Micronations: Breakaway states on a mission

What if, one day, you just decided to start your own country? Technically, you could do so but not legitamtely per international law. Across the world one can find so called "micronations", which are different from recognized "microstates". Some of them were created in protest for a variety of reasons and causes and even have their own flag, constitution and currency. And there could be one near your hometown or in a far away place you least expected.

From the outside, claiming land and declaring a sovereign territory appears to be a sort of game or fantasy, but the founders of micronations cater to their desire for autonomy and to be a ruler (or a childhood dream) and "armchair travelers who can browse novelty stamps on their websites or dabble in made-up currencies" (Hookway, 2020).

From Australia to Maryland and parts of Europe, these states have unique characteristics and motivations behind why they were created. This StoryMap will trace the history of some notable micronations and feature some unique places formed in the modern era. Read below to explore this global phenomenon in further detail.

As the name suggests, micronations are small in terms of land area, though not always. They can be defined as "self-declared nations that perform and mimic acts of sovereignty, and adopt many of the protocols of nations, but lack a foundation in domestic and international law for their existence and are not recognised as nations in domestic or international forums" (Hobbs & Williams, 2021). Essentially, these places attempt to gain recognition as legitimate sovereign countries through various means and efforts.

Sociologist Judy Lattas offers this definition of micronations: "Tiny countries declared by ordinary people in an act that repeats the establishment of sovereign nations, at least in some of its protocols" (2009).

These nations cover either small or vast expanses of land in a variety of locations. Within their terrorities are populations and groups of citizens ranging from a few people to hundreds of people. However, to clarify the term "nation", this word defines "a group of people who share a common history and common linguistic, religious, and/or other cultural aspects" (Heywood, 2013, 109). The terms nation and country are often used synonoumously but in fact have different meanings. For the purposes of this project, the terms country, micronation, kingdom, etc. will be used to describe the places featured in this StoryMap.

So, why is the word micronation used to describe these places? One theory is that the term microstate was already taken when the concept was created by founders and authors (Streich, 2021, 120) and it refers to actual recognized countries, most notably those found on the European continent. More on that difference later.

Below is a map of several micronations around the world that currently exist or are now defunct.

As an example, one of the locations on the map is the Empire of Atlantium. This micronation was founded in 1981 by George Cruickshank and two other residents of Sydney, Australia and "offers an alternative to the discriminatory historic practice of assigning nationality to individuals on the basis of accidents of birth or circumstance", according to the official  website . National Geographic produced a short film on the micronation its history.

Establishing a new territory has some standards and regulations to follow, and while micronations claim legitimacy, microstates are recognized countries per international law. By definition, a microstate is "a sovereign state which has unilaterally given specific characteristics of sovereignty to a bigger state in exchange of protection of its economic and political interests against demographic and geographic challenges" (Sawe, 2019). Similar to a micronation, it usually covers a very small area with a small population of residents.

Some examples of microstates are Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, Vatican City, Liechtenstein, Bahrain and Tuvalu.

To define a state in the eyes of international law, we need to look at the criteria for statehood. In 1933, the Montevideo Convention established what a state needs to be to gain legal recognition: a permanent population, a defined territory, government, and capacity to enter into relations with other states (Furnues, 2018).

Further, Article 6 of the Montevideo Convention states:

The recognition of a state merely signifies that the state which recognizes it accepts the personality of the other with all the rights and duties determined by international law. Recognition is unconditional and irrevocable.

Per these established criteria, most and/or all micronations do not technically fall under the definition of a recognized state. Despite their quest, micronations today lack the features of a formalized country, and are thus, not truly sovereign states.

Now that the term micronation has been defined and clarified, let's take a look at the motivation behind some of these places.

One common idea or philosophy behind the foundation of a micronation is libertarianism. As Hobbs and Williams describe it, libertarianism contains a few key values, but most importantly, it is "the idea that all persons are autonomous individuals of equal moral worth." One example of this philosophy being used to create a new country is wealthy real estate mogul Michael Oliver and the Republic of Minerva (featured in the section below).

Oliver desired to create something more than a tax haven: he wanted a place to establish a libertarian polity as a sovereign power (Hobbs & Williams, 2021). No taxation and no social welfare. And that's where these reefs came into play. Oliver was motivated by his experience coming from a communist country and living out the 1960s wave of change in the United States. This led to him using his organization and cadre of supporters to travel to these reefs and attempt to make them habitable.

It only worked out for so long until the Tongan government came in and claimed ownership.

Another form of motivation behind establishing a micronation is for attention seeking and expression. The Kingdom of Talossia is a prime example. Located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the Kingdom was established in 1979 by 14-year-old Robert Madison in his bedroom. He kept it fairly unassuming through the 1980s until The New York Times brought some attention to the small kingdom (Hobbs & Williams, 2021). As a result, people inquired about citizenship, and Madison even created different items for Talossia, including a flag, emblem, and newspaper.

While it is no longer officially a kingdom, it still operates today. Madison is no longer on the throne, though.

In addition, some other factors that have motivated people to start their own country include resistance, tourism, political protest, and setting up a scam. The list of reasons and causes goes on and as politics and ideologies change over time, additional micronations will come and go. It may or may not be to just take your money, though.

The term micronation came about in the 1970s (Sawe, 2017), but tiny kingdoms have existed long before then. While it's difficult to trace the history of different micronations, there is a bit more detail about them in the modern era. The existence of several micronations can be traced back to the 19th Century. This section outlines the history of some key micronations and their foundation.

The micronations highlighted below have unique backgrounds and some interesting histories that led to their establishment. This section details three places that are still in existence today. Not all micronations are created equal.

Located in Northern Italy near the border of France and microstate Monaco, Seborga is a small yet historic area tucked away in the mountains. Its history is long as its roots go back to the B.C. period, and it has taken shape under the control of various empires and people groups. The settlement was donated to the Benedictine monks of the Lérins Abbey in 954 and went through several other donations until a particular transfer in 1729 when "the deed of sale of Seborga was signed in Paris" (Principato di Seborga, n.d.). According to the official  website , the principality claims to be independent because "the sovereignty over Seborga would have fallen ipso iure on the people of Seborga in the absence of an explicit clause providing for the transfer of it to the King of Sardinia".

They claim that the annexation to both the Kingdom of Italy and Italian Republic in the following centuries were illegitimate acts and that the principality should remain sovereign. Elections for the appointment of a constituent government were held in 1994 and years later the principality minted coins, created stamps, established a Corps of Guards, and more. Today, the principality is still fighting for its independence and is currently under the control of Princess Nina Menegatto. The video below provides a quick overview of Seborga in the modern era.

Compared to Seborga, the Republic of Molossia lacks greatly in history and charm. Where it stands out, though, is in its creativeness and features. The original Molossian Nation was founded in 1997 and was then known as the Grand Republic of Vuldstein. After a series of changes in name, location, and form of government, the Republic of Molossia was established in 1999. Kevin Baugh became Premier and currently serves as President. According to its  website , the small micronation was involved in a series of conflicts and wars following its founding, including an invasion and the government being overthrown in 2010.

The Republic of Molossia claims to be a sovereign nation and is physically located near Dayton, Nevada, which is about 40 miles southeast of Reno. It has a constitution and three branches of government along with a flag, national anthem, currency, and official languages (English, Esperanto, and Spanish). To make it even more official, there is a customs post that visitors must pass through, and it has a variety of cultural places to tour while there. The video below highlights this fascinating, tiny country in the desert.

Lastly, Freetown Christiania, or simply Christiania, is an autonomous neighborhood located in Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark. This commune was established in 1971 when the former military complex was turned into a community by hippies and anarchists (Calderon, 2019). The goal was to prohibit cars, guns, and hard drugs, though today the area is known for crime, security, and drug issues.

According to tourism bureau  VisitCopenhagen , the relationship between the community and the Danish government saw much conflict during the 40 years following its establishment. Today, the area is owned by the Foundation Freetown Christiania with about 1,000 residents living within it, and the area is now a popular tourist destination and host to restaurants, shops, and other attractions. The video below provides an inside look on this unique community.

It's a big world out there. Hidden and standing out among the over 190-plus United Nations-recognized countries are mini terrorities fighting for their sovereignty and some recognition. Some have come close to success while others are simply trying lure in gullible tourists. While most micronations are a long shot to gaining international recognition, there are a few trying to establish legitimacy on the big stage. If anything, one lesson to take from this report is to get out there and explore the world and take a closer look at the geography yet to be discovered. You might just find a new country lurking in the sea, forest, or your own backyard.