Empire of Atlantium

Empire of Atlantium
Imperium Atlantium
Micronation
Flag Imperial State Signum
Motto: E Tenebris Lux
Out of Darkness, Light
Anthem: Auroran Hymn by Camille Saint Saens
Status Current
CapitalConcordia
Official languages English and Latin
Demonym Atlantian
Government
 •  Emperor George II (George Francis Cruickshank) 1981-
Establishment
 •  Declared 27 November 1981 
Area claimed
 •  Total 0.76 km2
0 sq mi
Membership almost 3,000 (2015)
Purported currency Imperial solidus (value pegged to the US$)

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]

It has almost 3,000 "citizens", most of whom signed up online from over 100 countries and have never been to Atlantium.[5]

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".[6][7] 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.[7] 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".[8]

Aurora

The Province of Aurora covers 0.76 square kilometres (0.29 sq mi)[5] 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 occupancy and development is permitted) and the Prefecture of Idalia (the renamed former Imperium Proper). The latter is the current residence of Cruickshank.

Concordia is the intended location of facilities to house Atlantium's legislature, government offices, museum, throne hall and commemorative monuments. It is the location of a single-storey residential and administrative building, several service structures, and two small man-made lakes. Aurora is also the site of an historic gold-processing facility built and operated in the 1860s by Chinese immigrant miners.[9]

Status and operations

The Atlantium website uses several different self-descriptions, including "self-declared state", "aspirant microstate" and "global sovereign state".[10] 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.[11] The group has awarded "Imperial Honours" to various recipients, generally in recognition of political activism or for service to local communities.[12]

Stamps, coins and banknotes

Stamps, coins and banknotes are sold by Atlantium, which uses 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.[13]

The earliest documented media report referring to Atlantium is a 1984 philatelic magazine article[14] about its cinderella stamp releases. There are currently 12 issues of Atlantian stamps.

Atlantium mints coins,[15] though the levels of Atlantian economic activity remain low.[16] The first coin was the 20th anniversary 10 solidi coin, which has a likeness of George Cruickshank as the obverse and the imperial eagle as the reverse. In 2011, a 30 solidi coin was issued to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Atlantium. The coin has the likeness of George Cruickshank on the obverse and the wedge-tailed eagle (Aquila audax) on the reverse and was struck in cupronickel and plated with 9 carat gold. Banknotes of Atlantium are denominated in imperial solidi (10, 25, 50 and 100 imperial solidi) and are currently divided into a 2006 series and a 2007 series.[17]

Membership

As of October 2015, the group has almost 3,000 "citizens" from (and still therein residing due to the small area of the Empire of Atlantium) over 100 countries.[5] The website names just over 20 individuals holding such functions as minister, director, magister and imperial legate. Atlantium says its citizenship does not supersede 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.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Links". Unrecognised States Numismatic Society. Retrieved 2008-01-15.
  2. ↑ John Ryan, George Dunford & Simon Sellars (2006). Micronations. Lonely Planet Publications. pp. 74–. ISBN 1-74104-730-7.
  3. ↑ "Constitution of Atlantium". Empire of Atlantium. Retrieved 2008-01-26.
  4. ↑ "Decimal Time — Calendars — Annus Novus Decimal Calendar". John D Hynes. Archived from the original on 2008-06-02. Retrieved 2008-01-30.
  5. 1 2 3 Ewan Gilbert (18 October 2015). "Empire of Atlantium: Take a glimpse into Australia's smallest micronation". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  6. ↑ Blackson, Robert (Summer 2005). "The Empire of Atlantium". Cabinet Magazine. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  7. 1 2 "History of Atlantium". Empire of Atlantium. Retrieved 2008-01-26.
  8. ↑ "Province of Aurora". Empire of Atlantium. Retrieved 2008-01-15.
  9. ↑ "Province of Aurora". Empire of Atlantium. Retrieved 2008-01-26.
  10. ↑ "Empire of Atlantium". Empire of Atlantium. Retrieved 2008-01-15.
  11. ↑ Charles Green (2005). "The Empire of Atlantium". Cabinet Magazine.
  12. ↑ "Imperial News Service". Empire of Atlantium.
  13. ↑ "Frequently Asked Questions". Empire of Atlantium. Retrieved 2008-01-15.
  14. ↑ Bill Hornadge (September 1984). "Atlantium Empire". Stamp News. p. 196.
  15. ↑ John Mulhall (July 2002). "The Empire Strikes a Coin" (PDF). The Australasian Coin & Banknote Magazine.
  16. ↑ "Ministry of Finance". Empire of Atlantium. Retrieved 2008-01-30.
  17. ↑ Banknotes of the Empire of Atlantium Numismondo (www.numismondo.net). Retrieved on 2013-02-14.
  18. ↑ "Ministry of State". Empire of Atlantium. Retrieved 2008-01-26.

Bibliography

  • John Ryan, George Dunford & Simon Sellars (2006). Micronations. Lonely Planet Publications. pp. 74–77. ISBN 1-74104-730-7. 
  • Colin R Bruce (2005). Unusual World Coins. Krause Publications. p. 10. ISBN 0-87349-793-7. 

Further reading

External links

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