Have you heard of the kingdom of Redonda? And what about the Grand Duchy of Avram (where the local currency – the avram – has a 1:1 parity with the euro)?

If you’ve seen Isle of Roses, you know what I’m talking about. A true story in which Giorgio Rosa, an engineer from Bologna, builds his own island off the coast of Italy. He then raised it to the rank of a nation, and in the end his republic was crushed by the government. There are dozens of such micronations in the world.

Westarktika is a well-organized Grand Duchy

Westarctic is an unrecognized Antarctic micronation founded in 2001 by Travis McHenry, who now calls himself Grand Duke Travis. The micronation occupies land in West Antarctica that no other nation-state has claimed.

He has a prime minister, a minister of foreign affairs, culture, communication… all that. I’m not talking about the site, very well done.

The Great Principality of Abram. For 33 years

It was founded in the early 1980s by Tasmanian John Charlton Rudge, who has the eponymous “Grand Duke AvramHe also runs the Royal Bank of Abraham, which was housed in Rudge’s Georgetown office.

The “Bank” issues its own notes and coins, and visitors are obliged to exchange their national currencies for “Avram”.

Because he did not have a banking license, Avram Bank attracted the attention of the Australian government, which confiscated all of Raj’s money and began legal proceedings against him. After a trial that cost the federal government about $22 million, the courts ruled that Rudge had not engaged in any illegal activity and ordered the return of all seized assets.

Raj was allowed to resume his banking practice. Since the 1980s, he has issued several sets of coins and notes on behalf of the Royal Bank of Abram.

Liberland. Free Republic of Liberland

Croatia has Liberland. It was announced on April 13, 2015 by Czech right-wing libertarian politician and activist Vit Jedlička.

The official site of Liberland claims that the nation was created after a border dispute between Croatia and Serbia. According to Jedlička, this dispute meant that neither side claimed the land west of the Danube.

The piece of land in question has an area of ​​7 km2 (2.7 sq mi), roughly the same size as Gibraltar.

Jedlicka stated that no nation had claimed the territory and therefore he could claim it using the doctrine of terra nullius. The border, he argued, was determined according to the border claims of Croatia and Serbia and did not interfere with the sovereignty of any other state. In April 2015, Jedlička sent an official diplomatic note to Croatia and Serbia, and later to all other states, with an official request for international recognition.

On December 18, 2015, Jedlička introduced the first interim government of Liberland and its ministers of finance, foreign affairs, interior affairs and justice, as well as two vice presidents.

Wallachian kingdom. But not the Vlachs we expected…

No, it is not in Romania, but in the Czech Republic. It was founded in 1997 by photographer Tomáš Harabiš. Since its foundation, approximately 80,000 Czech citizens have received “German passports”.

After the official proclamation of the kingdom, the actor Bolek Polivka was enthroned as King Boleslaw I the Merciful, his coronation took place in a lavish ceremony in 2000. The “government” headed by Tomasz Harabisz established state institutions and issued passports. A new currency, the Jurovalsar, was launched, pegged to the euro at a 1:1 rate that Mugur Iserescu, head of the National Bank of Romania, would be envious of. Attempts to establish official ties with other countries have proved disappointing, and the Kingdom does not enjoy official diplomatic recognition.

In 2001, the “government” deposed King Boleslav in a coup d’état, accusing the deposed monarch of unconstitutional behavior and demanding 1,000,000 Czech crowns for his services.

In 2001, the government of Tomasz Harabisz installed Volodymyr Zhanel on the throne as King Volodymyr II.

Principality of Aigle-Mort, a parody of Monaco

Principality of Aigues-Mortes (fr. Principauté d’Aigues-Mortes) is a micronation in the region of the city of Aigues-Mortes (France). It is not recognized by any country or government.

The Principality of Aigues-Mortes was founded in 2010 as a parody of the Principality of Monaco. It has its own currency – Flemish.

Kingdom of Redonda. It all started with guano…

The island is located between the islands of Nevis and Montserrat in the West Indies. Legally, it belongs to Antigua and Barbados. The island is just over 1.6 km long and 0.54 km wide. It is very difficult to live on, as there is no source of fresh water except rain, and most of the island is extremely steep and rocky.

Despite these difficulties, from 1865 to 1912 Redonda was the center of a profitable guano trade, and many thousands of tons of phosphates were shipped from Redonda to Great Britain. Ruins associated with the mines can still be seen on the island.

The Kingdom is currently ruled by Mihai chel Karunt, although several claim to be the true rulers of Redonda.

List of other existing micronations:

Grand Duchy of Flandrensis, Grand Duchy of Westarctic, Kingdom of Redonda, Empire of Atlantium, Grand Duchy of Abraham, Principality of Serpent Hill, Principality of Wye, Sovereign Government of Yidinji, Republic of Murrawarri, Free Republic of Liberland, Principality of Iceland, Hajduk Republic of Miyata Tomich, Air Empire, Kingdom of Ans- Saint-Jean, Republic of Ratnelly, Kingdom of Araucania and Patagonia, Ice Republic, Kingdom of Wallachia, Freetown Christiania, Kingdom of Elleore, Principality of Aigues-Mort, Principality of Laas, Holy Empire of Reunion, Republic of Saugeais, Ahzivland, Principality of Filettino, Principality of Seborg, Republic of Ujupis, Republic of Vangamon, Republic of Vevčany, New Slovene Art, Republic of Naminara, Elgaland-Vargaland, Republic of Jamtland, Ladonia, Austenasia, Sovereign State of Forvik, Lamb Island, Free Borough of Llanrwst, Kingdom of Lovely, Principality of Sealand, Dominion of British West Florida, Republic of Conch, Maritime Republic of Eastport, Kingdom of E nenKio, Republic of Molossia, Northern Varenyk Kingdom, Washitau Nation, Zakistan, Parva Domus, New Utopia, Asgardia, Celestial Space Nation, Global Country of World Peace

Melchizedek Dominion, Nova Roma, Nutopia, Romanov Empire, Wirtland, Eterna Lukin Sovereign State, Bumbunga Province ….and many more.