Slobovian Republic
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The Slobovian Republic (Slobovian: Þas Slobowienisches Folkgardt) is an inactive Germanic parallel society in Minnesota, in the Midwestern United States.
Slobovia was originally founded offline, but converted to an online hobby micronation within its second year of existence. In June, 2005 the final online incarnation of Slobovia was dismanteled and plans were begun to be made to bring Slobovia back into its original offline state as a paralel society. Since then the plans have become comprehensive, and include a purposeful future economic, social and political society.
Slobovia was one of the least respected micronations until its final online incarnation was dismantled. Since then, Slobovia has been gaining respect for the ambitious and well-thought plan for the new Slobovia.
In recent developments, Slobovia has become a republic following the abdication of the King. His reasons for abdicating include the realization the Slobovia need not necessarily be a monarchy for Bisiðerickhaið to work, and his wish for Slobovia to become as egalitarian a society as practicable.
History
The Birth of Slobovia
Late in the year 1999, a Minnesota teenager named Troy Thompson stumbled upon micronational websites and the hobby of micronationalism. In the next Spring, he and a group of his friends founded the first incarnation of Slobovia, which was at the time an offline hobby micronation. Thompson was declared Kaiser of Slobovia and Daniel Kemp was declared Chancellor. In the beginning, Slobovia's theme was based partially upon late Ninteenth century Germany, most Slobovians of the time having German blood.
On August 8, 2000, after lying about the age of the micronation, Slobovia was admitted into the League of Secessionist States. Thus began nine months of immaturity and bug nationhood, culminating in the Slobovia vs. Optimus Guardiat conflict of February 1 - May 3, 2001, which resulted in Slobovia being annexed by the People's Republic of Amador to end the troubles, and the Optimus Guardiat ending its existence.
On July 1, 2001, Slobovia re obtained her independence from Amador, but from then into early 2002, slowly bled to death. As 2002 began, Slobovia lost its value in fun, and as a hobby micronation, thus was dormant.
Slobovia as an Online Micronation
In August, 2002, Thompson immigrated to the Kingdom of Babkha, and shortly thereafter brought Slobovia, of which he was the only remaining citizen, under Babkhan sovereignty. Slobovia did not grow during the time that it was a Babkhan colony, however, Thompson learned many political and diplomatic lessons in his time in Babkha. He ended up obtaining the prestigious position of Vizier of Culture and Public Welfare under the Government of then Grand Vizier Tahmaseb Farshbaf, as well as a seat in the Majlis, and an appointment as an envoy to Baracão.
Thompson, however, was not satisfied for long with lower level positions, and, in December of the same year, quietly seceded from Babkha, with Babkhan acceptance. He then took Slobovia and entered it into an ill-fated federation of his own design, the Federated States of Prinitica. The Federated States, combined with its later successor state, the Kingdom of Ayllu, did not last through March, 2003. Finally, in April, 2003, Slobovia was resurrected as, for the first time, and independent online hobby micronation.
In her state of newfound independence, Slobovia returned to her original German Imperial theme, and for the first time even included German language therein. This would not last, however, as Thompson's desire to experiment with different systems of government got the best of him. A socialist republic was established, and during the same time, the King of Cranda, who was also a Slobovian at the time, began developing the Slobovian language.
As the Slobovian language was developing, a new political ideal came to lead the new Slobovian Republic that followed the socialist Slobovian Democratic Republic, this ideal was Arwakungism. Arwakung is the Slobovian word for "awakening, reawakening, renaissance," and the Arwakungist Movement came to be at the forefront of calling for a federal republic composed of the Germanic-themed micronations that were on the MCS map at the time (namely, Slobovia, Cranda and Northworthy).
As Arwakungism guided Slobovian policy, leaders in Cranda and Northworthy also began to wish for the creation of a union of the Germanic-themed micronations of the MCS. The result of this was Arminy, which originally was simply a community of micronations with shared defensive and diplomatic functions. As time went by, however, the Crandish and Northworthians wanted to form a total union, as a monarchy, while the Slobovians wanted a republic. In the end, this lead to the Slobovian withdrawal from the Arminian Community and, thereafter, Cranda and Northworthy composed the United Kingdom of Arminy.
After withdrawing from the Community, Slobovia went back to being a republic for a short period of time. The Gobbler Attacks, however, ended the Slobovian Republic, as security concerns lead to the re-installment of the Slobovian Monarchy. This Slobovian Empire itself only lasted a few weeks, as Thompson no longer had the time to devote to micronations.
In December, 2004, however, Edgard Portela would bring Thompson back into micronations as a member of the Republic of San Martin. Originally, Thompson was the Republic's Vice President, however, he defeated Portela in the Republic's first actual Presidential Election, and thus became head of state. During his time as President of San Martin, Thompson brought Slobovia back as the Kingdom of Slobovia, and, later, was crowned Emperor of San Martin, after a coup lead by Portela.
Thompson allowed his creative and visionary side take over, and began to maneuver for the creation of, with Portela's blessing, a union that was to be known as Opulentia. After a great deal of planning, it was decided that after the Opulentian union was complete, Opulentia would be made a decentralized micronation of a new breed, half online and half offline, with the offline portions including many social and economic functions. Fate and rebellion, however, prevented this from happening, as Martino socialists began a rebellion that ended with Thompson's abdication as Emperor of San Martin, and the eventual collapse of San Martin.
Slobovia Today
Following the collapse of the Martino Empire, and the death of any hopes for the creation of Opulentia, Thompson made the decision to bring Slobovia back to its roots. He immediately folded the online Kingdom of Slobovia, and began planning for the new, offline, Slobovian Realm. For the first time ever, Slobovia will not just be a hobby micronation, but it will be guided by the new guiding philosophy of Slobovian governance, Bisiðerickhaið, which would make Slobovia a parallel society, with political, social and economic purposes.
Recent developments have included the abdication of Thompson as Slobovia's King and the advent of yet another transition. The abdication came as Thompson and other Slobovian leaders started thinking that the Bisiðerickhaið plans could indeed work for a non-monarchial government. At that point, Thompson abdicated, citing a will to create a republic. As Slobovia's situtation deteriorated into a state of anomie over the following month, Thompson rescinded his abdication to proclaim a republic and establish himself as President, allowing him to form a provisional government.
Politics
In the half decade of Slobovia's existence, it has been a monarchy around three quarters of the time. It has always had the House of Tomsohnd occupying the throne during those times.
The provisional government of the new Slobovian Republic is currently in the coarse of being established, and more information will be provided at a later date.
Culture
Slobovia has just a few cultural elements that are solely its own, among these being the Slobovian language, and a number of Slobovian holidays. Otherwise, as Slobovia is within the boundaries of Minnesota, it takes a majority of its cultural elements from Minnesota, including Lutheranism, "Minnesota/Slobovia nice" and various food items.
Outdoor activities are a major part of the lives of a vast majority of Slobovians. These activities include hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, ice fishing, etc. Slobovians have a deep love for the outdoors, and thus most, whether vegan or hunter, feel responsible to protect the beautiful environment they call home.
Slobovia also inherits a quirky political culture from Minnesota, based in large part upon popularism and a will for attaining the common good.
Holidays
Apart from traditional Protestant Christian holidays, Slobovia also celebrates some unique holidays and some celebrated by other countries which are of a pre-christian tradition. They include Midsummer, celebrating the summer solstice and May Day on May 1 is a business free day and dedicated to the workers having time to enjoy themselves. April 1 is National Day of Slobovia.
Language
Slobovian is a Germanic language, related to Old English, Old Norse and German, but differing in pronunciation and orthography. Slobovian is the official language of Slobovia. The dominating language, however, is still English and the government plans on pushing to teach Slobovians the Slobovian language so that it could replace English in Slobovia.
Most Slobovians speak English, thanks to a history of being part of the United States. English is usually taught from the kindergarden. Many students also take additional languages; often French, German or Spanish.