Principality of Kolios
| Principality of Kolios | ||||||
| ||||||
| Anthem O, Kolios (to the tune of The Sign by Ace of Base) | ||||||
| Capital city | Agber | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Official language(s) | English | |||||
| Short name | Kolios | |||||
| Government | Absolute Monarchy | |||||
| - Sovereign | Empress Arlene (as Princess of Kolios) | |||||
| - Chancellor | Nicholas Young | |||||
| Established | 20 September 1995 (as Kingdom of Kolios) 7 January 1998 (as Principality of Kolios) | |||||
| Population | 18 | |||||
| Currency | Gulden | |||||
| National animal | Wolf | |||||
The Principality of Kolios is a micronation existing within Germany in Augsburg, Bavaria. Kolios was founded on 20 September 1995 as the Kingdom of Kolios by a group of elementary school students whose parents were stationed in Augsburg with the United States Army. The project was reimagined in early 1998 as a principality within the Empire of Agber.
The Kingdom of Kolios
Conception and Founding
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.
The choice of name for the nation itself seems to have been lost to time. The only other known usage of the name is that of a beach on the island of Skiathos in the northwest Aegean Sea, off of the Greek mainland. The names of the capital and administrative districts are taken from the names of the housing neighborhoods of Augsburg's military community, at the time.
Reign of King Stephen
Kolios' first monarch was King Stephen. His reign makes up the bulk of Kolios as a wholly sovereign Kingdom. Under his rule, the nation developed its military, heraldry, and two orders of chivalry. During this era, Kolios engaged in a brief series of battles with a rival claim for their lands made by a group pf schoolmates. The details and outcome are unknown at this time, but Kolios' continued existence points towards either their victory or a truce.
This period also oversaw the establishment of the Rose Throne. This was a small chamber hacked out of the middle of a large growth of rose bushes. In order to make access to this location more difficult, the path to it was obfuscated with the creation of a maze of additional paths.
King Stephen reigned from the nation's founding until 24 May 1997, when he abdicated the throne and then Princess Arlene ascended the throne as the nation's second monarch and first Queen. The reason for his abdication was his family's move on orders from the US Army.
Reign of Queen Arlene
Ascending to the throne upon the abdication of King Stephen, Queen Arlene reigned as Queen of Kolios for less than a year before ascending to the role of Empress of Agber. During this time, she made a number of appointments, and named the former King as the Duke of a newly-formed Duchy known as Reese, whose lands were carved out of the Duchy of Cramer.
Government of Kolios as a Kingdom
Kolios was an absolute monarchy, with a number of powers given to the Chancellor, the sovereign's right hand and chief advisor. This role was held by the Margrave of Sulli. A number of proclamations and edicts were made, but the specifics of these have been lost to time. Aside from the positions of Sovereign and Chancellor and district administrators, the following known roles existed:
- General - Duke James of Cramer
- Captain of the Guard - Margrave Jordan of Sulli
- Chief Heraldist - Duke Thomas of Fryar
- Head of the Koliosian Church - Queen Arlene
The Principality of Kolios
Kolios was redesignated as a Principality on 7 January 1998, as part of the establishment of the Empire of Agber. As Kolios' throne is also the seat of the Empire, the Principality has been referred to as the "crown jewel of the Empire." Aside from the restructuring at the upper levels of Koliosian governance, a number of other changes occurred. These include:
- Redesignating Kolios' highest order, the Sanctified Order of the Crucifix, as an order of the Empire of Agber. The Order of Kolios was made the highest order exclusive to Kolios.
- Design of a new flag for Kolios as a Principality. The flag of the Kingdom of Kolios was adopted as the flag of the Empire of Agber.
- Designation of Kolios as a "realm of preservation." Out of respect to the other five founders, their landed titles have not been revoked or reassigned. This effectively has made all Koliosian administration handled by the offices of the throne and Chancellor.
Districts
The Kingdom of Kolios was broken up into a Capital District, four Precincts, and one special Administrative Region. Shortly before being reorganized as a Principality within the Empire of Agber, a fifth Precinct, Reese, was added.
| Level | Name | Arms | Administrator | Etymology | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capital District | Agber | 
|
Empress Arlene (as Princess of Kolios) | From a shortening of "Augsburg" | Location of the Rose Throne, also the seat of the Empire of Agber |
| Precinct | Cramer | 
|
Duke James | From "Cramerton," a senior enlisted housing district | Originally contained Pix Market and Saint Thomas Cathedral |
| Precinct | Fryar | 
|
Duke Thomas | From "Fryar Circle," an officer's housing district | Contains ceremony grounds |
| Precinct | Reese | 
|
Duke Stephen | From "Reese Kaserne," a military operations district | Lands were originally part of Cramer Precinct |
| Precinct | Sheridan | 
|
Baroness Lacey Marie | From "Sheridan Kaserne," a military operations district | Contains battleground |
| Precinct | Sulli | 
|
Margrave Jordan | From "Upper and Lower Sullivan," a pair of enlisted housing areas | |
| Administrative Region | The Dead Lands | 
|
Duke Thomas Margrave Jordan (as Wardens of the Dead Lands) |
Contains an 18th century Jewish cemetery |
Culture
Religion
While all faiths are welcomed with open arms, the official religion of the Kingdom (and the greater Empire) is Christian. Although the fact that both monarchs identified as Catholic gives Kolios certain theological leanings.
Orders of Chivalry
Kolios currently has only one order specific to the nation, the Order of Kolios. Originally the lower of the two Orders, this order was rendered to be Kolios' one and only in early 1998. This order has three ranks:
- The rank of Knight/Dame is awarded a medal with a green tri-fold suspension.
- Knights/Dames Commander are authorized the wear of the regalia suspended from a green ribbon necklet.
- Knights/Dames Grand Cross are authorized the wear of the regalia worn as a breast star, and also an accompanying green sash with a breast star.
While the throne of Agber has always served as the font of honor for the Sanctified Order of the Crucifix, it originated as a Koliosian award. The order was converted to one for the Empire of Agber in 1998. This order is limited to 24 persons and has a single rank (Knight/Dame). Members of this order were encouraged to wear a crucifix in their day to day lives, while a red sash and breast star are worn for ceremonies and formal affairs.