Non-Territorial Republic of Marland

The Non-Territorial Republic of Marland
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: Et Navigantibus Maria
Anthem: Marland, oh great Maland
File:Queensland, Australia
Capital	Reine Marie
Official languages	none
Demonym(s)	Marlander, Marlandic
Government	Directorial Republic, with Mixed Member proportional representation.
• Head Council	Council of the Sea
• Chancellor	David Ross
• <Vice-Chancellor	Tom Barham
Legislature	Assembly of the Sea
Establishment	20th of April 2014
Population
• Active members census	21
Currency	Marlandic Dollar
Time zone	(UTC +10:30)
Succeeded by Flammancia

Marland [mɑɹland] or more officially, the Non-Territorial Republic of Marland, was a Directorial Republic with Mixed Member Proportional Representation. Based in part in Queensland, the nation had plans to expand onto a peninsula near to the founder, Benjamin Felix's home town. It aimed to create a government, a serious Micronation, and also to create a fully functioning community, and eventually state.

The establishment of the NTR is officially dated to the 20th of April 2014, although this is an arbitrary date, as the founder had neither the means, nor the support to claim the area and begin the micronation as of yet. Therefore, the date is described by the founder, Benjamin Felix, as Ex Animo, roughly translated to 'in the mind'. However, the founder did intend to create a base of operations, and a steady support base to begin the country in time. The founding date made Marland one of the most recently founded micronations on MicroWiki.

Marland had a stable government for the few months when it was active, and was often busy with many things, including small changes, like deciding the national cuisine and government status, and larger changes, like ratifying and amending the constitution. The national legislature made it considered significantly democratic by many of its members, and works with a bicameral system, which included an upper house, the Council of the Sea, and a lower house, the National Council. Marland had relations with many other Micronations, as well as being a member of the OUES.

In June 2014, the Council of the Sea in their first council meeting decided that the nation should be renamed to Flammancia, and all government and social documents were changed to those of Flammancia.

Etymology

The name 'Marland' comes from the widely used European root 'Mar' which means 'Sea', and the English word 'Land', meaning that Marland is land in the ocean. It is meant to mean a sanctuary of land in the endless oceans of Earth.

Since Marland was planned to be a very marine nation, the term 'Land of the Sea' did describe Marland very well indeed. However, the new name, Flammancia, suited the nation better.

History

Foundation

Marland was founded on the 20th of April 2014, more as a theoretical idea of a micronation, but with aims to build a firm base of support and micronationalism. The founder, Benjamin Felix, theorised one day that although all land in the world is claimed (with a few small exceptions, which are mostly covered by law) 71% of the Earth is sea and ocean, and so one could theoretically set up a nation in this way. The idea is to create a nation which could run apart from mainstream society, and could actually form a viable nation.

The Dawn of Democracy

On the 22nd of April, the Marlandic National Party was founded by Tom Barham. This became one step on the road to free and fair elections in Marland. Later that day, David Ross created the Monarchist Party, and elections ensued. The first votes took place, mainly being about small things like national food and drink, but eventually, they were decided, and Marland took its place among the stable democracies of the world.

Later, on the 24th of April, a new party was founded by Matthias Eames, named the League of Shadowdawn, which created a three party system. The League of Shadowdawn, after much negotiation with the MNP, decided to form a coalition with their party, creating what is dubbed as the League of National Shadows.

First Elections

The first set of elections began on Monday 28 April 2014, and a survey was set up to decide the winner. Voting is non-compulsory in Marland, and not everyone voted, however, the League of National Shadows received a large majority of the votes, with 22 points to 8.

Voters were given a choice for first place and a choice for second place, and the first votes were given 2 points of value, while the second choice was given a weighting of one vote, as per the Mixed-Member proportional representation system.

This election cemented Tom Barham as the Vice Chancellor of Marland for at least the year.

Final Acts

The final session of the Marlandic government was held on 1 July, 2014, which decided that the nation should change its name, as well as some other details. The at the time Provisional Chancellor of Marland, Benjamin Felix, became the official Chancellor of Flammancia.

Government and Politics

The Marland was a Directorial Republic, not completely unlike Switzerland, and had a bicameral legislature. The government was transferred to Flammancia to coincide with the name change.

Military

Marland had no military force, however this was due in part to the nation being very young, but also due to the fact that it was constitutionally prohibited.

Geography and Climate

Marland was based in Queensland, Australia. It had no proper land from which it could base its operations, but had plans to gain land.