New Pontunia

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New Pontunia
Niew-Puntunius
Motto
Tu es Tutus
(Latin: "You are safe")
“Let the Good Times Roll” (tourism)
Anthem: God Save Our Blessed Duke
The Strip
The Strip
Sovereign state Austenasia
Establishment12 January 2020
Boundaries defined2 September 2020
Austenasian Crown Dependency27 October 2020
Administrative seatThe Strip
Official languagesEnglish, French, Pontunian
Ethnic groups
German, Italian, English, Swedish, Arab
Religion
Roman Catholicism (until Jan 2021)
Arbyism (from Jan 2021)
Demonym(s)Pontunian
GovernmentAutocracy
• Imperator
Jonathan I
• Duke
Andrew I
• Heir apparent
Eric I, Lord of the Floridian March
• Prime Minister
Leif Olsen
LegislatureHochkouncil
Area
• Total
0.00061604 km2 (0.00023785 sq mi)
Population
• Estimate
5
CurrencyUS Dollar (USD $),
de facto;
Dukaten (DKN Đ),
de jure
Time zoneUS Central Time
(UTC-6)
Date formatMM-DD-YYYY
Driving sideright

New Pontunia is a Crown Dependency of the Empire of Austenasia composed of a residential property bordered by Metairie, Louisiana. Initially claiming thirteen residential properties, two public parks, and twenty three citizens declared independent in January 2020 under the leadership of Duke Andrew I, New Pontunia has steadily decreased in size over time, stabilising into its current form - Andrew I with his house and family - in August 2021.

Etymology

Pontchartrain and Maurepas are the names of two lakes situated to the north of New Pontunia, which upon its creation in January 2020 was founded with the name "Pontchartrain-Maurepas". The shorter name "Pontunia" was soon derived from this as a nickname. Etymologies retrospectively assigned to Pontunia alone include the Greek primordial deity of the sea Pontus, or the Latin pōns ("bridge") in reference to the nearby Lake Pontchartrain Causeway. When annexed by Austenasia, the Crown Dependency was officially named Pontunia, although it continued to use Pontchartrain-Maurepas locally in formal contexts.

When several of the original claims of the duchy left to become an independent state in February 2021, this new polity retained the name Pontchartrain-Maurepas, whereas the Emperor and Duke agreed that the Crown Dependency would from henceforth be referred to as New Pontunia to reflect a new stage in the crown dependency's history. Pontchartrain-Maurepas remained referred to as Pontunia on a popular and eventually official level, leading to the confusing situation whereby the original polity has the prefix of "New" and the new entity which seceded from it does not.

History

On 12 January 2020, Andrew Perdomo, inspired after learning about the micronations of Molossia and Sealand, signed a Declaration of Independence to “preserve the culture and beauty of Southern Louisiana”, and became Duke of Pontchartrain-Maurepas, with his father Eric Perdomo, Lord of the Floridian March, as his regent. However, the Regency was abolished shortly afterwards on the 16th after a committee of vassals debated Andrew I's minority, and decided that Andrew was not incapable of ruling and therefore did not require a regency. Eric was named heir apparent.

The Duchy had been founded with vague territorial claims, ill-defined other than a plan for an optimum future extent. On 2 September, the actual territorial extent of the Duchy was defined, with the name of the Ducal Domain. Shortly after this, a communist insurrection broke out against the ducal government, but was successfully quashed on 7 October.

The Duchy then began attempting to search for allies, and decided to enter the sphere of influence of the Empire of Austenasia. Discussions were initiated between Andrew I and Austenasian Emperor Jonathan I, and by 23 October, Pontunia had effectively become an Austenasian Crown Dependency, formally being annexed as such on the 27th later that month.

On 28 November, a second crisis rose from the power vacuum due to the reformation of the Regency, though the Duke was reinstated by the 30th. The First Pontunia Day was held on 12 January 2021, alongside the formation of the Cult of the Hidden Arby’s, a satirical religion based on Arby’s, the restaurant chain famous for its roast beef, with the Duke made "Ecumenical Meatriarch".

By January 2021, controversy had arisen over repeated applications by Andrew I for Pontunia to join international organisations for independent states such as the Grand Unified Micronational, despite it having been made clear that crown dependencies are ineligible for membership in such organisations. This, together with unrest among some Pontunians, led to a decision being made to divide Pontunia in two. On 13 February 2021, several of Pontunia's claims - including the largest territories and the citizens least happy with Austenasian rule - were ceded to create a new polity, which the Duke would be able to represent independently. The Crown Dependency itself was renamed to New Pontunia to reflect a new stage in its history.

By July 2021, most of New Pontunia's residents - friends of Andrew who had joined his new nation a year and a half ago - were no longer interested in living independently from the United States or had fallen out of contact with him. The decision was therefore made to further reduce the crown dependency in size to a single residential property, Andrew's family home, on 11 August the following month.

Government and politics

As a Crown Dependency of Austenasia, absolute power over New Pontunia lies with the Austenasian Throne and is held and exercised on behalf of the Emperor by his governing commissioner, the Duke. However, despite the Duke holding this authority as a reserve power, the Duchy functions domestically as a constitutional monarchy, with the Duke having executive leadership and the ability to promulgate and pass legislation in conjunction with the National Assembly.

The National Assembly is the legislature of the Duchy, comprised of the House of Commons and the House of Nobles. Bills introduced to the National Assembly must pass though both houses with a 51% percent majority before being either signed or vetoed by the Duke; afterwards, they are voted on in the High Court of the Duchy before becoming law.

New Pontunia is often called an "authoritarian regime", with right-wing beliefs being the most prominent ideologically. Autarky and atatism are also popular, with left-wing politics highly discouraged, but not illegal. Socialism, anarchy, and social democracy are highly disliked topics in New Pontunia. The state religion is Arbyism, with the Duke as Ecumenical Meatriarch, though the constitution of New Pontunia grants individuals freedom of religion, including the freedom to practice and the freedom to change religion.

Andrew I is assisted in his duties as Duke by a Chancellor. This position is currently held by, Leif Olson, who is serving his first term.

Law and order

The New Pontunian police was formed on 19 January 2020 in response to instances of cyber-crime. It is predominantly an organization to keep tabs on civilians. Prior to becoming a Crown Dependency, New Pontunia claimed the right to administer the death penalty with ducal approval.

Foreign relations and defence

As a Crown Dependency, Austenasia is responsible for the official diplomatic representation of New Pontunia abroad, although the Duke retains a significant de facto role in promoting the foreign interests of the Duchy. New Pontunia is claimed by the micronation British West Florida, a situation which has led to concern in New Pontunia about prospective British Floridian action to enforce their claim. This is referred to as the Covington Question in the Duchy, and contributed to the decision of New Pontunia to enter the Austenasian sphere of influence for defensive purposes.

The New Pontunian military functions independently from the Austenasian Armed Forces, although the latter are ultimately responsible for the defence of the Duchy, though the New Pontunian Military has significant political influence The Army is not a standing army, but called upon in times of need. It is divided into two divisions: Division I “Bayou Battlers” and Division II “Ragin Cajuns”. The Navy is comprised of 10 civilian speedboats, and a rowboat. The Air Force is a work in progress, but includes paper airplanes to annoy invaders. All weapons are nerf guns and wooden batons. The Army got involved with a rebel cell in Mandeville.


Geography, territory and climate

New Pontunia is mostly flat and built on drained swamp: the city of New Orleans is below sea level. The climate is subtropical and warm most of the year.

Economy

The Dukaten is pegged at a 2:1 ratio to the US Dollar and a 1:1.54 ratio to the Pound Sterling, the currency of Austenasia.

Culture and media

The Duke is fluent in English, Castilian Spanish and Latin and plays piano, and is involved in Shōrin-ryū Karate. New Pontunia has US television and cable, and no restrictions on censorship are in place. American Football is the national sport.

The citizens of New Pontunia are avid consumers and capitalist, with the belief of “laissez le bon temps rouler“ (French for “let the good times roll“) predominant. Life is somewhat indulgent, but moderation still exists.

Typical music of the area includes jazz and zydeco. The National Dance is called “bōenska”, or Quarterstaff Dance. It also functions as a martial art of sorts, and is taught to the army, as well as privately.

See also