Kingdom of Natal
| Grand Duchy of Natal Groot Hertogdom van Natal Groothertogdom Natal | |||
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| Motto VRY EN ONVERVEERD Anthem The Return | |||
Greater coat of arms | |||
| Capital | TBD | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Demonym | • Natalian • Bregentine | ||
| Official language | • English • Afrikaans • Dutch | ||
| Official religion | Church of Natal | ||
| Government | Absolute monarchy | ||
| - Monarch | HRH Joseph I, Grand Duke of Natal | ||
| - Grand Pensionary | HG Charles C., 1st Duke of Urquhart | ||
| Legislature | Grand Duke exercises legislative power in conjunction with the Chamber of Lords | ||
| - Chamber | Chamber of Lords | ||
| Formation | - | ||
| - Province of Hobartstown and Victoria | 21 July 2014 | ||
| - Dissolution of Hobartstown and Victoria | 9 August 2014 | ||
| Area | 94,361 km2 (de jure) | ||
| Population | ▲23 (2014) (de facto) | ||
| CGSC (2014) | 3.2 high | ||
| Currency | N/A | ||
| Time zone | N/A | ||
| National animal | Wildebeest | ||
| Patron saint | N/A | ||
The Grand Duchy of Natal is a self-proclaimed sovereign state which claims to be the legitimate government of KwaZulu-Natal Province in South Africa. It is ruled over by its Grand Duke, His Royal Highness Joseph I. Its legislative body is the Chamber of Lords, and the Grand Duchy's reigning house is the House of Emmanuel.
Etymology
The name Natal was given to the nation by Portuguese explorer Vasco de Gama, who first saw the coast on Christmas Day 1497 (Natal being the Portuguese word for Christmas).
History
Natal was formerly a Duchy within the Commonwealth of Hobartstown and Victoria, and was ruled over by Joseph Emmanuel de Chavannes, Duke of Natal and Prince of the Bregentines. On 8 August 2014, the Duchy was elevated by letters patent to a Grand Duchy. In the Dissolution Act 2014, enacted by the Parliament of the Commonwealth on 9 August 2014, the Grand Duchy of Natal was established as the successor to the Commonwealth with Joseph Emmanuel de Chavannes becoming sovereign Grand Duke.
Once Natal was sovereign, Joseph Emmanuel was proclaimed His Royal Highness Joseph I, by the Grace of God, Grand Duke of Natal, Ruler of His other Domains and Territories, Prince of the Bregentines, Head of the House of Emmanuel, Defender of the Faith. Joseph I soon enacted Letters patent constituting Provinces, Counties, Dukes and Earls, appointing the various nobles of the realm and calling together the Chamber of Lords to serve as the legislature of the Grand Duchy. Among these were Daniel Vijzel, 1st Duke of New Victoria, who was later appointed Grand Pensionary.
Politics and government
Natal is an absolute monarchy with various elements of aristocracy, oligarchy and parliamentary democracy. The Grand Duchy is ruled over by the Grand Duke as Head of State, and is administered by the Council of State, that is the executive, which is presided over by the Grand Pensionary.
The Monarch holds absolute power over the realm, ruling through Letters patent and Royal Proclamations, the former serving to bestow offices, peerages, noble titles and knighthoods and the latter serving as executive orders. The Grand Pensionary, appointed by the Monarch by Letters patent, is the head of government and presides over the Council of State. The Council of State consists of the Grand Pensionary, the Secretary of State for Home Affairs, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and the Secretary of State for Defense. The Chamber of Lords, consisting of all the nobles and peers of the realm, is the de jure legislature, although it seldom enacts legislation.
| Name | Office | Term start |
|---|---|---|
| HG Charles C., 1st Duke of Urquhart |
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| HG Daniel Vijzel, 1st Duke of New Victoria |
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| Richard Kaufmann, 1st Baron Kaufmann, 1st Earl of East Richmond | Secretary of State for Defense | 31 August 2014 |
Foreign relations
Natal is considered relatively isolated on the international front. The Grand Duchy is the foremost nation in what has been termed the "Emmanuelian Empire", a group of four micronations (Natal, the Kingdom of New Elmhurst, the Grand Principality of Dalton and Montania) which are all ruled over by a member of the House of Emmanuel. The so-called Empire formerly included the Kingdom of Wensleydale, but following a Republican uprising the monarchy was dissolved.
