Difference between revisions of "Achaean Territory of Antarctica"

[[File:Flight Deck.jpg|thumb|left|Travis McHenry on the USS Kearsarge]]

In August 2001, while serving in the U.S. Navy as an Intelligence Specialist onboard the USS ''Kearsarge'' (LHD-3), Travis McHenry spent a significant amount of time researching the countries of the world in the classified version of the C.I.A. World Factbook. In the course of his research, he discovered that the region of [[Antarctica]] between 90°W and 150°W was unclaimed by any nation. This area, commonly known as [[Marie Byrd Land]], was explored by the United States starting in the 1920s, but was never formally claimed.

Travis obtained a National Geographic atlas of the world and flipped to the large map of Antarctica on the back page. He carefully studied the map and determined that it had no political affiliation at all. He also noted the existence of the [[Whitmore Mountains]], as his childhood [[Viscount of Whitmore|best friend]] had the last name "Whitmoyer." Travis spent the rest of the month of August researching the complicated political situation surrounding Antarctica and read the entire text of the [[Antarctic Treaty]] multiple times, looking for loopholes that could potentially be exploited.

Finally, Travis determined that although Article 4 of the Antarctic Treaty prohibits any ''nation'' from making new claims on the Antarctic continent, it would not prevent an ''individual'' from doing so. He called his prospective claim "The New Land Claim," and slowly began to further develop the concepts and ideals of the territory.

At the time he discovered the unique political situation of Marie Byrd Land, Travis had been reading ''The Iliad'' and decided to give his claimed territory a culture that honored the ancient Greeks.

Rather than proclaim himself King or Emperor of the territory, Travis selected a title that reflected his status as a representative of Achaea to the world at large. He declared himself [[Consul-General of the Achaean Territory|Consul-General]]. This title also served as a homage to Napoleon Bonaparte, who held the office of First Consul of France prior to becoming an Emperor.

From the initial creation of the territory and its government, Travis knew he wanted to follow Napoleon's example by breaking his claimed land into pieces and giving those pieces to friends and family members who would rule over the region as [[Hereditary Nobility of Westarctica|hereditary nobles]]. However, in order for him to serve as undisputed leader of the government, he would also have to serve as head of the nobility.

His coronation as Consul-General took place on 9 September 2001 at Marmaris Castle in Marmaris, Turkey. Following the coronation ceremony, Travis began to refer to himself as "His Eminence, the Consul-General of Achaea."

It wasn't until 30 October 2001 that Travis wrote what would effectively be a declaration of independence for the Achaean Territory of Antarctica. After purchasing special watermarked stationary paper, Travis composed the [[Claimant Letter]] on 29 - 30 October while he was home on leave at his mother's residence after completing his first naval deployment to the Mediterranean Sea.

Another element which spurred the transition from territory to statehood was the Consul-General's discovery of the wider world of [[Micronations|micronations]] after finding the original [[MicroFreedom]] website. Rather than continue to appear as a diplomatic representative merely protecting the interests of his claimed territory, Travis sought legitimacy as the head of a sovereign state and desired a recognizable title to fulfill that role.  

The beginning of the transition occurred in June 2004 when Travis underwent a religious conversion to Christianity and was divinely inspired to transform the Achaean Territory into a [[Religion in Westarctica|Christian nation]]. Once the new culture and "feel" of the country was established, the Chancellery was dissolved and an interim government was proclaimed on 10 June 2004, which marked the official end of the Achaean Territory.

On that date, Travis began writing the new law of the land, which would be called the [[Grand Ducal Mandate]]. Twenty days later, on 30 June 2004, the Grand Ducal Mandate was passed into law and became the constitution of the newly-christened Grand Duchy of [[Westarctica]]. Grand Duke Travis assumed the position of Head of State and Head of Government and abolished all the old titles of nobility while simultaneously appointing new members of [[Baronage|the Baronage]].