Difference between revisions of "Template:Westarctica.wiki:Today's featured article"

From Encyclopedia Westarctica
Jump to navigation Jump to search
 
(5 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
[[File:Douglas Mawson 1914a.jpg|250px|left]]
[[File:Achaean Territory Claim.jpg|250px|left]]
Sir '''[[Douglas Mawson]]''' was an Australian geologist, [[Antarctic]] explorer, and academic. Along with [[Roald Amundsen]], [[Robert Falcon Scott]], and Sir [[Ernest Shackleton]], he was a key expedition leader during the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration. The Mawson Station in the [[Australian Antarctic Territory]] is named in his honor.
The '''[[Achaean Territory of Antarctica]]''' was the original name of [[Westarctica]] when it was founded on 2 November 2001 by [[Grand Duke Travis|Travis McHenry]], who proclaimed himself [[Consul-General of the Achaean Territory]] prior to filing his legal claim to the territory. The Achaean Territory was a new country project that evolved into a [[Micronations|micronation]] named Westarctica in June 2004.


Mawson turned down an invitation to join [[Robert Falcon Scott]]'s [[Terra Nova Expedition]] in 1910; Australian geologist Griffith Taylor went with Scott instead. Mawson chose to lead his own expedition, the Australasian Antarctic Expedition, to King [[George V Land]], and [[Adélie Land]], the sector of the Antarctic continent immediately south of Australia, which at the time was almost entirely unexplored. The objectives were to carry out geographical exploration and scientific studies, including a visit to the [[South Magnetic Pole]]. Mawson raised the necessary funds in a year, from British and Australian governments, and from commercial backers interested in mining and [[whaling]].
At the time he discovered the unique political situation of Marie Byrd Land, McHenry had been reading ''The Iliad'' and decided to give his claimed territory a culture that honored the ancient Greeks. It was from the pages of ''The Iliad'' that he chose the name "Achaea." He also decided to declare the seasonally-used [[Byrd Station]] the capital of his new country and re-christened the station Achilles, after the legendary Greek warrior and hero of the Trojan War. Rather than proclaim himself King or Emperor of the territory, McHenry selected a title that reflected his status as a representative of Achaea to the world at large. He declared himself [[Consul-General of the Achaean Territory|Consul-General]]. This title also served as a homage to Napoleon Bonaparte, who held the office of First Consul of France prior to becoming an Emperor.


'''([[Douglas Mawson|Full Article...]])'''
'''([[Achaean Territory of Antarctica|Full Article...]])'''

Latest revision as of 05:06, 10 June 2025

Achaean Territory Claim.jpg

The Achaean Territory of Antarctica was the original name of Westarctica when it was founded on 2 November 2001 by Travis McHenry, who proclaimed himself Consul-General of the Achaean Territory prior to filing his legal claim to the territory. The Achaean Territory was a new country project that evolved into a micronation named Westarctica in June 2004.

At the time he discovered the unique political situation of Marie Byrd Land, McHenry had been reading The Iliad and decided to give his claimed territory a culture that honored the ancient Greeks. It was from the pages of The Iliad that he chose the name "Achaea." He also decided to declare the seasonally-used Byrd Station the capital of his new country and re-christened the station Achilles, after the legendary Greek warrior and hero of the Trojan War. Rather than proclaim himself King or Emperor of the territory, McHenry selected a title that reflected his status as a representative of Achaea to the world at large. He declared himself Consul-General. This title also served as a homage to Napoleon Bonaparte, who held the office of First Consul of France prior to becoming an Emperor.

(Full Article...)