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[[File:The Claimant Letter.jpg|300px|left]]
[[File:Achaean Territory Claim.jpg|250px|left]]
The '''[[Claimant Letter]]''' is the founding document of [[Westarctica]]. The purpose of the letter was analogous to a Declaration of Independence, although Westarctica was not under the authority of any world government at the time it declared itself to be a [[sovereignty|sovereign]] nation.
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.


Starting in August 2001, [[Grand Duke Travis|Travis McHenry]] began researching the feasibility of making a legal claim to the previously unclaimed sector of [[Antarctica]] known as [[Marie Byrd Land]]. After closely studying the articles of the [[Antarctic Treaty]], Travis determined that the terms of the treaty would only prevent a ''country'' from making a claim to Antarctica territory, but it would not prevent an ''individual'' from doing the same.
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.


It wasn't until 30 October 2001 that Travis wrote what would effectively be a declaration of independence for the Achaean Territory of Antarctica. After purchasing special watermarked stationary paper, Travis composed the Claimant Letter from 29 - 30 October while he was home on leave at his mother's residence after completing his first deployment with the [[U.S. Navy]] to the Mediterranean Sea.
'''([[Achaean Territory of Antarctica|Full Article...]])'''
 
'''([[Claimant Letter|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...)

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