Crownton
Republic of Crownton | |
|---|---|
 Flag
 Coat of arms
| |
| Motto: Good deeds comes to those in need | |
| Status | Active |
| Capital | Crownton (city-state) |
| Official languages | English |
| Recognised national languages | English |
| Demonym(s) | Crowntonese |
| Government | Presidential liberal democracy |
• President | Ranel I |
• Prime Minister | Deven Wilkins |
| Legislature | Legislative Assembly |
| Senate | |
| House of All | |
| Independent | |
• Established | 18 July 2021 |
• Current iteration | 26 July 2021 |
| Area | |
• | 264.409125 sq mi (684.81649 km2) |
| Population | |
• Estimate | 2 Citizens |
| Currency | United States dollar (USD) |
| Time zone | Atlantic Daylight Time (ADT) |
| Calling code | +1 (862) |
Crownton (also known as the Republic of Crownton) was a micronation in the Atlantic, founded by Ranel Lopez and Deven Wilkins. Crownton was located in Machias Seal Island that isn't claimed by any nation. This island is located in both the Gulf of Maine and the Bay of Fundy, the region is 18 acres (not counting Arctic claims) making it one of the biggest micronations of all time. Crownton claims 2 citizens, but none live on the actual island.On July 18, 2021, Crownton was created including the flag, the coat of arms and the territory claims.
History
Independence
On July 18, 2021, Ranel Lopez asked his friend Deven Wilkins, if they wanted to start a micronation Deven reluctantly said yes and they spent 30 minutes looking for an area to claim. The first option was Bir Tawil, but then Ranel found out that it was already conquered by Bir Tawil Republic, then Deven thought about Long Island is Papua New Guinea until Ranel remembered that it's still claimed by it, they looked for many other islands until they found Machias Seal Island.
Canadian Interest
The United Kingdom, and later Canada, have maintained an ongoing interest in the island, largely through the continuous occupation of the lighthouse. Until the 1970s–1980s, lighthouse keepers from the Canadian Coast Guard would live on the island with their families, receiving supplies by sea from Grand Manan or Saint John. Since 1944, the island has been protected under its designation as the Machias Seal Island Migratory Bird Sanctuary (a wildlife and seabird sanctuary), managed by the Canadian Wildlife Service. No private citizen in Canada has made an ownership claim to Machias Seal Island, and Canada considers the property to be wholly owned by the federal government. The island has long been included in federal and provincial electoral districts, and policing has been enforced on the island by Royal Canadian Mounted Police and on waters surrounding the island by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. In the 20th century, some Canadian residents placed mining claims on the island as an exercise of sovereignty, despite the fact that it is considered a protected area.
United States Interest
In 1918, with Canadian agreement, a small detachment of U.S. Marines was placed on the island following the U.S. entry into the First World War, as a means to assist in protecting the territory and its key lighthouse guarding the entrance to the Bay of Fundy from German U-boat attack. These forces were withdrawn after several months, and no U.S. presence has been re-established since.
Gulf of Maine Boundary
Sovereignty of Machias Seal Island (and North Rock) would likely not still be in question today if it were not for the decision by Canada and the United States to avoid settling this issue in their 1979 joint application to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) at The Hague in the Netherlands to have the maritime boundary delineated in the Gulf of Maine for fishing and mineral exploration purposes on Georges Bank.
Both nations avoided having ICJ rule on the sovereignty of Machias Seal Island and North Rock by agreeing to have a common starting point for the offshore boundary southwest of the island at 44°11′12″N 67°16′46″W. The October 12, 1984, ICJ ruling, Delimitation of the Maritime Boundary in the Gulf of Maine Area (Canada/United States of America), has since highlighted a gap in the maritime boundary for several dozen kilometres (miles) between the current end of the Canada–US border and the 1984 Gulf of Maine boundary starting point. Machias Seal Island and North Rock lie in the middle of this "grey zone"—a term coined by fishermen from both countries, referring to unclear jurisdictional boundaries in the area.
Kvitoya
On July 20, 2021, Ranel placed claims on Kvitoya a small island in the Arctic, but he changed the name to Kvitoa. Ranel planned on using Kvitoya as an Arctic base and to increase the size of the country. Later on the same day Ranel gave Deven Wilkins control of the territory, Deven changed and added many things in Kvitoya including the motto, the name, the demonym and others.
However Ranel added a citizen rank in Kvitoya, for example if you were born in Kvitoya you aren't a Crownton citizen, your a Crownton nationalist. If a nationalist wants to be a citizen they must live in mainland Crownton for 3 months and take some shots. If a nationalist wants to become president of Crownton they must have lived in mainland Crownton for 1 year and take additional shots. There is an exception to the rule however, if someone is born in Kvitoya, but their parent or parents is a Crownton citizen then they are considered a citizen.
Crowntonese Marshoa
On July 26, 2021, Ranel claimed ownership of Ailinginae Atoll after Slade Lee (the president of Marshoa) gave up ownership of it. Ranel changed the name and turned it into unincorporated territory, Ailinginae Atoll was later changed to Crowntonese Marshoa, this almost started a war with Triloa, which is a neighboring country. Ranel, Slade and Kingsley (Queen of Triloa) negotiated in a call and then solved the problem by Ranel saying that he would be a minor part of the Marshoan Union.
The End
Due to inactivity and carelessness Crownton reunified with America as it recognized it and then join the country as land. Ranel and Deven both agreed on ending ownership on the nation and their allies are truly devastated. Slade Lee (president of Marshoa) has made a memorial about the end of Crownton and Kingsley (Queen of Triloa) has also.
Geography
Crownton is on Machias Seal Island which is a barren island with no trees. Due to its location in the Gulf of Main and Bay of Fundy, Crownton is covered in fog for a huge chunk of the year. Crownton has a series of exposed shoals, islets strewn south and west of Grand Manan Island and rocks.
Crownton surprisingly has a fair amount of animals despite it's size. Crownton has Atlantic puffins, razorbills, common eiders, common terns, arctic terns, common murres, Leach's storm-petrel's, Northern gannets, Surf scoters, black guillemots and colonies of seals.
Demographics
Holidays
Crownton's culture is heavily influenced by America's, Crownton celebrates Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, and other holidays. Crownton however does have its own holidays. Independence Day is the earliest holiday of Crownton, Independence Day celebrates the day when Crownton gained independence from America and Canada. Deven Day celebrates the vice president (Deven Wilkins), it is celebrated on the same day of Deven Wilkins' birthday, citizens send him gifts, letters and play Pokémon because that's Deven's favorite game which is why new citizens call it Pokémon Day. Lastly is Ranel Day, Ranel Day celebrates the president (Ranel Lopez) like Deven Day, Ranel Day is celebrated on Ranel Lopez's birthday. During Ranel Day citizens will wear hats, send him gifts and send letters.
| Date | Name |
|---|---|
| 18 July | Independence Day |
| 7 October | Deven Day |
| 21 November | Ranel Day |
Religion
Crownton does not have an official religion because it's two citizens have different beliefs. Ranel Lopez is an atheist, while Deven Wilkins is a Christian. Fun fact, while Ranel and Deven were developing Crownton Ranel thought of creating a religion for Crownton which was called Crowntonian. Crowntonian was the belief in evolution and the god was Luca. Luca (Last Universal Common Ancestor) is the god in Crowntonian, Luca didn't have any powers, the only reason it was praised is because it's the common ancestor of all life. Unfortunately, Crowntanian wasn't used as Deven thought it was a bad idea, but Ranel used it as the unofficial official religion of the country.
Population
Crownton's population isn't the biggest. Crownton has only 2 citizens, but none of them even live on the island. However Crownton gets residents year round, but the tour isn't on the island instead being on water near the island. While developing the country Ranel was thinking of asking his other friends if they want to be a citizen. This idea was later scrapped because Ranel thought that he was going to be ridiculed by his friends and Deven thought that it was a bad idea.
Language
Crownton's official language is English as it's two citizens speak English only. In fact English has been the nation's official language since it was created. However, Crowntonese have their own way of saying things, for example puffins are "prefunes" and seals are called "sells." Crowntonese is another saying from Crownton and is also the demonym of the nation.