Newgraviate of Saint-Castin
| Newgraviate of Saint-Castin | ||||
| ||||
| Anthem Mon pays | ||||
| Capital city | Tekakwitha | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Official language(s) | English French Innu | |||
| Short name | Saint-Castin | |||
| Demonym | Castinian, Kashtiuńnu | |||
| Government | Parliamentary constitutional monarchy | |||
| - Newgrave | Marie-Philippe | |||
| - Minister-President | Dominic Desaintes | |||
| Legislature | Nekaussei | |||
| Established | 24 June 2014 | |||
| Population | 14 | |||
| Time zone | Castinian piaster | |||
Official Website | ||||
The Newgraviate of Saint-Castin (French: Neugraviat de Saint-Castin), also known simply as Saint-Castin, is a North American micronation located in Quebec, Canada. The capital city is Tekakwitha, and the country has three official languages, with Quebec French being the national language with Castino-montagnais and english.
History
The first Newgraviate of Saint-Castin was founded on 24 June, the day of St. John the Baptist, in the region of Valinois. This new state was established as a constitutional monarchy, with Louis-Phillippe, known as the Old Newgrave, as its ruler. Despite his advanced age of 92 years, Louis-Phillippe was only in power for a short period of time, known in the national history books as the July Monarchy. This brief reign, however, marked the beginning of a new era for the people of Saint-Castin, as they embarked on a journey towards self-governance and independence under the guidance of their constitutional monarch.
Republican coup
On 24 July, 2014, a dramatic turn of events occurred in the nation of Saint-Castin. The Prime Minister at the time, Dominic Desaintes, orchestrated a coup in collaboration with the National Zouaves. This coup resulted in the overthrow of the monarchy, and the establishment of a provisional government in the capital city of the new Social Democratic Appalacho-Laurentian republic of Saint-Castin.
The new Republican government quickly set to work on creating a provisional constitution. But the political turmoil was far from over. On 6 August 2014, a new coup was orchestrated by the Military Staff of the National Zouaves. This time, the coup leaders agreed not to retain power for more than three weeks. On 26 August 2014, a new head of government was put in place, none other than the former Prime Minister, Dominic Desaintes.
With the new leadership in place, Desaintes embarked on a wave of reforms and on 30 August 2014, officially proclaimed the Republic of Saint-Castin. This tumultuous period in Saint-Castin's history marked the end of the monarchy and the beginning of a new era of self-governance and democracy for the people of the nation.
Annexation by St. Charlie
On 14 September, the Republic of Saint-Castin came to an end as a result of negotiations with the Federal Republic of St.Charlie. The outcome of these negotiations was the annexation of Saint-Castin by the Federal Republic of St. Charlie, and the transformation of the former nation into an Autonomous Province of the Federation of Atlantis.
The annexation of Saint-Castin by the Federal Republic of St. Charlie marked a significant change in the political landscape of the region. The people of Saint-Castin were now subject to the laws and jurisdiction of the Federation of Atlantis, and their government and political system were subsumed under the larger federal government.
Republic of Saint-Casin
After facing some difficulties with the government of the Federal Republic of St. Charlie, the leadership of the Autonomous Province of Valinois–Saint-Castin decided to take action. On 1 August, 2015, the province officially seceded from St. Charlie and declared its independence, restoring its sovereignty as the independent Republic of Saint-Castin.
During this period, the government of Saint-Castin actively participated in various international micronational events and gatherings such as the 2016 summit of the MicroFrancophonie in Aigues-Mortes, France, MicroCon 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia, the 2018 summit of the MicroFrancophonie in Vincennes, France and MicroCon 2019 in Hamilton, Ontario. These events provided an opportunity for the Republic of Saint-Castin to showcase its achievements and interact with other micronations from around the world.
The Republic of Saint-Castin's decision to secede and restore its sovereignty was a bold move that paid off, leading to the establishment of a prosperous and respected micronation. The country's active participation in international micronational events further cemented its place in the community of micronations.
Newgraviate of Saint-Castin
In October 2020, Saint-Castin officially adopted a new constitution and changed its name to the Newgraviate of Saint-Castin. This historic move was proposed by a legislative council commission and passed in a referendum, receiving over 80% of the vote. The new constitution, which was inspired by that of Liechtenstein, transformed the state into a parliamentary monarchy with increased discretionary powers for the Newgrave. This change in government structure was intended to provide stability and reflect the increased power of the Newgrave.
One of the key changes included in the new constitution was the creation of a defense force to replace the army, as well as the strengthening of the role of the legislative council. This new administrative structure was designed to meet the needs of the modern state and provide a strong foundation for future growth and development.
On 26 October 2021, Saint-Castin officially inaugurated its new head of state, Newgravine Marie-Philippe. The ceremony, which had been delayed several times due to the country's health situation, was finally held on her birthday. She made her inaugural speech in front of the legislative council (Nekaussei)
Government
In Saint-Castin, the form of government is a combination of a parliamentary system and a constitutional monarchy, with the Newgrave of Saint-Castin serving as the head of state. The day-to-day administration of the country is managed by the Minister-President, who acts as the head of government and presides over the Nekaussei, which is the legislative and executive council.
Foreign affairs
Saint-Castin is a member of the MicroFrancophonie group of French-speaking micronations.
On 5 January 2022, Saint-Castin made history by joining the Conference of Santiago, becoming the first North American micronation to join the esteemed organization. This marked a significant milestone for the country, as it allowed Saint-Castin to take its place on the global stage and showcase its unique culture and heritage to the world.
Saint-Castin also participated in the MicroCon 2022, which took place on 5 and 6 August 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. This event was an opportunity for the country to connect with other micronations and learn about the latest developments in the field. The country also sent a delegate to attend MicroCon EU 2023.
Most importantly, they will be a co-host of MicroCon 2025 along with the Aerican Empire and the Principality of Sancratosia.
Territory
The territory of Saint-Castin is a unique and diverse area, composed of several enclaves within the Province of Quebec. These enclaves are divided into two provinces, Outaragasipi and Valinois, each of which is located in a distinct region of Quebec.
Outaragasipi is situated mainly on the north shore of the St. Lawrence River, within the Lanaudière and Laurentians regions. Specifically, it is located in the valleys of the Mascouche, Achigan and L'Assomption rivers. This province is primarily situated in the laurentian piedmont, in close proximity to the city of Montreal.
Valinois, on the other hand, is generally located on the north shore of the Saguenay River, near the city of Chicoutimi. Some parts of the province are also located on the south shore, surrounded by the Bagotville area.
In addition to these two provinces, the territory of Saint-Castin also includes a claim to land near Antarctica, known as the Mandate of Adélie Coast. This unique and diverse territory offers a wide range of landscapes and experiences for those who visit or reside within its borders.