Sitkan Empire

Sitkan Empire
*Imperium Sitkanum* (Latin)
Αυτοκρατορία Σίτκα (Greek)
Ситка Империя (Russian)
*Sheetʼká Naa* (Tlingit)
Sitkan Empire Imperium Sitkanum (Latin); Αυτοκρατορία Σίτκα (Greek); Ситка Империя (Russian); Sheetʼká Naa (Tlingit)
	Flag Coat of arms
	Motto: Ad multos annos (Latin) "For many more Years"
	Anthem: "God Save the Tsar!" ;
	Locations of territories under Sitkan administration.
Status	Active
Capital	New Archangel (de jure); Platova (de facto);
Official languages	English
Recognised regional languages	Alaskan Russian; Tlingit;
Ethnic groups (2024)	72% White; 16% Indigenous; 11% Alaskan Creole;
Religion (2024)	83% Christianity; 13% Indigenous beliefs; 4% Irreligious;
Demonym(s)	Sitkan
Government	Unitary thalassocracy under an absolute monarchy
• Monarch	Dustinian I
• Grand Chancellor	Lucas Gonyer
Legislature	State Council
Independence from the United States
• Declaration	12 March 2024
• Current constitution	25 March 2024
• Dissolution	23 July 2024
Population
• 2024 census	18
HDI	0.936; very high
Currency	Canadian dollar ($); United States dollar ($)
Time zone	UTC-9 (Alaska (AKST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-8 (AKDT)
Date format	mm/dd/yyyy
Driving side	right
Calling code	+1
Internet TLD	.ex

The Sitkan Empire, also known as Imperial Sitka or simply Sitka, was a North American micronation with territorial claims in Alaska and British Columbia. Its government declared its independence in 2024 but its existence was not formally recognized by the United Nations or the government of any sovereign state.

The Sitkan Empire was governed under an absolute monarchy headed by the Sitkan Emperor. The emperor was a hereditary sovereign who reigned as the nation's head of state, while an appointed chancellor served as head of government. It was founded in Sitka, Alaska by Canadian micronationalist Dustin Salisbury, initially as a social and political experiment to see how absolute monarchy and tsarist autocracy could function in 21st century North America. While lighthearted in nature, the project eventually grew into a functional nation-state with serious aspirations of achieving internationally recognized statehood. Sitka considered itself a successor state to the Eastern Roman Empire, and by extension, the Russian Empire, via its claims to former colonial possessions of Russian America.^[1]

Its foreign policy prioritized diplomacy with other micronations and independence movements, as well as pressing its rights to self-determination in the wider international community. The empire had a population of 18 permanent residents and claimed both physical and symbolic territories in three distinct regions along the Alaskan and British Columbian coastlines.

Etymology

The name Sitka is derived from Sheetʼká, a contraction of the Tlingit word Shee Atʼiká meaning "people on the outside of Baranof Island." Upon the establishment of the modern-day micronation, the term Sitkan Empire was adopted as it began to expand beyond the boundaries of the Sitka city-borough.

History

The Sitkan Empire was founded on 12 March 2024 by Dustin Salisbury, a long-time micronationalist who had previously founded the Kingdom of Permaria. During a trip to the Alaskan panhandle, Salisbury set about creating an independent North American monarchy and continuation of the Roman Empire by declaring the foundation of a successor state to Imperial Russia.^[a] Symbolic territorial claims were established in Sitka, the one-time capital of Russian America, as well as the Alaskan state capital of Juneau.

Salisbury incorporated his own physical property on Vancouver Island, Canada into the new nation, bringing his goal of statehood closer to reality. Soon afterwards, the House of Salisbury was created to rule over his personal dominions alongside his family. Believing that absolute monarchy was the best model of government for a country with a very small population, Salisbury adopted the imperial title of emperor. Inspired by Byzantine emperor Justinian I, Salisbury chose Dustinian as his regnal name, and the newly-crowned emperor began his reign over the fledgling Sitkan Empire.

As the growing state began to expand through primarily coastal territories, the organizational structure of a thalassocracy, or maritime empire, began to take shape. Dustinian has since established a new territory in West Vancouver, bringing the number of regions with imperial dominions to a total of three. The population of Sitka grew from 3 initial citizens at the time of its foundation to a final total of 18.

Politics and government

The Sitkan political system was highly centralized. The state was governed by a unicameral legislature under the leadership of a autocratic emperor. Day-to-day administration was directed by a Grand Chancellor, appointed by the emperor, who acted as the nation's head of government.

Emperor

Dustinian I, the Emperor and Autocrat of all Sitka, was the empire's reigning monarch and head of state. The Fundamental Laws of the Sitkan Empire described the emperor as the symbol of the Sitkan state and the physical embodiment of the unity of its subjects, with Chapter 1, Article 4 stating: "...the Emperor of All Sitka possesses Supreme Sovereign Power. Obedience to His authority, not only out of fear, but in good conscience, is ordained by God Himself."

The empire's absolute monarchy was loosely based on the Imperial Russian model, specifically that which existed prior to the Russian Constitution of 1906, in which the emperor was an autocratic ruler and wields near-absolute power over domestic and foreign policy. Under Sitkan law, the emperor ruled by divine right and exercised executive power through the State Council on behalf of the state and his subjects. The emperor had veto power, the authority to appoint and dismiss government ministers and judges, as well as the ability to hold or cancel referendums. The emperor was immune from prosecution by the Supreme Court of the Sitkan Empire. Eligibility to inherit the Imperial Throne was hereditary and limited to members of the ruling Imperial House. The monarchy of Sitka practiced absolute primogeniture, with the emperor's first born child becoming heir apparent regardless of sex.

Grand Chancellor

Officially, executive power rested with the State Council, headed by the emperor himself. However, the council was chaired by a Grand Chancellor who acted on the emperors behalf, as well as acting as a close personal advisor. It was an appointed position at His Majesty's pleasure with no formal term limits. The main duties of the chancellor was to schedule and organize meetings of the State Council, hold votes on state policy, and sign all proposed bills into law after they are granted Imperial assent.

State Council

Sitka's State Council functioned as both a unicameral legislature and a privy council to advise the monarch. There are a total of 7 seats on the council, with eligibility being open to both nobility and commoners across the empire, although those among the landed gentry were granted more votes in the council. Members were appointed by the emperor on the advice of the Grand Chancellor and typically served a renewable 2-year term. Under Sitkan legislation, the State Council was required to convene at least once every six months, although it could be convened more frequently at the request of the emperor.

Law and order

The empire's Fundamental Laws dictated the rights, responsibilities and privileges of all Sitkan citizens, which were granted a substantial level of freedom. All subjects of the Sitkan Empire were guaranteed fair and equitable treatment regardless of social class or personal characteristics. Citizens maintained the same protected legal rights that they enjoy in the respective Canadian provinces or U.S. states that their imperial territories are located in. Sitkans were required to obey all macronational federal, provincial/state and local laws at all times. The same rule applied to its citizens living abroad with regards to the laws of their home countries. The Sitkan Emperor reserved the right to deny or revoke citizenship of any subject convicted of a criminal offense.

Military

The Imperial Sitkan Army and Imperial Sitkan Navy were the empire's primary land and naval forces. Sitka did not possess an active air force. The emperor was commander-in-chief of the armed forces which were collectively financed by the Ministry of War. The main duties of both military branches were defending the frontiers of the Sitka's scattered coastal territories while maintaining effective lines of communication between them. Emergency response and natural disaster relief are also key priorities. The empire claimed to be an aspiring maritime power on a micronational scale, with much of its resources dedicated to naval and amphibious warfare as well as sea exploration and scientific studies.

Ministries

There were nine active ministries within the Sitkan government, collectively headed by the Council of Ministers. This council acted as an advisory body on state affairs, with each minister being directly responsible to the emperor. The government ministries were comprised of:

Ministry of State
Ministry of Finance
Ministry of Internal Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Relations
Ministry of Justice
Ministry of War
Ministry of Agriculture
Ministry of the Imperial Court
Ober-Procurator of the Most Holy Synod

Foreign relations

At the time of its dissolution, the Sitkan Empire had not received diplomatic recognition from the government of any internationally recognized sovereign state, but it had established diplomatic relations with several other micronations and independence movements. The Sitkan government cited the declarative theory of statehood, famously expressed in the 1933 Montevideo Convention, as legal justification for its sovereignty since it met the criteria to be considered a sovereign nation.^[b] Internationally, the Sitkan Empire had an anti-communist stance and frequently criticizes the policies of communist states like China and Cuba, as well as the historical human rights abuses committed by the Soviet Union. The Sitkan government was an outspoken opponent of the Putin regime that currently leads the Russian Federation, particularly regarding its invasion of Ukraine.

Unilateral recognition

Mutual recognition

Administrative regions

Sitka was comprised of six primary land claims in Southeast Alaska, the Lower Mainland, and on Vancouver Island, respectively. There was also an overseas colony that ceremoniously claims Fort Ross in California. Four of these territorial claims were physically inhabited while the remaining three were merely symbolic in nature. The emperor was also the king of Hurford, the largest and most autonomous of the empire's dominions, as well as the grand duke of Platova, its most populous.

Flag	Arms	Name	Population	Officials
Kingdoms
		Congress Kingdom of Hurford	0	King Dustinian I
Grand Duchies
		Grand Duchy of Platova	8	Grand Duke Dustinian I
Counties
N/A		County of Baronof	4	Count Dustinian I
Baronies
N/A		Barony of Westvan	4	Baron Timothy Wright
N/A		Barony of Juneau	2	Baron Robert Gonyer
N/A		Barony of Errington	0	Baroness Dionne Anderson
Colonies
	N/A	Colony of Sitkan California	0	Governor Lucas Gonyer

Geography and climate

The empire's geography and climate varied depending on location. The northern Alaskan territories have an oceanic climate with moderate, but typically cool, temperatures and abundant precipitation. The southern Canadian regions have a warmer Mediterranean climate defined by the Köppen classification as having temperate weather year-round. Summers are warm and dry, while winters are mild and wet with the temperatures rarely falling below freezing.

The inhabited territories of the Sitkan Empire were primarily rural and semi-forested. The Congress Kingdom of Hurford was the empire's largest land claim and iss comprised of grassland with horseback riding trails, wetlands, and large forests of Sitka spruce. As a protected nature reserve, it had no permanent human residents but is home to several species of ducks and other wild birds.

Economy

A tiny market economy existed in Sitka, although it was almost entirely reliant on imports from its larger American and Canadian neighbors for its brief existence. The Sitkan-American Company, a state-sponsored chartered company, and the State Bank of the Sitkan Empire were the two largest companies founded and operated within the micronation. Agriculture was the largest industry, accounting for nearly 90% of the country's economic output.

The Canadian dollar and the U.S. dollar were the dual official currencies of the empire. The Canadian dollar was the standard currency used within its larger Canadian-based territories as well as for international transactions, while the U.S. dollar was primarily used by subjects residing within Sitka's U.S.-based territories.

Culture

The concept of renovatio imperii Romanorum, or "renewal of the empire of the Romans" played a key role in the cultural fabric of the Sitkan Empire. The empire was founded on the basis of the revival and continuation of Byzantine and Russian imperial traditions on the North American continent. Most Sitkan subjects saw themselves as spiritual successors of the Romans and this inspiration could be seen in all aspects of Sitkan society. The local cultures of Alaska, British Columbia, and the Indigenous peoples who have inhabited these lands for thousands of years also contributed to the unique identity of the nation and its citizens. Orthodox Christianity was the official state religion although the Fundamental Laws of the empire guaranteed religious freedom as a protected right.

As a monarchy, Sitka had created numerous noble titles. The ranks of prince, duke, marquess, count, and baron, along with their associated female equivalents, made up the nation's aristocracy although these titles were not recognized outside of the Sitkan Empire.

National symbols

Flag
Coat of arms

The flag of the Sitkan Empire was a horizontal bicolour of green and white with a vertical yellow band on the hoist side. It served as the empire's civil and state flag and was used by both civilians and government officials on land, sea, and abroad. The colours of the Sitkan flag had both cultural and regional meaning. Green symbolized the aurora borealis above the snowy winter landscape of Alaska (white), while yellow symbolized the imperial legitimacy of the emperor and ruling Imperial Family. Green also represented abundance and fertility, while white represents peace and purity.

A double-headed bald eagle, officially referred to as the "Imperial Eagle", was used as the empire's coat of arms. The eagle held a golden sceptre and blue globus cruciger. On its chest there was an escutcheon with the arms of the Imperial House of Salisbury, depicting ermine above an American black bear. There were multiple versions of the coat of arms, including a lesser, middle, and greater achievement.

Holidays

Several holidays, both secular and religious, were observed in the Sitkan Empire. All labor was banned on religious holidays, as well as Emperor's Day, by imperial decree.

Date	Name	Type	Notes
1 January	New Year's Day	Secular	Celebration of the start of the new year.
6 January	Epiphany	Religious	Commemoration of the baptism of Jesus.
12 March	Foundation Day	Secular	Commemoration of the establishment of the Sitkan Empire on this day in 2024.
25 March	Feast of the Annunciation	Religious	Commemoration of the visit of the archangel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary, during which he informed her that she would be the mother of Jesus.
31 March (2024 date)	Easter	Religious	Commemoration of the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.
9 May (2024 date)	Feast of the Ascension	Religious	Commemoration of the Ascension of Jesus into heaven.
28 May (2024 date)	Pentecost	Religious	Celebrates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and other followers of Jesus.
29 June	Feast of Saints Peter and Paul	Religious	Commemoration of the martyrdom of the apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul.
22 October	Emperor's Day	Secular	Birthday of Emperor Dustinian I.
25 December	Christmas Day	Religious	Commemoration of the birth of Jesus.

Notes

↑ The Sitkan Empire considers itself a successor state to the Russian Empire that existed from 1721–1917, separate from, and not affiliated with, the current Russian Federation.
↑ The Declarative Theory of Statehood defines a state as a person in international law if it meets the following criteria: 1) a defined territory; 2) a permanent population; 3) a government and 4) a capacity to enter into relations with other states.

References

↑ "Moscow is the Third Rome" globalsecurity.org

External links

Government Twitter account

[2] The Sitkan Empire considers itself a successor state to the Russian Empire that existed from 1721–1917, separate from, and not affiliated with, the current Russian Federation.

[3] The Declarative Theory of Statehood defines a state as a person in international law if it meets the following criteria: 1) a defined territory; 2) a permanent population; 3) a government and 4) a capacity to enter into relations with other states.

[1] "Moscow is the Third Rome" globalsecurity.org

[1]

[a]

[b]