Austenasia
51°22′53.2″N 0°10′18.5″W / 51.381444°N 0.171806°W
Empire of Austenasia | |
|---|---|
 Flag
 Coat of arms
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| Motto: IMPERATOR ET POPVLVM AVSTENASIÆ The Emperor and People of Austenasia | |
| Anthem: God Save the Emperor by Jonathan Austen | |
 | |
| Status | Current |
| Capital | "Wrythe" (in Carshalton) |
| Official languages | English |
| Ethnic groups | European |
| Demonym(s) | Austenasian |
| Government | Constitutional monarchy |
• Emperor | Jonathan I (Jonathan Austen) |
• Prime Minister | Joseph Kennedy |
| Establishment | |
• Declared | 20 September 2008 |
| Area | |
• Total | 0.2327 km2 (0.0898 sq mi) |
| Membership | 82 |
| Currency | Pound sterling (£) |
The Empire of Austenasia is a micronation and self-declared sovereign state based in the United Kingdom. It operates under constitutional monarchy and comprises eighteen properties that have declared themselves independent under the leadership of a house in south London.[1][2][3][4][5] Austenasia is recognized by Vikesland[6] and the Herbatrean Federation, among others.
History
Austenasia was founded on 20 September 2008 by Jonathan Austen (born 1994), a student, and his father Terry Austen (born 1961), a security guard turned gardener. After sending a declaration of independence for their house in Carshalton to their local Member of Parliament, Tom Brake, Terry was named Emperor and Jonathan was named Prime Minister. Two subsequent declarations of independence were sent to Gordon Brown and the British Home Office, as no reply had been received from any of the previous declarations, on 13 October and 31 December 2008 respectively.
Terry abdicated in February 2010, and was succeeded by Emperor Esmond III, who after a "civil war" and various internal disputes was replaced by a new leader, Declan MacDonagh, in December later that year. Jonathan met with Tom Brake MP in May 2011, who contacted Foreign Secretary William Hague to enquire about the criteria by which the UK recognises new states on Jonathan's behalf.[7] Jonathan then became emperor after Declan abdicated in January 2013 for personal reasons, and began a program of expansion which has seen people from across the world join the micronation by claiming properties which they live in or regularly visit. The micronation has been featured in several local and international publications, and has a certain amount of fame within Carshalton as being a local "quirk".
Politics
The Empire of Austenasia is a constitutional monarchy in which the monarch holds great power. According to the official website, their consent is necessary for any law to be passed.[8] Each "town" (inhabited areas claimed in Britain) has a Town Council composed of its population, and elects a Representative - these Representatives form the legislature. The prime minister is elected through general elections.[9]
Geography
Austenasia claims six "towns", five "territories", and seven "crown dependencies". Wrythe, the capital, consists of a suburban house in the London Borough of Sutton. Five other British houses are also claimed, and other territorial claims include a farm in Brazil, part of a university campus in Australia, and holiday homes in the Hebrides and Canary Islands. The micronation also has claims in the USA and Canada.[10][11]
See also
References
- ^ Your Local Guardian: Carshalton home declares itself independent state Archived June 15, 2011, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on 22.01.2009
- ^ Join the List of 5 Weirdest Micronations by Starting Your Own Country - Asylum.com Retrieved 25.12.2010
- ^ Chosun Ilbo 16 March 2010 Retrieved 22.12.2010
- ^ City - Summer 2009 (Page 97) Archived November 7, 2011, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 22.12.2010
- ^ Tom Cutler (3 May 2011). The Gentleman's Bedside Companion: A Compendium of Manly Information for the Last Fifteen Minutes of the Day. Penguin. pp. 137-138. ISBN 978-0-399-53669-4. Retrieved 2011-11-22.
- ^ Vikesland Foreign Affairs Page
- ^ Your Local Guardian: Carshalton "micronation" pushes for independence from Sutton Retrieved on 22 November 2011
- ^ Emperors and Imperial Family - "Empire of Austenasia", retrieved 16 June 2015.
- ^ Government of Austenasia - Empire of Austenasia, retrieved July 2, 2012.
- ^ Your Local Guardian: Expanding empire celebrates new leader's coronation Retrieved on 19 March 2013
- ^ Territory - Empire of Austenasia website, retrieved 19 March 2013.
