Principality of Sancratosia
| Principality of Sancratosia | ||||
| ||||
| Motto Monarcia bonvolente | ||||
| Anthem Imno nasional de Sancratosia | ||||
| Capital city | Sancratosia | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Official language(s) | Lingua Franca Nova French English | |||
| Short name | Sancratosia | |||
| Demonym | Sancratosian | |||
| Government | Unitary semi-constitutional monarchy | |||
| - Sovereign | Princess Cloe | |||
| - Minister of State | Cristian Neuton | |||
| Legislature | National Council | |||
| Established | 1 December 2021 | |||
| Area claimed | 574.20 km2 | |||
| Population | 79 2023 estimate | |||
| Currency | Sancratosian impresa | |||
Official site | ||||
The Principality of Sancratosia (/sɑːn.kræ.toʊ.ʒə/), is a sovereign state operating within a self-proclamed extraterritorial territory located in North America. It is classified as a micronation by most external observers. The nation declared its independence on 1 December 2021.
The Principality is a semi-constitutional monarchy where the sovereign personally exercises power in concert with other institutions. Unlike traditional monarchies, the monarch does not source their power from a God but from the people.
Sancratosia is a member state of some intermicronational organisations such as the MicroFrancophonie, the Grand Unified Micronational, the Conference of Santiago, the International Aerospace Community and the Micronation Postal Association. The Principality was one of the represented nations at MicroCon 2022, MicroCon 2023 and will co-host MicroCon 2025. Sancratosia is also a co-host of the annual Digi Micro Summit.
History
In the later weeks of October 2021, new articles introduced by the Government of Québec to Bill 2, An Act to reform family law with respect to filiation and to amend the Civil Code with respect to personality rights and civil status, articles that would threaten trans rights in the province, Chloé Fortin Côté thought of an appropriate response to protest the bill and other acts made by the Government since its election in 2018. The idea came to Chloé that the creation of a micronation could be a perfect way to achieve that goal. The hobby of worldbuilding thus turned to micronational creation and Chloé started the process of formally declaring independence.
Starting on 16 October 2021, Chloé began the brainstorming process for the formation of what would be called then, the Constitutional State of Sancratosia. On 21 October 2021, the name of "Sancratosia" was settled which is considered as the Emergence of Sancratosia.
The first form of government envisioned was one of a constitutional state, being influenced by the constitutions of lusophone countries such as Cabo Verde or Mozambique. However, the size of the governmental structure of such large states and the desire to be able to exercise some control on the direction of the nation in the long term prevented any of these influences to be applicable to Sancratosia. Other historical constitutions were studied, such as the Constitution of the July Monarchy or the Constitutional Charter of 1826 of Portugal. Chloé settled on the Constitution of Monaco and on the culture of Monaco has its main influences to guide its micronational formation.
Independence
On 24 November 2021, it was established that the form of government would be a principality, switching from the original Constitutional State, with Chloé has Sovereign Princess who would take on the regnal name of Princess Cloe of Sancratosia, dropping the "H" not present in Lingua Franca Nova.
After a week of writing, the Declaration of independence was officially signed by the Sovereign Princess, as her first act in office.
Following the independence of Sancratosia, facing the challenges of establishing a functioning state, a Sovereign Ordinance giving temporary absolute power to the Sovereign Princess was promulgated on 2 December 2021. This ordinance allowed the passing of laws, with the absence of an elected National Council, concerning mostly cultural elements such as the national symbols or the public holidays and most notably the Law on the provisions against discrimination which is considered to be the main legislative piece on LGBT rights in Sancratosia.
First years
On 11 January 2022, Cristian Neuton was appointed as the first Minister of State of Sancratosia.
The virtual representation of the Municipality of Sancratosia was launched on 5 February 2022, in the form of a Discord server. This was made, at the suggestion of Cristian Neuton, to help gather the Sancratosians in one place where they could exchange on many different topics, as well as to allow foreign heads of states and diplomat to be informed about the Principality.
The Sovereign Princess had her first official meeting with another micronationalist on 19 March 2022. Minister-President Dominic Desaintes of Saint-Castin met with Princess Cloe to discuss Québec politics and other micronational topics.
For the 6 months anniversary of Sancratosia, ePorteta was officially launched on 1 June 2022. An online platform reserved for citizens, it gave the Principality one more way to reach directly its citizens and offer as special perk to its citizens.
Celebrations for the one year anniversary of Sancratosia began on 19 October 2022, when the Principality began its countdown to Emergence Day. Celebrations also included the unveiling of the first permanent stamps series issued by Posta de Sancratosia, the first State of the Principality of Sancratosia and the registration of the first private business in the country.
Government
According to the Constitution, Sancratosia is governed under a constitutional monarchy, with the Sovereign Princess of Sancratosia as head of state. The executive power is exercised by the Minister of State as the head of government, who presides over the Government Council.
The prerogative to propose and promulgate laws belongs to the Sovereign Princess, while the National Council gets to modify and adopt them. This shared legislative power is also applied for every revision of the Constitution.
Foreign relations
Sancratosia adheres to the declarative theory of statehood, every states that have a defined territory, a permanent population, a government and the capacity to enter in relation with other micronational states is de facto recognized by Sancratosia. However, de jure recognition is not given out to States which have views aligned with the far-right. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs maintains a list of states which received official mutual recognition from Sancratosia.
On 20 February 2022, Sancratosia became the second Canadian-surrounded nation to be admitted as a member in the Conference of Santiago. On 3 October 2022, the Principality was admitted as a member state in the Grand Unified Micronational. The nation is also involved in the francophone micronational world as a member of the Organisation de la MicroFrancophonie and of the Laurentian Micronational Cooperative Union, a regional union with the Newgraviate of Saint-Castin and the Principality of Beremagne.
The Principality was represented twice by Princess Cloe at MicroCon 2022 and MicroCon 2023, establishing informal relations with many micronations such as the Ambulatory Free States of Obsidia, the Principality of Aigues-Mortes, the Kingdom of Ruritania, the Republic of West Who, the United Slabovian Empire, the Aerican Empire and the Republic of Molossia.
Territory
Sancratosia is located in Northern America and is completely surrounded by Canada, and entirely within the province of Quebec. It is on the Saint-Lawrence River and neighbours the region of Montérégie.
Sancratosia has two territorial statuses, its operating territory and its symbolic territory.
Sancratosia has made a symbolic territorial claim in the Montérégie region of an area of 574.20 km (356.79 mi). It corresponds with the limits of the Beauharnois-Salaberry Regional County Municipality, a region that has been historically inhabited by members of the House of Sancratosia. The Principality does not have control of this territory. The claim was formalized on 1 December 2023.
For its day to day operations, Sancratosia considers the place from where it operates to be an extraterritorial territory from which it exercises its sovereignty. There has been no official recognition of its extraterritoriality status by the government of Canada.
Culture
The culture of Sancratosia is heavily influenced by Canadian culture, more specifically Quebec culture, but also by Monégasque and French cultures. It is however distinct and shaped by the use of Lingua Franca Nova as the official language and its population composed of naturalized people from around the world.
The official sport of Sancratosia is the flying disc but other sports enjoy a relative level of popularity such as football, cricket and various forms of hockey like floor, roller in-line and ice hockey. The Sancratosian Sports and Games Confederation is the regulator organ of sports in Sancratosia and is responsible for the organization of local leagues and tournaments and for the national teams of Sancratosia.
Sancratosia is a member of the Micronational Olympic Federation, and is represented by its Micronational Olympic Committee.