Empire of Marie Byrd Land
Marie Byrd Land | |
|---|---|
 Flag | |
| Motto: "Monarchy, Biodiversity, Liberty" | |
| Anthem: "Winter" | |
 Map | |
| Status | Active |
| Location | Marie Byrd Land, Antarctica |
| Capital | Getz City |
| Ethnic groups (2024) |
|
| Religion (2024) |
|
| Demonym(s) | Marie Byrds |
| Government | Absolute monarchical empire |
• Emperor | Emperor of MBL |
| Legislature | Senate |
| Statehood | |
• Declaration of statehood | 4 November 2024 |
• Constitution ratified | 4 November 2024 |
| Membership | 6 |
| Currency | United States dollar |
| Time zone | UTC0 (GMT) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC0 (GMT) |
| Date format | yyyy/mm/dd |
| Driving side | left |
| Calling code | +1 |
| Internet TLD | .com |
Website mariebyrdland | |
Marie Byrd Land, officially the Empire of Marie Byrd Land, is a self-proclaimed sovereign state known to some outside observers as a micronation. It is based in Antarctica and was established in 2024.[1] It covers 1 610 000 km2 of land including the eponymous territory and a portion of Ellsworth Land.[2] The former of which was discovered in 1902. More precisely, it contains all territories bound by 60 degree S, 90 degree W, and 150 degree W except for Peter I Island, which is claimed by Norway.[3] The country borders the Antarctic claim of New Zealand to the west, that of Chile to the east, and the Southern Ocean to the north.
The country is led by an Emperor who retains all decision making power.[4] Marie Byrd Land controls a total of six Kingdoms named after its six constituent coasts. These are in turn led by individual kings and queens who have sworn allegiance to the crown of the Emperor of MBL. A senate is also present, whose role it is to suggest laws to be approved by the emperor.
Marie Byrd Land has thus far neither extended recognition to any nation nor joined any supranational organizations.[5] However, its claimed territory expressly does not extend so as to encroach onto the surrounding claims to Antarctica of sovereign states. The fledgling nation hopes to one day become a member of the United Nations.
Etymology
The name of the micronation is derived off the largest portion of the territory it covers. This territory is itself named after Marie Byrd, the wife of its discoverer, Richard E. Byrd.[6] The six constituent coasts of the nation are all also named after various explorers. These are named, from westernmost to easternmost, after Harold Eugene Saunders, Jacob Ruppert Jr., William Herbert Hobbs, Ph.D., Frederick Edward Bakutis, Charles Rudolph Walgreen, and James Eights.
History
Antarctica, of which Marie Byrd Land is a part of, was thought to exist as early back as the 5th century AD as a landmass that would balance the landmasses of the north.[7] The territory was sighted in 1902 by Robert Falcon Scott as part of the Discovery mission. It was then exlored in 1929 by admiral Richard E Byrd and his crew. In 2024, it became a fully sovereign state.[8]
Politics and government
The government of Marie Byrd Land is an Empire led by an absolute monarch, the Emperor of MBL. [4] The emperor holds the highest executive, legislative, and judiciary authority. However, day to day, the senate helps crafts a large portion of laws. These are then approved or denied by the emperor. Six kings or queens rule over the six consitituent kingdoms of the nation. The kingdom is further subdivided into multiple grand duchies, each led by a grand duke or grand duchess.
Foreign relations
Marie Byrd Land has not yet recognized any countries. However, it is looking to expand its network of mutual recognition in the near future. It is not a member of any supranational organization.[5] The Empire of Marie Byrd Land strictly abides by international law and does not encroach on the territorial claims of all of its sovereign neighbors, namely New Zealand, Chile, and Norway. The empire does so with the expectation of respect of its own territorial sovereignty as outlined in the first paragraph.
Unilateral recognition
- None at this time
Mutual recognition
- None at this time
Recognition refused
- None at this time
Formerly recognized
There are no formerly recognized states as Marie Byrd Land has not recognized any other state thus far.
Not currently recognized
The following entities are not currently recognized by the Empire of Marie Byrd Land: United Nations Security Council:
- United States of America, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, French Republic, Russian Federation, People's Republic of China.
Other United Nations members:
- Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Republic of Albania, People's Democratic Republic of Algeria, Principality of Andorra, Republic of Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentine Republic, Republic of Armenia, Commonwealth of Australia, Republic of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Commonwealth of The Bahamas, Kingdom of Bahrain, People's Republic of Bangladesh, Barbados, Republic of Belarus, Kingdom of Belgium, Belize, Republic of Benin, Kingdom of Bhutan, Plurinational State of Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republic of Botswana, Federative Republic of Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Republic of Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Republic of Burundi, Republic of Cabo Verde, Kingdom of Cambodia, Republic of Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Republic of Chad, Republic of Chile, Republic of Colombia, Union of the Comoros, Republic of the Congo, Republic of Costa Rica, Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, Republic of Croatia, Republic of Cuba, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kingdom of Denmark, Republic of Djibouti, Commonwealth of Dominica, Dominican Republic, Republic of Ecuador, Arab Republic of Egypt, Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, State of Eritrea, Republic of Estonia, Kingdom of Eswatini, Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Republic of Fiji, Republic of Finland, Gabonese Republic, Republic of The Gambia, Georgia, Federal Republic of Germany, Republic of Ghana, Hellenic Republic, Grenada, Republic of Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Republic of Guinea-Bissau, Co-operative Republic of Guyana, Republic of Haiti, Republic of Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Islamic Republic of Iran, Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland, State of Israel, Italian Republic, Jamaica, Japan, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Republic of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, State of Kuwait, Kyrgyz Republic, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Republic of Latvia, Republic of Lebanon, Kingdom of Lesotho, Republic of Liberia, State of Libya, Principality of Liechtenstein, Republic of Lithuania, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Malaysia, Republic of Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Islamic Republic of Mauritania, Republic of Mauritius, United Mexican States, Federated States of Micronesia, Principality of Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Kingdom of Morocco, Republic of Mozambique, Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Republic of Namibia, Republic of Nauru, Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of the Netherlands, Realm of New Zealand, Republic of Nicaragua, Republic of the Niger, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Republic of North Macedonia, Kingdom of Norway, Sultanate of Oman, Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Republic of Palau, Republic of Panama, Independent State of Papua New Guinea, Republic of Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of the Philippines, Republic of Poland, Portuguese Republic, State of Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Republic of Rwanda, Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Independent State of Samoa, Republic of San Marino, Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Republic of Senegal, Republic of Serbia, Republic of Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Slovak Republic, Republic of Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Federal Republic of Somalia, Republic of South Africa, Republic of South Sudan, Kingdom of Spain, Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, Republic of the Sudan, Republic of Suriname, Kingdom of Sweden, Swiss Confederation, Syrian Arab Republic, Republic of Tajikistan, Kingdom of Thailand, Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, Togolese Republic, Kingdom of Tonga, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Türkiye, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Republic of Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Oriental Republic of Uruguay, Republic of Uzbekistan, Republic of Vanuatu, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Republic of Yemen, Republic of Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe.
Non United Nations Members:
- Vatican City State, State of Palestine, Cook Islands, Niue, Republic of Kosovo, Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, Republic of China, Republic of Abkhazia, Republic of South Ossetia, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic, Republic of Somaliland.
Administrative regions
Marie Byrd Land is composed of six kingdoms. All of the kingdoms are sectors bound by the 60th parallel south and various meridians. In turn, they are all territories adjoining together at the South Pole. The divisions of the empire will be described from west to east. The westernmost kingdom is the East Saunders Coast Kingdom. It borders the Ross dependency, a territorial claim of New Zealand, to the west, and the Ruppert Coast Kingdom to the east. Its territory sits on the entirety of the Saunders Coast east of 150 degrees west. It is the smallest kingdom by far. The Ruppert Coast Kingdom sits between the East Saunders Coast Kingdom to the west and the Hobbs Coast Kingdom to the east. The Hobbs Coast Kingdom sits betwixt the Ruppert Coast Kingdom to the west and the Bakutis Coast Kingdom to the east. The Bakutis Coast Kingdom is located between the Hobbs Coast Kingdom to the west and the Walgreen Coast Kingdom to the east. This kingdom contains the capital of the empire, namely Getz City. The Walgreen Coast lies between the Hobbs Coast Kingdom to the west and West Eights Coast Kingdom to the east. The easternmost kingdom is the West Eights Coast Kingdom. It neighbors the Walgreen Coast Kingdom to its west and the Antártica Chilena Province, a territorial claim of Chile, to its east. Its territory covers all of the area of the Eights Coast west of 90 degrees west. Peter I Island, a territorial claim of Norway, lies along its coast. It is also the only kingdom to be outside the antarctic region of Marie Byrd Land, being instead in the region of Ellsworth Land, while being a part of the Empire of Marie Byrd Land.
| Name | Area | Population | Officials | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kingdoms | |||||
| East Saunders Coast Kingdom | 90 000 km2 | 1 | East Saunders King | ||
| Ruppert Coast Kingdom | 260 000 km2 | 1 | Ruppert King | ||
| Hobbs Coast Kingdom | 250 000 km2 | 1 | Hobbs King | ||
| Bakutis Coast Kingdom | 360 000 km2 | 1 | Bakutis King | ||
| Walgreen Coast Kingdom | 290 000 km2 | 1 | Walgreen King | ||
| West Eights Coast Kingdom | 360 000 km2 | 1 | West Eights King | ||
Geography and climate
Marie Byrd Land is a very cold and dry territory. Due to its location, seasonality is reversed from that of the northern hemisphere The daily mean temperature ranges from -15 degrees Celsius in the summer months of January and December to -37 degrees Celsius at the end of the winter in September. The majority of the small amount of precipitation falls as snow.[9] A maximum of 6 mm of precipitation falls in January while little to no precipitation is present in September. The territory is largely covered in ice and has little fauna and flora. Animals such as seals and birds are most commonly sighted.
| Climate data for Marie Byrd Land | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | -15 (5) |
-20 (-4) |
-28 (-18) |
-30 (-22) |
-33 (-27) |
-34 (-29) |
-35 (-31) |
-36 (-33) |
-37 (-35) |
-32 (-26) |
-22 (-8) |
-15 (5) |
−28 (−18) |
| Average Precipitation mm (inches) | 6 (0.24) |
4 (0.16) |
2 (0.08) |
1 (0.04) |
5 (0.2) |
3 (0.12) |
2 (0.08) |
1 (0.04) |
0 (0) |
1 (0.04) |
2 (0.08) |
3 (0.12) |
30 (1.18) |
| Source: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [10] | |||||||||||||
Economy
The economy is based on two main industries. The first is tourism to the Empire of Marie Byrd Land, which is also the leading industry for the rest of Antarctica.[11] The second is electronic commerce of various forms, particularly branded items and governmental services. A significant portion of governmental revenue is derived from individual donations and subscriptions both from citizens and from foreign supporters.[12] Marie Byrd Land has adopted the United States dollar as its currency as it is the world's reserve currency.
Culture
There is currently one holiday in Marie Byrd Land. The micronation prides itself in its imperial tradition. This is reflected in its form of government as well as the handedness of traffic. English is the most widely spoken language. There is a strong support for environmental causes, particularly biodiversity, which is part of its motto.[13] The empire's focus is on conservation efforts for emperor penguins, who are threatened by climate change.
Holidays
| Date | Name | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| 4 November | Sovereignty day | A day honoring the creation of Marie Byrd Land as a sovereign state. |
Music
All types of music are present in the Empire. However, classical music is the preferred genre of music for official uses. For example, Marie Byrd Land's national anthem is the Baroque piece "Winter" from Antonio Vivaldi's "Four Seasons". The anthem was chosen due to the constant harsh climate characterized by negatice temperatures that surround the Empire of Marie Byrd Land. In turn, this piece is particularly fitting.
See also
- Principality of Sealand
- Freetown Christiania
- Free Republic of Liberland
- Global Country of World Peace
- Empire of Austenasia
- Nova Roma
- Space Kingdom of Asgardia
References
- ↑ Declaration of Statehood. mariebyrdland.com. 5 November 2024. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
- ↑ Marie Byrd Land. archive.org. 1 January 1947. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
- ↑ Territory. mariebyrdland.com. 5 November 2024. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Government. mariebyrdland.com. 5 November 2024. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Diplomacy. mariebyrdland.com. 9 November 2024. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
- ↑ Marie Byrd Land. britannica.com. 20 July 1998. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
- ↑ Antarctica: A balancing act. saveourseas.com. 19 October 2021. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
- ↑ Marie Byrd Land: The Largest Unclaimed Territory on Earth. labrujulaverde.com. 27 September 2024. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
- ↑ Present and Future of Rainfall in Antarctica. wiley.com. 27 March 2021. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
- ↑ U.S. Climate Normals. noaa.gov. 1 October 1991. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
- ↑ Antarctic Tourism – Frequently Asked Questions. bas.ac.uk. 1 January 2024. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
- ↑ Contribute. mariebyrdland.com. 16 November 2024. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
- ↑ Marie Byrd Land. mariebyrdland.com. 5 November 2024. Retrieved 11 November 2024.