blockade established by the US Border Patrol at the upper end of the Florida Keys.[16]
Copeman Empire 2003 The Copeman Empire is run from a caravan park in Norfolk, England, by its founder Nick Copeman, who changed his name by deed poll to HM King Nicholas I.[17]
Coral Sea Islands 2004 Established as a symbolic political protest by a group of gay rights activists, the Coral Sea Islands is a micronation based in southeast Queensland, Australia.[18]
Elleore 1944 A tongue-in-cheek micronation founded by a group of school teachers as a summer camp on the island of Elleore, Denmark.[19]
EnenKio 1994 Claims Wake Atoll in the Marshall Islands, and has been deemed a scam for selling passports and diplomatic papers.[20]
Forvik File:ForvikFlag.svg 2008 An islet in Shetland, Scotland, declared an independent Crown dependency by Stuart Hill, who claims that the United Kingdom has breached the 1469 deal with Denmark, which transferred the Shetland Islands to the Scottish crown.[21]
Frestonia 1977 Freston Road in West London staged a "secession" from the United Kingdom as Frestonia. In a legal dispute regarding the unauthorised performance of his play The Immortalist, Heathcote Williams won a ruling from the UK courts that Frestonia was for this purpose not part of the UK.[22]
Hajdučka Republika Mijata Tomića 2002 A protest project (based on Vran mountain, in Blidinje Nature Park, Bosnia and Herzegovina) started by a local because of inefficiency of problems with the local electricity supply.[23]
Hay-on-Wye 1977 A town in Wales which was declared independent by bibliophile Richard Booth as a publicity stunt. Booth's success in promoting Hay as a "town of books" were recognised with the award of an MBE in the 2004 Queen's New Year Honours.[24]
Humanity 1878 A former micronation, occupying the Spratly Islands, which merged into the Republic of Morac-Songhrati-Meads in September 1963.[25]
Hutt River File:Hutt River Flag.jpg 1970 A large farm in Western Australia that unilaterally seceded from the Commonwealth and declared itself to be a sovereign nation. It was known as the Hutt River Province until 2007.[26]
Indian Stream 1800s (early) A town on the US–Canadian border whose status was unclear after Treaty of Paris and whose locals claimed independence. The claim was eventually resolved, and the town is now called Pittsburg, New Hampshire.[27]
Kugelmugel 1984 A ball-shaped house built by artist Edwin Lipburger, currently located in the Vienna Prater.[28]
Ladonia 1980 A micronation created by Swedish artist Lars Vilks as the home to sculptures created by him in the Kullaberg nature reserve in north-west Skåne.[29]
Lagoan Isles 2005 The creation of a self-styled Grand Duke Louis, who claims that three tiny islands in a Portsmouth pond are not owned by the local council, and so has declared them an independent state.[30]
L'Anse-Saint-Jean File:L'Anse-Saint-Jean flag.png 1997 A micronation started to promote tourism in a small Quebec town.
Lizbekistan Unknown A popular Internet-based project created by Australian artist Liz Stirling.[31]
Llanrwst 1276 A town in North Wales declared a "free borough" by a Welsh prince which unsuccessfully applied to the United Nations in 1947.
Lovely 2004 An Internet-based micronation founded by Danny Wallace as part of the BBC TV series How to Start Your Own Country, claiming the flat of its creator as sovereign territory.[32]
Lundy 1925 An island off the west coast of England, which historically (1100–1200s AD) had semi-independent status or claimed independence from England under various warlords. Between 1925 and 1931 its owner declared himself King and minted coins but did not declare formal independence.
Marlborough 1993 A short lived micronation in Australia whose creater declared his farm an independent country to try to avoid eviction after bankruptcy. He was evicted less than a week later by police, was later prosecuted and has since abandoned any claim of independence.[33]
Melchizdek 1986 The Dominion of Melchizedek (DoM) is a micronation known largely for facilitating large scale banking fraud in many parts of the world.[34]
Minerva File:Minerva.svg 1973 An attempt to build an artificial island and form a new libertarian country. The new land was located on Minerva Reef, south of Fiji, but the island was seized and annexed by Tonga shortly afterwards.[35]
Molossia 1977 A micronation founded by Kevin Baugh, occupying his semi-rural residential acreage in Nevada. It is run semi-humorously as a dictatorial banana-republic.[36]
Morac-Songhrati-Meads File:Moroc-Songhrati-Meads flag.png 1959 A present day micronation, claimed to occupy the Spratly Islands. The territory is currently under de facto military control by China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam, since the discovery of oil in 1968.[25]
Neue Slowenische Kunst 1984 A nation created by a number of Slovene artists.[37]
New Utopia 1990s A proposed micronation based on libertarian principles to be built on platforms in the Caribbean Sea. It was founded by American entrepreneur Lazarus Long. The project's current status is questionable.[38]
Northern Forest Archipelago File:NFA Flag.jpg 1998 An environmentally-focused micronation located in the northeastern US consisting of multiple discontiguous privately-owned properties in the Northern Forest area of New York State.[39]
Nova Roma 1998 An international organisation of Roman revivalists who claim to be a modern Roman nation and have the administrative structure of the ancient Roman Republic. Nova Roma explicitly states that they aren't a micronation but a "civitas" or "res publica"; their organisation, however, fits all the requirements for being classified as such.[40]
Other World Kingdom 1996 An absolute monarchy/matriarchy with strong BDSM themes, in which women rule over all men. It is located in the Czech Republic.
Peaceland 2008 Peaceland is located in Czech Republic in Brdy Mt. military zone and is controlled by Greenpeace.[41]
Peščenica 1990s Peščenica is a satirical-parodical project of a dictator-ruled republic by famous Croatian maverick traveller Željko Malnar. It is located in Zagreb, Croatia.[42]
Rainbow Creek File:Flag Rainbowcreek.gif 1979 Founded by a farmer who "seceded" from Victoria over damage to farmlands caused by flooding he claimed was exacerbated due to incompetence of the state government water management agency.[43]
Redonda 1865 A small uninhabited island in the Caribbean sea, now legally part of Antigua and Barbuda. In 1865, a citizen of Montserrat was supposedly permitted by Queen Victoria to claim the title of King of Redonda, as long as he did not incite any revolt against colonial authority.[44]
Refreshment File:Jonathan Lambert Flag ZP.svg 1811 The Tristan da Cunha archipelago, settled and declared sovereign by Jonathan Lambert but annexed by the United Kingdom after his death.[45]
Romkerhall 1988 A small hotel in the Harz Mountains, Germany that is linked to a former German noble.[46]
Rose Island File:Rose Island pennant.JPG 1968 An attempt to create a sovereign state on an offshore platform in international waters near the Italian city of Rimini. It was completed, but shortly afterwards seized by the Italian government and destroyed with explosives.[35]
Saugeais File:Saugeais flag.svg 1947 An officially-sanctioned tongue-in-cheek micronation located in eastern France, in the département of Doubs.[47]
Schwarzenberg 1945 Schwarzenberg was formed by a conglomerate of anti-fascist action groups because it was never occupied by the Soviet and American occupiers.[48]
Sealand Principality of Sealand 1967 A World War II military facility consisting of a man-made structure located off the English coast which was occupied and declared to be an independent state by Paddy Roy Bates.[49]
Seborga File:Vlagseborga.svg 954 A town in the Italian region of Liguria that claims to never have been a part of the modern Italian state.[50]
Sulu and Sabah 1823 Sulu and Sabah claim to be the legitimate successors of the historical Sultanate of Sulu, and rulers of the Sulu archipelago (in the Philippines) and Sabah (a state in Malaysia).[51]
Sunda Unknown A micronation claiming to be the legitimate modern-day successor of the ancient Kingdom of Sunda. It is currently in exile in Switzerland.[52][53]
Talossa 1979 A micronation founded as a bedroom kingdom by Milwaukee, Wisconsin resident Robert Ben Madison. Madison claims to have coined the term "micronation".[nb 1][54]
Tavolara 1836 A tiny island off the northeast coast of Sardinia, recognised as a kingdom by Charles Albert of Sardinia and never formally annexed by Italy. It is now a nature preserve.[55]
Trinidad 1893 An island in the South Atlantic, declared a military dictatorship by James Harden-Hickey but subsequently annexed by Brazil.[56]
Valtio 2006 50 square metres (59.80 sq yd) of land in a forest located at Posio, Finland, founded by Ari Peltonen as a joke. Radio Helsinki and Helsingin Sanomat followed what happens in the state.[57]
Vikesland File:VikeslandFlag.jpg 2005 A micronation located in Manitoba, Canada that was founded for the purposes of a TV documentary about micronations. It claims two properties in and near the town of Brandon.[58]
Wanstonia 1994 Wanstonia was created by protesters against the M11 motorway link road through Wanstead in north-east London.[59]
Waveland 1997 A micronation sited on a rocky islet in the North Atlantic, known as Rockall. Greenpeace occupied Rockall, declaring it an independent nation, to protest oil drilling in the area.[60]
Wendland 1980 A German anti-nuclear protest in the Wendland, reoccupied by thousands of policemen after a few weeks.[61]
Westarctica File:Westartica Flag.jpg 2001 A micronation claiming all of western Antarctica.[62]
Whangamomona Republic 1989 A tongue-in-cheek micronation created as a tourism booster, and based in the rural New Zealand town of the same name. A goat has been elected as its president.[63]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Prior to Madison's departure in 2005 the group split into a separate "Kingdom of Talossa" and "Republic of Talossa".

References

General references
  • Ryan, John (2006). Micronations. Lonely Planet. ISBN 1741047307. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
Specific references
  1. ^ "Journeys – the spirit of dicovery: Simon Sellars braves wind and waves to visit the unlikely North Sea nation of Sealand". The Australian. Retrieved 2007-11-10.
  2. ^ Ryan, John. Micronations. pp. p. 5. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  3. ^ Ryan, John. Micronations. pp. p. 4. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  4. ^ Ryan, John. Micronations. pp. p. 102. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  5. ^ Dean, Anabel (20 June, 1989). ""Bleyer's Honours Outlined"". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 7. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  6. ^ Eber, Shirley (1989). Israel and the Occupied Territories: The Rough Guide. London: Harrap-Columbus. pp. 305–6. ISBN 0-7471-0105-1. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  7. ^ Ryan, John. Micronations. pp. p. 48–51. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  8. ^ Ryan, John. Micronations. pp. p. 102. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  9. ^ Ryan, John. Micronations. pp. p. 144. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  10. ^ Template:No icon Sørdal, Kristin (6 March 2008). "Verdens rareste steder". Dinside. Retrieved 2008-06-07. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  11. ^ Fordham, Alice. ""Stone me – you two aren't married"". Times Online. Retrieved 2008-06-07. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  12. ^ ""Court denies couple marriage: 'your country does not exist'"". The Local. 10 December 2007. Retrieved 2008-06-07. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  13. ^ "Ladonia recognises BjornSocialist Republic". New Herald. June 2 2008. Retrieved 2008-06-07. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  14. ^ Template:De icon "Lebendige Geschichte: Vor 80 Jahren: der Freistaat Flaschenhals". Hessischer Rundfunk. Retrieved 2008-07-27. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  15. ^ Ryan, John. Micronations. pp. p. 139. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  16. ^ Ryan, John. Micronations. pp. p. 130. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  17. ^ Ryan, John. Micronations. pp. p. 70–73. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  18. ^ Ryan, John. Micronations. pp. p. 38. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  19. ^ Ryan, John. Micronations. pp. p. 42. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  20. ^ "Kingdom of EnenKio". Flags of the World. Retrieved 2008-09-13. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  21. ^ Carrell, Severin (2008-06-19). "Captain Calamity leads breakaway of Shetland islet from UK". The Guardian. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
  22. ^ "The Eddie Woods Archive". American Literary Studies. Stanford University Library. 2007-08-06. Retrieved 2007-08-14.
  23. ^ Template:Sr icon "Hajduci na Vranu ljude samo po očima pamte". Nezavisne. Retrieved 2008-06-30.
  24. ^ "Richard Booth". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2007-05-11.
  25. ^ a b Marwyn S. Samuels, Contest for the South China Sea (1982)
  26. ^ Ryan, John. Micronations. pp. p. 22. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  27. ^ Doan, Daniel. "Indian Stream Republic: Settling a New England Frontier, 1785–1842.". Lebanon, NH: University Press of New England. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  28. ^ Ryan, John. Micronations. pp. p. 82. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  29. ^ Ryan, John. Micronations. pp. p. 136. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  30. ^ Ryan, John. Micronations. pp. p. 86. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  31. ^ Ryan, John. Micronations. pp. p. 129. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  32. ^ Ryan, John. Micronations. pp. p. 28. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  33. ^ ""Defiant Graziers Under Arrest"". Sydney Morning Herald. 14 June 1993. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  34. ^ "Fantasy Island". CBS News. CBS Worldwide Inc. 2000-04-10. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  35. ^ a b Ryan, John. Micronations. pp. p. 14. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  36. ^ Ryan, John. Micronations. pp. p. 62. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  37. ^ Ryan, John. Micronations. pp. p. 128–9. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  38. ^ Ryan, John. Micronations. pp. p. 15. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  39. ^ Ryan, John. Micronations. pp. p. 52. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  40. ^ "Interactive Corporative Services Information on Nova Roma". Maine Department of the Secretary of State, Bureau of Corporations, Elections, and Commissions. Retrieved 2007-11-27.
  41. ^ "Czech police attack Peaceland protest camp". Greenpeace UK. Retrieved 2008-09-13. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  42. ^ Malnar, Željko. Filozofija Republike Peščenice. Birotisak. ISBN 953-6156-31-8. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  43. ^ Ryan, John. Micronations. pp. p. 145. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  44. ^ Ryan, John. Micronations. pp. p. 108. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  45. ^ "Islands of Refreshment". Boston Gazette. November 18 1811. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  46. ^ Ryan, John. Micronations. pp. p. 94–96. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  47. ^ Ryan, John. Micronations. pp. p. 122–124. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  48. ^ Heym, Stefan. Schwarzenberg. Bertelsmann. ISBN 3-570-00140-7. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  49. ^ Ryan, John. Micronations. pp. p. 8–13. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  50. ^ Ryan, John. Micronations. pp. p. 55. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  51. ^ "Welcome to the Royal Hashemite Sultanate of Sulu & Sabah Official Website". Sulu and Sabah. Retrieved 2008-06-07. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  52. ^ "DPP: Sunda princesses 'Prohibited Immigrants'". The Borneo Post Online. 6 December 2007. Retrieved 2008-06-07. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  53. ^ Stephen, Then (22 January 2008). "Sunda princesses freed". Thestar Online. Retrieved 2008-06-07. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  54. ^ Ryan, John. Micronations. pp. p. 101. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  55. ^ Wallechinsky, David (2005). The New Book of Lists. pp. p. 383–384. ISBN 1841957194. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  56. ^ "To Be Prince of Trinidad: He Is Baron Harden-Hickey". New York Tribune. November 5 1893. p. 1. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  57. ^ Template:Fi icon"Mäkäräisten Valtio". Ruotuväki. Retrieved 2008-07-21.
  58. ^ Ryan, John. Micronations. pp. p. 90–93. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  59. ^ "Tenth anniversary of the siege of Wanstonia M11 link rd". UK Indymedia. Retrieved 2008-09-13. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  60. ^ Royle, Stephen (2001). A Geography of Islands. Routledge. pp. p. 10. ISBN 1857288653. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  61. ^ "The Anti-Nuclear "Free Republic of Wendland". German History Docs. Retrieved 2008-07-20.
  62. ^ Ryan, John. Micronations. pp. p. 110–113. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  63. ^ Ryan, John. Micronations. pp. p. 34–37. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)


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