Atlantium

From Encyclopedia Westarctica
Revision as of 03:15, 1 January 2023 by Westarctica (talk | contribs)
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Empire of Atlantium
Flag-atlantium.jpg

Australia
Official language(s) English and Latin
Short name Atlantium
Government Elective constitutional monarchy
- Monarch Emperor George II
- The First Consul Vacant
Legislature The Imperial Senate
Established 27 November 1981
Area claimed 0.76 km2 (0.29 sq mi)
Population 3,000 2018 Estimate
Currency Imperial solidus

Official Site


The Empire of Atlantium is a micronation and secular, pluralist progressive lobby group based in New South Wales, Australia.

Micronations: The Lonely Planet Guide to Home-Made Nations described Atlantium in 2006 as "a refreshing antidote to the reactionary self-aggrandisement of so many micronations", and "an extremely sophisticated nation-state experiment, as well as an entirely serious claimant to legitimate statehood". The book's entry on Atlantium notes its espousal of "progressive, liberal policies" and characterises it as a "secular humanist utopia."

History

Emperor George II of Atlantium

Atlantium was established in 1981 by three Sydney teenagers – George Cruickshank, Geoffrey Duggan and Claire Marie Coulter (née Duggan). The three claimed a 10 square meter (110 sq ft) "provisional territory" in the southern suburb of Narwee as Atlantium's first capital, and declared Cruickshank to be Sovereign head of state, with the title "Emperor George II". Geoffrey Duggan was elected as Prime Minister in 1982, serving until 1986. By 1990, the original group members had graduated from university and the group ceased to be active.

In 1999 Cruickshank purchased an apartment in the inner Sydney suburb of Potts Point, and soon after revived Atlantium, launching a website, which was instrumental in attracting new members. The 61 square meter (660 sq ft) apartment, known as the Imperium Proper, became the second capital of Atlantium. Concordia became the third capital of Atlantium on 12 January 2008, when the rural 0.76 square kilometer (0.29 sq mi) Province of Aurora, approximately 350 kilometers (220 mi) southwest of Sydney, was created.

Activity

In line with its claim to be a non-territorial state, Atlantium does not maintain any formal territorial claims; however, it does promote the idea that Cruickshank's apartment, and the Province of Aurora, have extraterritorial status.

Atlantium has appointed unaccredited diplomatic representatives called "Imperial Legates" in the United States, Pakistan, Poland, Brazil, India, Italy, Iran, Singapore, Serbia and Switzerland. The group had awarded Imperial Honours to various recipients, generally in recognition of political activism or for service to local communities.

Among the causes Atlantium supports are the right to unrestricted international freedom of movement, the right to abortion, the right to assisted suicide and decimal calendar reform.

War with Casbah

In December 2006, Travis McHenry resurrected the Kingdom of Casbah, his defunct micronation project based in rural Pennsylvania. This was done for the express purpose of waging a troll war against Atlantium and its leader, Emperor George II. The war consisted of a website devoted to insulting the Emperor and his nation as well as prolonged email exchanges of insults and threats between the two rulers.

After a few months, Travis gave up the war and quietly discontinued his involvement with Casbah. He later issued a formal apology to Emperor George and the two have since become friends.

Aurora Province

Pyramid at Aurora Province, Atlantium

The Province of Aurora covers 0.76km2 and has a fenced 4.5 km long perimeter. It is divided into four "administrative divisions", known as the District of Hickey (which occupies approximately half of Aurora's total area), the District of Duggan (which occupies the southern third of the province), Concordia Capital District (the only administrative division in which permanent human occupancy and development is permitted) and the Prefecture of Idalia (the renamed former Imperium Proper).

Concordia is the intended location of facilities to house Atlantium's legislature, government offices, museum, throne hall and commemorative monuments. Currently, it is the location of a single-storey residential and administrative building, several service structures, and two small man-made lakes. Aurora is also the site of a historic gold processing facility built and operated in the 1860s by Chinese immigrant miners.

The Atlantium website describes Aurora as Atlantium's "global administrative capital, ceremonial focal point and spiritual homeland".

Economy of Atlantium

Coin of Atlantium

Stamps, coins and banknotes were sold by Atlantium, which used a decimal currency system of 100 imperial centi to the imperial solidus.

The earliest documented media report referring to Atlantium is a 1984 philatelic magazine article about its cinderella stamp releases. There were 12 issues of Atlantian stamps.

The first coin minted by Atlantium was the 20th anniversary 10 solidi coin, which has a likeness of Emperor George as the obverse and the imperial eagle as the reverse. In 2011, a 30 solidi coin was issued to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Atlantium. The coin had the likeness of Emperor George on the obverse and the wedge-tailed eagle (Aquila audax) on the reverse and was struck in cupronickel and plated with 9 carat gold. Banknotes of Atlantium were denominated in imperial solidi (10, 25, 50 and 100 imperial solidi) and are currently divided into a 2006 series and a 2007 series.

Citizenship

As of October 2015, Atlantium had almost 3,000 citizens from over 100 countries. The website names individuals holding such functions as minister, director, magister and imperial legate. Atlantium said its citizenship does not supersede existing citizenships. Atlantians contend that they are all dual citizens and that Atlantium actively encourages its citizens to participate in the political processes of their resident countries.

In late 2016, Atlantium stopped accepting citizenship requests according to a reply posted on the official Facebook page. On 1 January 2018 the citizen application process was reopened, charging a US$25 fee.

Relationship with Westarctica

Grand Duke Travis at Government House in Atlantium

Shortly after Westarctica became a sovereign nation in 2004, Grand Duke Travis joined an online forum devoted to micronations called Micro-Nations.org. Pre-dating Facebook, this forum became a kind of "United Nations" for micronations. In the forum, Grand Duke Travis and Emperor George II quickly became bitter enemies, with their conflict escalating to heated email exchanges. The animosity between the two parties led to a brief troll war in late 2006 initiated by Grand Duke Travis in his capacity as Maharaja of Casbah.

From that point forward, Westarctica and Atlantium shared no formal interactions and their relationship primarily consisted of nasty comments made about one another's leaders in online forums or over email.

On 15 September 2012, Grand Duke Travis sent an email to Emperor George formally apologizing for his previous behavior and requesting a normalization of relations. Emperor George agreed it was time to mend fences and the two decided to move forward with a more friendly and respectful attitude toward one another.

Diplomatic visits

On 24 May 2022, nearly 10 years to the day after the normalization of relations, Grand Duke Travis met with Emperor George II for a formal diplomatic dinner in Sydney, Australia. The following week, on 31 May, the Grand Duke visited Atlantium's sovereign territory with Prince-Consort Dinny. Although this visit was supposed to be an overnight stay, it was cut short to about one hour, during which the Grand Duke toured Atlantium's many signs before fleeing bad weather blowing in from neighboring Australia.

External links