Socialist Republic of Gravois
Socialist Republic of Gravois | |
|---|---|
 Flag | |
| File:Missouri, United States | |
| Capital | Gene (2016-2017) Stone County (2018-2020) |
| Largest city | Stone County |
| Official languages | English, Secundomian |
| Demonym(s) | Gravois |
| Government | Single-Party Socialist Republic |
| Establishment | 2016 |
| Population | |
• (as of 2020 census) census | 2 |
| Currency | $/USD |
| Time zone | (UTC-6) |
This nation was a member of the FSSR | |
The Socialist Republic of Gravois (pronounced [ɡrəvɔɪ]) was a constituent republic of the Federation of Secundomian Socialist Republics. The Republic was located in North America and was entirely surrounded by the US state of Missouri. Originally a state in the Republic of Secundomia, Gravois was noted for its importance to Secundomian naval power and significant tourist industry. Gravois was located on the shores of the Lake of the Ozarks, providing Secundomia with crucial access to water.
As a Socialist Republic, Gravois was administered by the central government of the FSSR. The majority of the population were not voting members of the Maoist-Worker's Party of Secundomia, and thus had little say in its administration. The WPS did not appoint an officer in charge of overseeing the Republic, so it was largely left to the whims of the broader government. However, the central government could not stop Gravois from slipping away. Multiple migrations of civilians away from the country and abandonment of naval stations resulted in the gradual overrunning of Gravois by unaffiliated American forces. By late 2020, the FSSR was forced to give up all claims over the SR Gravois and the republic died off.
Etymology
Gravois was named after the Gravois Arm of the Lake of the Ozarks where the Republic was located. In turn, the Gravois Arm was named after the Gravois Creek, a tributary of the Osage river which was dammed to create the Lake of the Ozarks. The creek was named for its gravelly appearance from the French "gravois." Like many French-derived names in Missouri, the pronunciation is somewhat corrupted from the original French. Therefore, Gravois is pronounced gra-VOY rather than gra-VWA.
History
Gravois has a long and important history as a member of the Secundomian Sector of Micronations. Originally founded as a state of the Republic of Secundomia, Gravois played host to the Republic's navy and hosted many high profile meetings between leaders of the nation. Gravois also hosted important sporting events and was central to large parts of the micronation's cultural development.
Foundation
Although Gravois had long been a popular travel destination for Secundomians, the area was part of the state of Missouri until July 23, 2010. Several days prior to foundation, the Secundomian Naval Base 1 was founded and two ships were unloaded into the Secundomian Navy at the Secundomian Bay which would later become part of Gravois.
Parker I officially proposed the state on July 22 alongside Spencer I, declaring its independence. The state was quickly mapped and divided into several counties. At the time of its foundation, Parker I noted that the state was twice the size of all the other parts of Secundomia put together. The name Gravois was settled on after the name Osage was also proposed.
On July 23, 2010 Gravois was officially inducted into Secundomia after a meeting at the Secundomian Naval Base between the three most powerful citizens in Secundomia, then-president Parker I, president-elect Luke of Secundomia and Spencer I. This marked the first in-person meeting between all three and was heralded as one of the most important moments in Secundomian history. At the meeting, Spencer I was inducted as Governor of the new state.
Statehood
Gravois remained an important travel destination and seat of naval power in Secundomia for many years. In late 2010, Gravois played host to the inagural Thanksgiving Football Festival, in which the football team of Gravois City defeated Middle Secundomia in a 3 game series. In January 2011, Spencer I was elected representative to the Secundomian legislature by Gravois while also retaining his position as governor.
Gravois remained a part of Secundomia while it was a member of the Eran Federation and was undisturbed by the evolution of Secundomia into the Third Kingdom. Although it did not play an active role in the coup, Gravois was generally supportive and the Navy did not activate for or against the coup that occurred mainly in Middle Secundomia. Unrest began to foment in the state after the abdication of King Parker I and the rise to power of the Worker's Party of Secundomia in 2015. The civilians in Gravois, although not voting members of the Democratic Republic of Secundomia, tended to express right-wing sentiment and were supportive of the Secundomian Conservative Party. No attempt was made by the Gravois civilians to mobilize the Navy against the Worker's Party, but many political debates were had on state visits to Gravois.
Republic
In 2016, roughly six years after its foundation, the State of Gravois was transitioned into a constituent republic of the Federation of Secundomian Socialist Republics. This move resulted in the dismantling of the largely self-governing State of Gravois under the Democratic Republic of Secundomia. While nominally more autonomous, the new republic was actually administered by the central government of the FSSR from East Secundomia. Spencer I, who had largely abdicated his responsibilities as governor under the Democratic Republic, was officially removed from office by the Maoist-Worker's Party. The conservative leaning civilians of Gravois had feared this moment and began planning either escape or revolt.
In 2017 the moment finally came and the citizens of the city of Gene revolted and fled the country to the US state of Florida. They abandoned or decommissioned much of the Secundomian Navy stationed at the Gravois National Naval Base. Undefended, the vast majority of the country located in East Gravois was overrun by private American citizens and rendered unreachable. The pieces of the navy that could be salvaged (including the SRS Spirit of Secundomia) were moved to the Gravois National Naval Base-West located in Stone County which was still under Secundomian control.
After several years of stability, Stone County was also in danger in 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Stone County took a significant hit to its major industry of tourism. In late 2020 the FSSR recognized the inability of the government to control the Socialist Republic of Gravois and relinquished its claims on the Republic. The Republic was officially released back to the state of Missouri and the remaining ships in the Secundomian Navy were decomissioned.
Politics and Government
Until the foundation of the SR Gravois, the state of Gravois was run without interruption by Governor Spencer I of the Secundomian Conservative Party. With the establishment of the FSSR and Gravois's recreation as a republic, the state lost its ability to send representatives to the legislature and Spencer I was removed from his position as governor. The civilians of Gravois had little voice in the new government. The FSSR is a single party state lead by the Maoist-Worker's Party and no civilians in Gravois agreed to join the party. Therefore, throughout its entire existence the FSSR managed the Republic under a state of emergency directly administered by the MWPS in East Secundomia. The party never appointed a de jure officer in charge of managing the state of emergency, so chairman Parker I was de facto the leader of the Republic.
Military
The Socialist Republic of Gravois was of extreme military importance to the FSSR. Housing the Federation's only water-neighboring areas as well as extensive docking facilities, the SR Gravois was crucial to the Secundomian Navy. At the foundation of the FSSR, 8 vessels were stationed at both the Gravois National Naval Base and the Gravois National Naval Base-West. While the navy was under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Maoist-Worker's Party, local non-party members were known to have done most of the day to day operations and maintenance of the vessels.
Geography
Gravois was broken up into two main regions, West and East Gravois separated by a small strip of forested land known as the Crum Gap. The larger section of Gravois was in the East, containing the large open spaces of Green County bordering the Secundomian Bay, home to the Naval Base; the Capitol County containing the Republics core infrastructure; and the small, tourist-heavy Beach County. The largest county of the state, Forest Northeast County, was sold to the state of Missouri before the incorporation of the Republic. West Gravois was made up of only Stone County, which contained a large hotel and residence as well as the Gravois National Naval Base-West.
Climate
Gravois had humid subtropical climate. Summers were hot and humid, with thunderstorms and other severe weather common. Winters were generally cold with mild periods, but the temperature of the lake can alter the climate with heavy fog and milder weather than the surrounding area.
Economy
The Socialist Republic of Gravois was transitioning to a centrally planned economy as a part of reforms put out by the FSSR. This transition was failing at the time of the Republic's collapse with heavy resistance coming from conservative and capitalist forces within the country. Despite this difficulty, Gravois largely remained a profitable tourism-based economy with Secundomians and Americans flocking to the country to enjoy the waters of the Secundomian Bay during the summer. The Secundomian Navy was also a large employer in the republic, with civilians contracted to maintain the aging and shrinking navy of the larger federation.
Culture
Sport
Sports are an extremely important part of Gravois culture. Gravois has played host to many sporting events most notably the 2010 Gravois Thanksgiving Football Festival. Other important sports to the local culture include badminton, swimming, diving, water skiing and PWC racing.
Flag
The Flag of SR Gravois is based on the flag of the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic. It was chosen by the MWPS to represent the spirit of the socialist revolution in Secundomia as well as the Gravois's lake-based economy and culture. The colors on the flag were redesigned to match its history as a part of Secundomia, using the Secundomian shades of blue and green.
See also
External links
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