Empire of Atlantium
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Empire of Atlantium | ||
| Micronation | ||
 Flag |
 Seal |
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| Motto: E Tenebris Lux (English: Out of Darkness, Light) Anthem: "Auroran Hymn"by Camille Saint Saens |
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| Status | Current | |
|---|---|---|
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| Area claimed | 0.76 square kilometres (0.29 sq mi) | |
| Membership | 903 (2006) | |
| Date of foundation | November 27, 1981 | |
| Leadership | Emperor George II (George Francis Cruickshank ) 1981- | |
| Purported organisational structure | Elective constitutional monarchy | |
| Language | English and Latin | |
| Purported currency | Imperial Solidus (value pegged to the US$) | |
| Currency code | IS | |
| Capital | Concordia | |
| Demonym | Atlantian | |
The Empire of Atlantium is a micronation and secular, pluralist progressive lobby group[1] based in New South Wales, Australia.
Micronations: The Lonely Planet Guide to Home-Made Nations describes Atlantium as "a refreshing antidote to the reactionary self-aggrandisement of so many micronations", and "an extremely sophisticated nation-state experiment, as well as an entirely serious claimant to legitimate statehood". The book's entry on Atlantium notes its espousal of "progressive, liberal policies" and characterizes it as a "secular humanist utopia".[2]
Among the causes Atlantium supports are the right to unrestricted international freedom of movement, the right to abortion, the right to assisted suicide[3] and decimal calendar reform.[4]
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[edit] History
Atlantium was established in 1981 by three Sydney teenagers – George Francis Cruickshank, Geoffrey John Duggan and Claire Marie Coulter (née Duggan). The three claimed a 10 square metres (110 sq ft) Provisional Territory in the southern suburb of Narwee as Atlantium's first capital, and declared Cruickshank to be Sovereign Head of State, with the title "Emperor George II".[5] Geoffrey Duggan (1982–1986) was elected as prime minister. Damian Scott (1986–1988), and Kevin Fanucchi (1988–1990) also served as prime ministers, but by 1990, when the original group members had graduated from university and moved to different locations, the group ceased to be active.
In 1999 Cruickshank purchased an apartment in the inner Sydney suburb of Potts Point, and soon after revived Atlantium, launching a website, which was instrumental in attracting new members. The 61 square metres (660 sq ft) apartment, known as the Imperium Proper, became the second capital of Atlantium.[6] Concordia became the third capital of Atlantium on 12 January 2008, when the rural 0.76 square kilometres (0.29 sq mi) Province of Aurora, approximately 350 kilometres (220 mi) southwest of Sydney, was created. The Atlantium website describes Aurora as Atlantium's "global administrative capital, ceremonial focal point and spiritual homeland"[7].
[edit] Aurora
The Province of Aurora covers 0.76 square kilometres (0.29 sq mi) and has a fenced 4.5 kilometres (2.8 mi) long perimeter. It is divided into four "administrative divisions", known as the District of Hickey (which occupies approximately half of Aurora's total area), the District of Duggan (which occupies the southern third of the province), Concordia Capital District (the only administrative division in which permanent human occupacy and development is permitted) and the Prefecture of Idalia (the re-named former Imperium Proper). The latter is the current permanent residence of Emperor George II.
Concordia is the intended location of facilities to house Atlantium's legislature, government offices, museum, throne hall and commemorative monuments. Currently it is the location of a single-storey residential and administrative building and several service structures. Aurora is also the site of an historic 19th century gold processing facility. [8]
[edit] Status and operations
The Atlantium website uses several different self-descriptions, including "self-declared state", "aspirant microstate" and "global sovereign state".[9] In line with its claim to be a "primarily non-territorial" state Atlantium does not maintain any formal territorial claims; however, it does promote the idea that Cruickshank's apartment, and the Province of Aurora, have extraterritorial status; in practice these properties remain under Australian jurisdiction.
No established nation has recognised Atlantium's sovereignty claims, and it has no reciprocal diplomatic relations. Atlantium has appointed "unaccredited diplomatic representatives" called "Imperial Legates" in the United States, Pakistan, Poland, Brazil, India, Italy, Iran, Singapore, Serbia and Switzerland.[10] The group has awarded "Imperial Honours" to various recipients, generally in recognition of political activism or for service to local communities.[11]
[edit] Symbols of Atlantium
| Symbols of Atlantium | ||
|---|---|---|
| National symbol | Description | |
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Flag of Atlantium | |
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Seal of Atlantium | |
| Flag | Description | |
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Flag of the Office of the Emperor | |
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Flag of the Imperial Senate | |
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Flag of the Office of the Magister Aequitas | |
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Flag of the Imperial Diplomatic Corps | |
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Flag of Emperor George II | |
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Flag of the Province of Aurora | |
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Imperial war flag (1986-1999) | |
| Seal | Description | |
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Seal of the Office of the Emperor | |
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Seal of the Magister Aequitas | |
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Seal of the Ministry of State | |
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Seal of the Ministry of Finance | |
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Seal of the Ministry of Communications | |
[edit] Stamps, coins and banknotes
Stamps, coins and banknotes are sold by Atlantium, which utilises a decimal currency system of 100 Imperial Centi to the Imperial Solidus. Atlantium's website claims that the profits from those sales are used for "the Empire's ongoing operations" as well as charitable causes.[12]
[edit] Stamps
The earliest documented media report referring to Atlantium is a 1984 philatelic magazine article[13] about its cinderella stamp releases. There are currently 12 issues of Atlantian stamps, and a monthly postal service between Concordia and Idalia will commence in the second half of 2008.[14]
| Issue | Year | Denomination | Stamp |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 2006 | IS 0.50 |
Flag of Atlantium |
| 12 | 2006 | IS 0.50 |
Emperor George II |
| 12 | 2006 | IS 2.50 |
Emperor George II |
[edit] Coins
Atlantium mints coins,[15] though the levels of Atlantian economic activity remain low.[16] Only the 20th anniversary 10 Solidi coin has been minted in the past, which has a likeness of Emperor George II as the obverse and the Imperial Eagle as the reverse.
| 20th anniversary 10 Solidi coin |
|---|
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[edit] Banknotes
Banknotes of Atlantium are denominated in Imperial Solidi and are currently divided into a 2006 series and a 2007 series.
| Series | Denomination | Front | Back |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 10 Imperial Solidi |
Geoffrey Duggan |
Emperor George II |
| 2006 | 25 Imperial Solidi |
Seal of Atlantium |
Emperor George II |
| 2006 | 50 Imperial Solidi |
Collar of the Auroran Order |
Emperor George II |
| 2007 | 100 Imperial Solidi |
Medal of the Great Georgian Order |
Emperor George II |
[edit] Membership
As of 2006, the group reportedly had 903 "citizens"[17] in over 90 countries. The website names just over 20 individuals holding such functions as minister, director, magister and imperial legate. Atlantium says its citizenship does not supersede previously existing citizenships. Atlantians contend that they are all dual-citizens[18], and that Atlantium actively encourages its members to participate in the political processes of their resident countries. While the group uses the words "citizenship" and "diplomatic" idiosyncratically, supporters note that Atlantium has made no secret of its attempts at redefining existing paradigms, and claim that doing so is a fundamental motivation for the group's existence.
[edit] References
- ^ Links. Unrecognised States Numismatic Society. Retrieved on 2008-01-15.
- ^ John Ryan, George Dunford & Simon Sellars (2006). Micronations. Lonely Planet Publications, 74-. ISBN 1-74104-730-7.
- ^ Constitution of Atlantium. Empire of Atlantium. Retrieved on 2008-01-26.
- ^ Decimal Time - Calendars - Annus Novus Decimal Calendar. John D Hynes. Retrieved on 2008-01-30.
- ^ History of Atlantium. Empire of Atlantium. Retrieved on 2008-01-26.
- ^ History of Atlantium. Empire of Atlantium. Retrieved on 2008-01-26.
- ^ Province of Aurora. Empire of Atlantium. Retrieved on 2008-01-15.
- ^ Province of Aurora. Empire of Atlantium. Retrieved on 2008-01-26.
- ^ Empire of Atlantium. Empire of Atlantium. Retrieved on 2008-01-15.
- ^ Charles Green. "The Empire of Atlantium", Cabinet Magazine, 2005.
- ^ Imperial News Service. Empire of Atlantium.
- ^ Frequently Asked Questions. Empire of Atlantium. Retrieved on 2008-01-15.
- ^ Bill Hornadge. "Atlantium Empire", Stamp News, September 1984, pp. 196.
- ^ Province of Aurora. Empire of Atlantium. Retrieved on 2008-01-30.
- ^ John Mulhall. "The Empire Strikes a Coin" (PDF), The Australasian Coin & Banknote Magazine, July 2002.
- ^ Ministry of Finance. Empire of Atlantium. Retrieved on 2008-01-30.
- ^ John Ryan, George Dunford & Simon Sellars (2006). Micronations. Lonely Planet Publications, 74-. ISBN 1-74104-730-7.
- ^ Ministry of State. Empire of Atlantium. Retrieved on 2008-01-26.
[edit] Bibliography
- John Ryan, George Dunford & Simon Sellars (2006). Micronations. Lonely Planet Publications, 74-77. ISBN 1-74104-730-7.
- Colin R Bruce (2005). Unusual World Coins. Krause Publications, 10. ISBN 0-87349-793-7.
[edit] Further reading
- Charles Green. "The Empire of Atlantium", Cabinet Magazine, 2005.
- Judy Lattas (March 2005). "DIY Sovereignty and the Popular Right in Australia" (PDF). . Macquarie University
- Nick Squires. "Mini-states Down Under are sure they can secede", The Daily Telegraph, 2005-02-24.
- Mark Dapin. "If at first you don't secede...", The Sydney Morning Herald – Good Weekend, 2005-02-12, pp. 47–50.
- Justin Norrie. "His Majesty George II: The boy from Hurstville who now rules a big flat", The Sydney Morning Herald, 2004-05-07, pp. 3.
- Justin Norrie. "Micronations", HQ Magazine, Nov–Dec 2003, pp. 90–93, 144–145.
- John Mulhall. "The Empire Strikes a Coin" (PDF), The Australasian Coin & Banknote Magazine, July 2002.
- David Fickling. "Passport to Pimlico – Aussie style", The Guardian, 2002-11-20.
- Billy Adams. "The national madness of King George", The New Zealand Herald, 2001-08-29.
- Calin Stroila. "Cea mai mica tara este intr-un apartment", Libertatea (Romania), 2001-07-16, pp. 1.
- Bill Hornadge. "Atlantium Empire", Stamp News, September 1984, pp. 196.
- Worldwide Stamp Identifier: Bogus Issues. International Society of Worldwide Stamp Collectors.
