Empire of Agber
The Empire of Agber is a micronational project that was founded on 20 September 1995 as the Kingdom of Kolios The project was reimagined in early 1998 as the Empire of Agber, with Kolios becoming a nation within the Empire. The primary focus of the Empire is use at Renaissance Festivals and other such events where period dress is deemed acceptable.
History
Prior to Founding of the Empire
- Main article: Principality of Kolios
In 1995, three friends began discussing a book one of them had been gifted for his birthday on the Order of Malta. This led to a fair amount of research and discussion on what it would be like to establish a country of their own. These early discussions primarily took place in local playgrounds and libraries. After a number of weeks and the addition of three other youths, a decision was made to found their own country as the Kingdom of Kolios on 20 September 1995.
In 1998, after her family moving from Augsburg, Germany, to Fort Drum, New York, Queen Arlene of Kolios decided to revamp the project as the Empire of Agber, using the capital of Kolios as the eat of a self-declared Empire.
First and Second Eras
The first era of the Empire, sometimes called the Founding Era lasted from its founding on 7 January 1998 until 30 October 2004. During this time, the second and third nations, the Grand Duchy of Carthage and the Enclave de Cordova, saw their founding and subsequent addition to the Empire. During this phase, Empress Arlene also claimed the areas of Bir Tawil and Marie Byrd Land as protectorates. During this time, the entirety of Agber operated as a single entity or court, with the heads of individual nations serving as more of a retinue for Empress Arlene. This era ended when Empress Arlene joined the United States Air Force.
The second era, sometimes called the Transient Era, ran from 1 November 2004 until 28 February 2013 (the length of Empress Arlene's tenure in the US Air Force). This era functioned as a scaled down version of the first, with a number of appointees coming and going, Empress Arlene being the only real constant. This is owed primarily to the Empire's lack of an internet presence essentially keeping the functional government limited to the area of whichever military base the Empress was assigned to, at the time. While still active, the Empire saw no real growth or additions in terms of policy, initiatives, or additions of orders of chivalry, the last of these having become a cornerstone of the pageantry within Agber's culture.
Third Era
The Empire's third era, also known as the Renaissance, is regarded as having run from 1 March 2013 until 8 April 2020. This era saw an increase in the types of activities and stability seen in the first era. It also saw the addition of the Empire's most recent In addition, Sawatch. One of the most notable changes during this era was Empress Arlene's insistence that each of the nations of the Empire were charged with developing their own cultures those that emerged included:
- Kolios (and Agber, as a whole) developing more of a focus on the Holy Roman Empire.
- Carthage leaning into France's era of the House of Valois, with a few elements from early Bourbon rule.
- Cordova emerging as a society influenced by early Spanish Colonialism.
- Sawatch taking on influences from the early and mid-Ottoman Empire.
This era solidified Agber's primary existence as a vehicle to leaning into Renaissance Fair culture. A large part of court life revolved around this fact; court was often held within the confines of a Fair, and various retinues were charged with roaming the events and interacting with visitors, to include the bestowing of knighthoods and taking oaths of fealty from those who wished to pledge service to the Empire or its subsidiary nations.
Current Era
The Empire's fourth and current era began on 9 April 2020. The groundwork for the transition in eras began when one of the founding nobles of the original Kingdom of Kolios rediscovered a notebook containing details of the Kingdom by way of his mother sorting through old items in her charge. As this individual, the Margrave of Sulli was then involved in the online micronational community as Westarctica's Prime Minister, this forgotten project was of great personal interest to him. As his record of events ceased in mid 1997, he assumed the Kingdom to be defunct and began trying to track down other members of the project.
Margrave Jordan discovered the continued existence of Kolios, and its evolution into the Empire through Empress Arlene. The beginning of their correspondence is regarded as the start of a fourth era, when the Empire was introduced to the wider community of micronations. As this era is in its infancy, much of its earmarks and changes remain to be seen.
Government
The Empire is overseen by an Emperor or Empress. Each territory has their own head, who is known by their own title, and has autonomy over their nation. This autonomy can only be overridden by Imperial authority. The exception to this rule is the Principality of Kolios. Given that its capital of Agber is also the seat of the Empire, the Emperor or Empress also serves as the Sovereign (Prince or Princess) of Kolios. Given Kolios' status as a "realm of preservation," minimal governance for it is needed, and is overseen by a Chancellor, who also serves as the Imperial advisor and right-hand.
Territories and Protectorates
The Empire is broken up into four separate national territories, with two protectorates that are administered by the Empire, but are not officially members, since they have no permanent populations.
Territory | Flag | Capital | Title of Head | Established | Geographical Area | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Principality of Kolios | Agber | Prince/Princess | 20 September 1995 | Bavaria, Germany | Capital is also seat of the Empire | |
Grand Duchy of Carthage | Drumm Stronghold | Grand Duke/Grand Duchess | 7 January 1998 | New York, USA | ||
Enclave de Cordova | Mariposa | Don/Doña | 27 August 2002 | California, USA | ||
Sawatch | 100px | Tiene Vista | Emir/Emira | 31 January 2014 | Colorado, USA | Current headquarters of the government |
Marie Byrd Protectorate | 100px | Russkaya Station | Warden | 23 December 1998 | Marie Byrd Land, Antarctica | Under consideration for renunciation of claim |
Bir Tawil Protectorate | 100px | Gabal Hagar El Zarqa | Warden | 10 January 2001 | Bir Tawil, Northeast Africa |
Religion
While all faiths are welcomed with open arms, the official religion of the Empire is Christian. During the Kingdom of Kolios era, a Church of Kolios existed with the Koliosian Sovereign at the head, much like the Church of England within the United Kingdom. Although this entity still exists officially, it has not been active for a number of years.
Orders of Chivalry of the Empire of Agber
The Empire of Agber has three orders of chivalry common to all realms the current Font of Honor for these orders is Empress Arlene.
Order Name | Established | Classes/Ranks (number of recipients) |
Awarded For | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Order of the Empire of Agber | 8 September 1999 | Knight/Dame Grand Collar (2) Knight/Dame Grand Cross (6) Knight/Dame Commander (13) Knight/Dame (21) |
Service to the Empire | |
Sanctified Order of the Crucifix | 20 September 1995 | Knight/Dame (25) | Service to the Sovereign of the Empire | Originally the highest order of the Kingdom of Kolios Made an Imperial Order on 7 January 1998 |
Order of Arlene I | 15 March 2013 | Knight/Dame Commander (41) Knight/Dame (274) |
Excellence, personal achievement, or noteworthy performance | Primarily used as an on-the-spot knighthood at Renaissance Festivals |
Orders of the Principality of Kolios
The Principality of Kolios currently has only one order of chivalry, the current Font of Honor is Empress Arlene, in her role as Princess of Kolios.
Order Name | Established | Classes/Ranks (number of recipients) |
Awarded For | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Order of Kolios | 20 September 1995 | Knight/Dame Grand Cross (3) Knight/Dame Commander (5) Knight/Dame (8) |
Service to the Principality | Originally the second-highest Koliosian order |
Orders of the Grand Duchy of Carthage
The Grand Duchy of Carthage currently has two orders of chivalry. The current font of honor for Carthagean orders is Duke Louis, except for the Order of Carthage, which is awarded by Empress Arlene on his recommendation.
Order Name | Established | Classes/Ranks (number of recipients) |
Awarded For | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Order of Carthage | 7 January 1998 | Knight/Dame Grand Cross (4) Knight/Dame Commander (13) Knight/Dame (19) |
Service to the Grand Duchy | |
Order of the White Lion | 1 January 2001 | Knight/Dame Grand Cross (5) Knight/Dame Commander (2) Knight/Dame (20) |
Service to the Grand Duke | Majority of first set of regalia unrecovered from first Grand Duke, who disappeared Only Grand Cross and Knight/Dame rank currently awarded |
Orders of the Enclave de Cordova
The Enclave de Cordova currently has four orders of chivalry. The current font of honor for Cordovese orders is Doña Celestina, except for the Order of Cordova, which is awarded by Empress Arlene on her recommendation.
Order Name | Established | Classes/Ranks (number of recipients) |
Awarded For | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Order of Cordova | 27 August 2002 | Knight/Dame Grand Cross (3) Knight/Dame Commander (7) Knight/Dame (20) |
Service to the Enclave | |
Order of the Redwood | 27 August 2003 | Knight/Dame (20) | Personal achievement | Not currently awarded |
Order of the Grizzly | 27 August 2016 | Knight/Dame Commander (7) Knight/Dame (16) |
Personal achievement | |
Order of the Mariposa | 27 August 2004 | Knight/Dame (10) | Conservation work | Not currently awarded |
Orders of Sawatch
Sawatch currently has two orders of chivalry. The current font of honor for Sawatchi orders is Emir Victor, except for the Order of Sawatch, which is awarded by Empress Arlene on his recommendation.
Order Name | Established | Classes/Ranks (number of recipients) |
Awarded For | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Order of Sawatch | 31 January 2014 | Knight/Dame Grand Cross (2) Knight/Dame Commander (4) Knight/Dame (7) |
Service to the realm | |
Order of the Mile High Breeze | 1 October 2015 | Knight/Dame (8) | Personal recognition from the Emir | Remaining first set of regalia stolen in 2017, second set yet to be produced |