Michael, Prince of Galte
| Michael Shepard | |
|---|---|
| Prince of Galte | |
| Reign | 24 August 2021 – present |
| Predecessor | Liam Alexander (as King of Galte) |
| Minister-President | Chris Ramsay |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Michael Shepard 30 September 2005 Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA |
| Citizenship |  Galte Oskonia Monmark |
| Signature |  |
Michael Shepard SG, born 30 September 2005, is an American born micronationalist and prince of the Principality of Galte.
Early life and personal
Michael was born on 30 September 2005, in Kalamazoo. He was raised in Port Huron, and attended elementary school until 2016 when his family moved to a nearby town about 30 miles south.[a] although he is mostly English, he is also Welsh, Scottish, and Navajo.
Micronationalism
Plevoria
Michael first became interested in micronationalism in 2016, when he saw a news report on Molossia. He, along with his brother, began a bedroom kingdom called Plevoria, with a territorial claim of approximately 300 square feet. His brother took the throne as King Chase I, and Michael became prime minister. King Chase quickly moved on from micronationalism, while Michael stayed interested.
Virfilius
Michael had stepped away from micronationalism for about a year, before becoming interested again after playing NationStates. He founded yet another bedroom kingdom called Virfilius. This nation never developed outside of an unsigned Declaration of Independence, and quickly dwindled into non-existence.
Usmuani and Galte
In late 2019, Michael returned to micronationalism for the third time, this time founding the Grand Republic of Usmuani. The Declaration of Independence was signed on 8 December 2019, with him taking on the role of Grand Leader. He drafted a constitution for Usmuani and signed it into law on 14 December 2019. The nation laid dormant until April 2020, when Michael picked the project back up.
When he picked the nation up again, he renamed the nation the Republic of Galte, he began a website for the nation, and completely rewrote the Constitution. He also claimed land to an area other than his bedroom, that area being Low Island in the South Shetland Islands of Antarctica.
Reign
The Republic of Galte transitioned into a kingdom on 25 August 2020, following a referendum held by the citizens of Galte. Michael retained his role as head of state and became King. He was officially coronated on August 30, 2020, during a private ceremony.
As king, he oversaw large changes in the nation. The number of citizens began to climb, and a Parliament was established. The establishment of a Parliament was seen as historic in the nation because it was the first successful legislature in Galte's history.
He forfeited his title as King of Galte on 28 November 2020, following Galte becoming a colony of the Kingdom of Atiera. He now holds the title of Prince, with the title of King going to the monarch of Atiera, Alexander I.
On 24 August 2021, Michael revoked his assent from the Galte Bill and made Galte an independent nation again, with himself as the sovereign. Throughout much of his reign since independence, the nation suffered from inactivity which an attempt to lessen was made by making Carson Snyder regent.
Political views
Michael describes himself as a left-libertarian. In the USA, he aligns himself within the Green Party.
Title, honors, and arms
Title
- 8 December 2019 – 25 August 2020: Their Excellency President Michael Shepard
- 25 August 2020 – 28 November 2020: Their Majesty The King
- 28 November 2020 – unknown: Their Royal Highness Michael, Prince of Galte
- Unknown – 25 August 2021: Their Royal Highness Michael, Prince of Galte and Atiera
- 25 August 2021 – 4 September 2021: Their Royal Highness The Prince of Galte
- 4 September 2021 – 31 December 2021: Their Royal Highness The Prince of Galte, Duke of Capitolium
- 31 December 2021 – present: Their Serene Highness The Prince of Galte, Duke of Capitolium
Honors
- Galte:
Sovereign of the Order of Galte (31 December 2021)
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- Monmark:
Knight of the Order of the Crowned Lion (18 September 2020)
Grand Collar of the Order of Independence (26 December 2020)
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Northwood-Oregon
Member Special Class of the Order of Diplomatic Merit (8 January 2021)
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Arms
Michael formally has two sets of arms, those of the Principality of Galte and his personal arms, though he mostly uses his personal arms in any capacity.
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Arms as the Prince of Galte
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Personal coat of arms
See also
References and notes
- ↑ The government of Galte works to keep the name of this town private, as it is the official residence of the Prince and his family.