Maritime Republic of Salacia
Maritime Republic of Salacia | |
|---|---|
| 'Motto: 'Amor Mare | |
| File:Matinicus Rock, Maine | |
| Capital | New Dijon |
| Official languages | English, French |
| Demonym(s) | Salacian |
| Government | Monarchy |
• Alderman | Otto G |
| Legislature | National Council of Salacia |
| Establishment | 3 May 2022 |
| Population | |
• Census | 1 |
| Currency | US Dollar |
| Time zone | UTC -5 |
The Maritime Republic of Salacia, more commonly known as Salacia, is a micronation located on Matinicus Rock off the coast of Maine. Salacia has a surface area of 24.2 acres and a population of one citizen. The Maritime Republic's form of government is an absolute monarchy with an advisory council system. The current monarch is Alderman Otto G, who has ruled Salacia since it was founded on 3 May 2022. Salacia's official capital is New Dijon.
Etymology
The name Salacia comes from the Roman Goddess of Seawater, Salacia was the personification of the calm and sunlit aspect of the sea. Derived from Latin sāl, meaning "salt", the name Salācia denotes the wide, open sea, and is sometimes literally translated to mean sensational. The Maritime Republic echoes any of several city-states of Italy and Dalmatia which established colonies and trading posts across the Mediterranean and the Black Sea during the Middle Ages. The title of Maritime Republic was chosen in regards to the nation being situated on a small rock in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.
History
In 1827 the United States Lighthouse Service erected a pair of wooden light towers and a cobblestone keeper's residence on Matinicus Rock. The lights guided sea traffic until 1848 when they were replaced by the granite structure. In 1857 the government rebuilt the towers and placed them 180 feet (55 m) apart to make them more effective; the north light was deactivated in 1924 Matinicus Light is famous for the story of Abbie Burgess, who as a young girl maintained the light for several weeks while her father, the lighthouse keeper, was on the mainland. Matinicus Rock is now fully automated. A diesel generator used for power was replaced by solar panels in 2007. Matinicus Rock is known as being the southernmost nesting site for the Atlantic puffin and as of 2009, the common murre. The Audubon Society often has observers on the island during nesting season.
Government and politics
The Maritime Republic of Salacia is a unitary state and has an absolute monarchy where the Monarch is the Head of State. The current monarch is Alderman Otto I. The constitution of the Maritime Republic is known as the Basic Law of the Maritime Republic of Salacia, it sets out the Monarch's powers as well as defines the government system. The Basic Law can only be amended if it is approved by a public referendum and the Alderman. The government system of Salacia draws inspiration and elements from the First French Empire and various micronations.
Legislative power is vested in the National Council of Salacia, which consists of the Alderman and representatives of the two Parishes. The legislation takes the form of National Decrees on Salacia or Recommendations for Adoptions by the National Council of Salacia. The latter is a form of recommendation of policies for the Alderman to adopt, but these recommendations can be ignored or rejected if the Alderman is not in agreement with the recommendations.
Foreign relations
Salacia is currently considered one of the newest nations of the MicroWiki community. The nation signed its first official treaty with Raphania, on 4 May 2022, and other mutual recognition treaties with various micronations. The nation establishes and maintains diplomatic relations with other nations through the Alderman, who jointly holds the position of Chief Ambassador. The Chief Ambassador role grants the Alderman the power to grant informal partnerships as well as official recognition to other nations through National Decrees on Salacia. Since the foundation of the nation, Salacia has expressed interest in establishing relations with any micronation regardless of sector or community.
On 4 May 2022 Salacia and the Most Serene Republic of Saint Andre and Baccalieu signed the Treaty of New Dijon defining relations, a common currency, and armed forces as well as the establishment of the Baccalieu University System within Salacia with the foundation of Baccalieu-Marino. The treaty was signed in the capital of Salacia and is expected to be the first of many between the two nations.
Military
The nation employs a volunteer military force of approximately five active personnel. The Puffin Guard comprises two branches, the Baccalieu Divisions, and Flying Puffin Legion, however, the duties of the Puffin Guard range from coastal defense, exploration, and the opportunity for military education. Due to the fledging size of the state and its part in being a volunteer force, the military expenditure is not defined and often reflective of the interests of its members and what equipment personnel are wishing to use. The Puffin Guard oversees both Salacia and Saint Andre and Baccalieu, wherein the latter the Puffin Guard runs the country.
Geography
The Maritime Republic of Salacia is located on, Matinicus Rock a windswept and treeless rock, projecting out of the Gulf of Maine several miles south of the main islands of Matinicus Isle, Maine. Matinicus Rock has a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfb) with warm, humid summers and cold winters. Compared to the mainland, seasonal climate fluctuations are somewhat moderated by the Atlantic Ocean, resulting in relatively cooler summers and milder winters. Springs are also some of the coolest in the state and even the whole country. Summers are almost nonexistent due to the moderating effect of the ocean, which also helps to keep year-round temperatures above zero and below 75. The common winter freeze and thaw cycles produce much slush. Nor'easters, such as the Blizzard of 1978, can be destructive to the shoreline and infrastructure on the island.
| Climate data for Maritime Republic of Salacia | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °F (°C) | 33.6 (0.89) |
33.8 (1) |
37.5 (3.06) |
43.3 (6.28) |
52.3 (11.28) |
59.3 (15.17) |
64.0 (17.78) |
65.6 (18.67) |
62.5 (16.94) |
53.7 (12.06) |
46.6 (8.11) |
39.1 (3.94) |
49.28 (9.597) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 27.5 (-2.5) |
28.3 (-2.06) |
37.1 (2.83) |
40.3 (4.61) |
48.3 (9.06) |
55.1 (12.83) |
60.1 (15.61) |
61.8 (16.56) |
58.4 (14.67) |
49.7 (9.83) |
42.7 (5.94) |
33.8 (1) |
45.26 (7.366) |
| Average low °F (°C) | 21.4 (-5.89) |
22.9 (-5.06) |
28.6 (-1.89) |
37.2 (2.89) |
44.4 (6.89) |
50.9 (10.5) |
56.3 (13.5) |
58.1 (14.5) |
54.2 (12.33) |
45.8 (7.67) |
38.7 (3.72) |
28.5 (-1.94) |
40.58 (4.769) |
| [citation needed] | |||||||||||||
Administrative divisions
Salacia is a unitary state composed of two parishes, (New Dijon and Marino) due to the small size of the nation there are no defined regions of the nation geographically. The parishes have very little responsibility for the day-to-day function and administration of the land, however, do preside over cultural practices seen within Salacia. The judiciary system is overseen by the High Court of Salacian Affairs, each Parish is responsible for presenting a Justice when a case is taken to the High Court.