Essexia–New Eiffel relations

Sister cities of Danko House obtained through the Grand Unified Micronational's Sister Cities Program, including New Eiffel's largest city, New Leeds (top sign)

Diplomatic relations between the Commonwealth of Essexia and the erstwhile Principality of New Eiffel, both micronations located within England in the United Kingdom, formally began on 14 April 2020, with Essexia's Treaty of Mutual Cooperation with New Eiffel, and de facto ended on 1 November following the dissolution of New Eiffel due to an almost year-long political crisis in the micronation. Prior to the commencement of relations, Zabëlle Skye, New Eiffel's head of state, had been a citizen of Essexia since September 2019. Both members of the Grand Unified Micronational, the two micronations also participated in the organisation's Sister Cities Program wherein the city of Danko House, the official residence of Earl Finn of Hawarden, was twinned with New Leeds, the largest and only-populated city of New Eiffel.

Background

Context

Both Essexia and New Eiffel, located within England in the United Kingdom, were prominent micronations in the online MicroWiki sector, which is how the micronations became aware of each other.

Zabëlle I's citizenship in Essexia

Zabëlle Skye, who was New Eiffel's head of state as Prince Zabëlle I, founded the Shrek Super Party of Essexia on 14 February 2020 after being involved with Essexia since September 2019. After his satirical campaigning for the upcoming March 2020 general election, including a campaign video and release of his jocular manifesto, the Shrek Super Party received 13 votes, which equated to 8 percent of the total vote share. As per Essexian electoral law, this entitled the party to one seat in the parliament of Essexia, and one position in the cabinet. Zabëlle I was thus made a Lord of Essexia, becoming known also as Lord Zabëlle of Essexia (though he preferred to refer to himself as Lord Shrek); he was also promoted to the Minister of Culture, a position which was widely regarded as ideal for the implementation of his ideas. During this time, Zabëlle I also began a close personal friendship with Lord Matthew.

Formal relations

In early April 2020, Earl Finn of Hawarden, the Foreign Minister of Essexia, proposed a treaty of mutual cooperation with New Eiffel, appropriately named the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation with New Eiffel. Key points included a non-aggressive pact, foreign aid and mutual respect. As New Eiffel had been suffering through political turmoil that began on 14 December 2019, Prince Zabëlle I planned to directly sign it instead of forwarding it to the head of government or minister of foreign relations, as was previously the norm for the micronation. Nevertheless, Zabëlle I still proposed the treaty to the national parliament for consideration, where it was approved and later signed by Zabëlle I on 14 April.

Both Essexia and New Eiffel, members of the Grand Unified Micronational, participated in its Sister Cities Program headed by Secretariat for Micronational Development Nicholas Randouler of the Principality of Posaf. On 15 April, the city of Danko House, the official residence of Earl Finn, was twinned with New Leeds, the largest and only-populated city of New Eiffel. On 1 November, New Eiffel dissolved following its political crisis, thus formally ending all relations between Essexia and the erstwhile micronation.

Micronational comparison

As of 1 November 2020, on New Eiffel's dissolution:

	Essexia	New Eiffel
Coat of arms
Established	26 December 2017	11 August 2018
Population	169	5
Area	0.05665 km² (0.02187 sq mi)	0.00058 km² (0.00022 sq mi)
Capital	Emperors Residence	Új Repülő
Government	Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy
Main religions	None	Christianity (100%)
Currency	Essexian yen (¥); EXY	Ping (ℕ); NEP

See also

• Foreign relations of New Eiffel
  • New Eiffel and the Grand Unified Micronational
• Foreign relations of Essexia