State of Esse

State of Esse État d'Esse
Flag Coat of arms
Motto:  "Vivre Libre ou Mourir" (French) "Live Free or Die"
Anthem: Arabesque No. 1
The two enclaves of the State of Esse
Capital and largest city	Nashuanne
Official languages	English, French
Recognised regional languages	Essian
Religion (2024)	57% Christianity 29% Protestant 14% Catholic 14% Nondenominational 21% Atheism 7% Judaism 14% others
Demonym(s)	Essian
Government	Unitary presidential republic with direct democratic elements
• President	Henry Clémens
• Vice President	Duval Clémens
• Speaker of the Conseil	James Bornstein
• Supreme Judge	Jonathan Freeman
Legislature	Conseil d'État
Establishment
• Establishment of the Commonwealth	1 June 2015
• Restoration of the Commonwealth	27 January 2017
• Secession from Mercia	21 August 2017
• Establishment of the Confederation	30 April 2020
• Establishment of the State of Esse	22 September 2024
Population
• 2024 census	15
Currency	Würdigeland Mark
Time zone	UTC−06:00
Date format	dd/mm/cy
Calling code	+1

Not to be confused with Essian Commonwealth or Esse (colony).

Esse, officially the State of Esse (in French: État d'Esse), is a micronation situated in the Gulf Coast region of North America, entirely enclaved within the United States of America. Esse was originally established on 1 June 2015 by Henry Clémens following the dissolution of the Federated States of America, and was colonized by Mercia and the State of Koss before achieving full independence as the Essian Commonwealth, an elective monarchy.

The Essian Commonwealth became the epicenter of the Houston sector, a collection of micronations in its same geographic region. At its height, the Commonwealth claimed territories enclaved by three US states — Texas, Tennessee, and Wyoming — prior to its dissolution in March 2018. Esse returned as a Confederation within the Uber-Essian Union in 2020, joined in a diarchy with its longtime ally Uberquiesenberg. Esse enjoyed a period of newfound stability within the Union, where it remained until vast political and cultural shifts in the following years culminated in a sudden return to republicanism in September 2024.

Today, Esse operates as a unitary presidential republic, while its legislative branch operates under the principles of direct democracy. The nation's head of state, the President, holds significant lawmaking powers though not without due separation of powers. Esse's capital is Nashuanne, which is also by far its largest city and is situated in the northeast of Bérit, its most populated province and second-largest by land area. Esse is a highly socially progressive nation, and is known for its expansive community projects and social programs. Since his election in 2024, Henry Clémens has served as President of Esse.

Esse is a member state of the Würtige Empire.

Etymology

"Esse" is most known in the English-speaking world for its relation to the Spanish and Latin languages. In the former, many know "Esse" as being pronounced as "Ese," with the second "e" using the vowel "a" sound. This is a common misconception over the pronunciation of "Esse," as the state clarifies it to be pronounced akin to the letter "S" is, "ehs."

The demonym used both to describe something belonging to Esse and in the noun for (referencing a person from Esse) is "Essian." The demonym was legally used in the nation's full name, the "Essian Commonwealth."

History

2015—2016: First Commonwealth and colonization

Walenstadt, the original location of the Commonwealth of Esse.

During the final days of the Federated States of America, Henry Clémens declared the independence of the Commonwealth of Esse, at the time claiming a piece of land in the Seeztal valley of Switzerland enclaved by the Swiss municipality of Walenstadt. Shortly thereafter, Esse's land claims were revised to be entirely within the Houston sector including the capital city of Reme, then known as Kastell County.

Essian government was structured according to the terms of the Instrument of Government. Elections were held for the head of state, the Lord Protector, where Clémens was unanimously elected as the lone candidate. Despite a series of edicts being issued throughout the summer, Esse had fallen inactive by late 2015, and in December the former members of the Federated States reestablished the States as the Atlantic Commonwealth. Esse was absorbed as a province of the Commonwealth, while several other future Essian territories would also be Atlantic provinces, including Cambridge.

Over the following months, most of the other political figures in the Atlantic Commonwealth other than Clémens had fallen inactive. The Commonwealth dissolved, at which point Esse spent a brief period as a territory of the Grand Duchy of Saint Clemens before being annexed as an autonomous territory of the State of Koss on 27 June 2016, where it was known as the Principality of Valites. That August, the Houston sector was colonized further as the Domain of Esse was established as a colony of Mercia. As a result of its colony status, the Domain exercised unique political power through its possession of a permanent seat in the Mercian Parliament House held by Clémens as the Domain's Patrician-Viceroy. Clémens' political positioning saw him play a significant role in the infamous vote of no confidence against then-First Minister Alejandro Whyatt, defecting from Whyatt's People's Democratic Party and taking the position of Deputy Leader in its rival National Liberal Party. Clémens worked alongside Newton von Uberquie, Palatinate-Viceroy of Mercia's lone other colony Uberquiesenberg to mastermind the act.

2017—2019: Decolonization, height and the second Commonwealth

In December, the Principality of Valites was ceded by the Kossian government back to the United States, and on 27 January 2017 that land was merged with the United States of Wings to form the Essian Commonwealth. The Commonwealth considered itself the continuation of the original 2015 Commonwealth, signified by its founding document being titled the Restoration of Government.

The original government of the second Commonwealth was heavily inspired by the Kossian system of quasi-absolute monarchy, where the monarch was constitutionally granted full governing authority but was flexibly able to delegate powers at their own discretion. The Codes served the purpose of defining this ever-changing political authority. In March, James Reginald Frisch was appointed to serve as the Commonwealth's inaugural Heaminister. By May, Frisch had led Esse into the most fruitful period of its history to date, overseeing the nation establish a close alliance with Uberquiesenberg, which had in that time become effectively independent from Mercia. Uberquiesenberg became a military protectorate of the Commonwealth, and the Essian County of New Halyards became a jointly-administered province.

A Microball by Tarik Karjasari featuring Esse, Sabia and Verona, and Abelden (2018).

Other alliances formed during this time included a tight alliance with the Federal Republic of Stravinia, maintaining this friendship until Stravinia's annexation by the Commonwealth in June 2017. Additionally, the Republic of Galveston — a fellow Houston sector micronation originating from the Federated States — became a protected state of Esse via the Treaty of Evansberg upon its independence from the Empire of Paravia. Combined with a variety of other treaties and Lord Henry's rise to the Chairmanship of the Grand Unified Micronational, Esse had rapidly ascended to be regarded as one of the most respected states in the MicroWiki community.

The June 2017 general election saw the Green Party of Esse win a majority of seats in the Parlamenzalochas and establish the Second Frisch administration following Frisch's supermajority reelection. Beginning on the weekend of 25 August and continuing through the next week, Esse was struck by Hurricane Harvey, marking the fledgling micronation's most catastrophic weather event. Lord Henry declared a state of disaster for six of the Commonwealth's eight counties. Several territories faced damages, most notably New Halyards which was severely impacted upon the storm's landfall only 29 km (18 mi) northwards. Hurricane Harvey was later declared the costliest Atlantic hurricane in recorded history.

Following Frisch's resignation as Heaminister in November 2017, Lord Henry took over the Heaministership in interim fashion and formed the Commonwealth's third government. In the subsequent election, Tarik Kârjasary of the Democrats was elected Heaminister as his party received a supermajority in the Parlamenzalochas. Kârjasary began a rapid transformative process within the Commonwealth, reducing Esse's territorial possessions which had become bloated over the previous year and implementing a new constitution. The Essian monarchy became elective, and a parliamentary system replaced the Kossian quasi-absolutist form of government that had been in place since the second Commonwealth's establishment.

Despite the vast success of the Kârjasary term, Lord Henry stated his wishes to dissolve the Commonwealth the next month, beginning with a referendum on dissolution which passed with 75 percent support. In March, the Farewell Act was passed with a majority of votes in the Parlamenzalochas, immediately dismantling the Commonwealth.

2020—2023: State of union and Confederation

On 30 April 2020, the Confederation of Esse was established as the immediate successor to the second Commonwealth. Though reestablished with the same territorial claims as its predecessor state, an immediate string of decrees rescinded various claims and left the Confederation with only two cities: Reme and the newly-established Bernardstown. On 1 June, the Reme Treaty of Union was signed, merging Esse and its longtime ally Uberquiesenberg into a single nation, the Uber-Essian Union. Shortly thereafter a new constitution was ratified — the fourth of its kind in Esse to date — instituting a system of government altering the legislative structure significantly, replacing the Parlamenzalochas with the Signoria, and replacing the elective monarchy with a line of succession by appointment. Elections were held throughout 2020 for the Podesti of Esse's two cities, and later in the year a colony enclaved by the US state of Maine was absorbed into the Confederation. Frisch was elected Gonfaloniere, and would be reelected once before retiring from the office. Otto Birch of the Birchists would take his place, and he would also serve two terms before departing the Confederation along with the colony.

The 22 September letter from Henry Clémens declaring the end of the monarchy.

As part of the late 2020 revival of the Würtige Empire, the Confederation joined with the Union alongside several other nations with historic ties to the Würtige sphere and reformed the Empire with Newton reigning as Kaiser. Lord Henry shortly thereafter announced an indefinite absence from the Union beginning in January 2021, at which point Patrick I was appointed Lord-regent. Patrick served primarily as a caretaker, and despite Henry's return to diarchal duties in a reduced capacity in 2022, Patrick continued to hold the title of regent.

Patrick's regency was a period of substantial change and upheaval in Esse that came to be known as the Attrition. In September 2022, Reme — the capital of every Essian state to date and even the Federated States before it — was rescinded as a claim and returned to the United States. Regarded not only as the most culturally significant part of the Confederation but also as the cradle and birthplace of the Houston sector, its loss meant the modern Essian state possesses no territory in common with its predecessors. To that effect, the Essian capital was moved to Bernardstown and subsequently a new swath of territory was claimed, later split into Province de Bérit and Territoire d'Ubermont.

2024—present: State of Esse

Henry assumed the full powers of the Essian monarchy in September 2024 after nearly four years away. A new constitution was adopted, this time largely abandoning both the Kossian and Kârjasary models and returning Esse to republicanism for the first time in nine years. The new constitution instituted a unitary presidential government, also doing away with legislative elections and replacing the Signoria with a direct democratic body known as the Conseil d'État. Following an election, Clémens was elected the inaugural president of the State of Esse.

Foreign relations

Diplomatic acts and foreign relations in the State of Esse are carried out through its Office of Foreign Affairs, part of the wider executive branch nominated and appointed by the President. Treaties are typically approved by the Conseil d'État and signed into law by the President, while unilateral acts of recognition are occasionally exercised by the executive.

Esse has since its formation been among the foremost Houston sector nations, particularly within the MicroWiki community. It has been defined as the legal successor to several now-defunct Houston sector nations, and has previously formed protectorates out of other notable states in the sector, most notably the once-neighboring State of Galveston. During the second Commonwealth era, Esse was regarded as one of the leading states in the entire MicroWiki community.

Originally admitted into the Grand Unified Micronational in December 2016, Esse is also a member of the Uber-Essian Union alongside its closest ally, Uberquiesenberg. Esse has also previously been a member of the Trans-Atlantic Union, Union Against Micronational War and International Agricultural Development Pact, though no longer subscribes to those organizations.

Esse has been a member state of the Würtige Empire since its reformation in January 2021, thus recognizing the sovereignty of its Emperor. Its fellow member states in the Würtige Empire comprise Esse's closest allies, a group of which is known as the Würtige Bloc. Esse also enjoys close alliances with the New Richmond Republic and New Virginia, while historical allies have included Stravinia, Sabia and Verona, and Beacon City.

Through membership in the Würtige Empire, Esse holds mutual recognition and a state of alliance with the following states sorted by date of ascent:

• 18 January 2021: Serene Beaconite Republic
• 18 January 2021: Confederation of Uberquiesenberg
• 18 January 2021: Mercia
• 18 January 2021: Empire of Paravia
• 20 June 2022: Free Republic of Morgannwg
• 21 August 2022: Empyrean of the Moon
• 2 September 2024: United Micro-Federation of Northudankton

Under the terms of the Würtige Empire's system of consensual recognition, Esse recognizes the following Imperial treaties of mutual cooperation sorted by date recognized by the State:

• 27 February 2021:  New Virginia
• 20 August 2022:  New Richmond Republic
• 26 August 2024: State of Rovia
• 26 August 2024: Republic of Tinland

Esse also recognizes the following Imperial treaties of mutual recognition, sorted by date recognized by the State:

• 27 February 2021:  Kingdom of Gradonia
• 6 June 2021:  Vishwamitra

Through treaties of mutual recognition and diplomacy, Esse holds a formal diplomatic relationship with the following states, sorted by date of agreement:

• 18 February 2017:  Democratic Environmental Society of Senya
• 27 May 2017:  Karnia-Ruthenia
• 6 June 2017:  Sabia and Verona

Esse currently recognizes the following states unilaterally:

• All United Nations members
• Abkhazia
• State of Ambazonia
• Bougainville
• Catalonia
• Republic of Kosovo
• Republic of Molossia
• State of Palestine
• Rojava
• Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
• Principality of Sealand
• Somaliland
• Republic of South Moluccas
• Tibet
• Vatican City
• Republic of West Papua
• Western Togoland

Geography

Aerial view of Greater Houston, Texas. The entirety of the State of Esse is located within the Houston sector.

The State of Esse's territory consists of two separate portions of land, both of which are located in the Gulf Coast region of North America, specifically in the West of the Gulf Coast region. Both portions of land are completely enclaved by Texas within the United States, and Esse is situated within both the Houston sector and the greater Texas sector, also being among the first notable micronations to originate from the greater Houston metropolitan area. The State of Esse's geographical location has seen major changes since the era of the first Commonwealth in June 2015, when it was first established claiming Äuli, a ghost town near Walenstadt, Switzerland constructed by the Swiss Armed Forces for military simulations. This territory was short-lived, after which Esse encompassed the city of Reme in the Houston sector, formerly the capital of the Federated States of America. Esse has been based in the area ever since, though at its territorial peak has expanded to central Appalachia, New England, and the Mountain West region. Additionally, Esse has at different times administered a pair of territories in conjunction with Uberquiesenberg, the first located on Mustang Island enclaved by the city of Port Aransas, Texas and the second in the US state of Maine. In the years following the state of Union with Uberquiesenberg, a series of events led to the Attrition, a process where Esse experienced significant political erosion of its former territories. This period culminated in the cession of Esse's capital city of Reme, after which a two-year period of reconstruction took place before stability was accomplished in the Essian territories of today.

Essian climate is classified as a humid subtropical climate, with increasingly tropical influences. Summers are long, hot, and humid, with average high temperatures often exceeding 90°F (32°C) and high humidity levels contributing to frequent afternoon thunderstorms. Winters are generally mild, with temperatures rarely dropping below 40°F (4°C), though occasional coldfronts can bring brief periods of cooler weather. Esse experienced a rare extreme cold weather event in the 2021 North American winter storm. The region experiences significant rainfall throughout the year, with peak precipitation occurring in late spring and early summer. Esse is also vulnerable to tropical storms and hurricanes, which can bring heavy rains, strong winds, and flooding, especially during the Atlantic hurricane season from June to November. Hurricane Harvey, among the costliest Atlantic hurricanes in recorded history, significantly impacted the nation upon its August 2017 landfall. Climate change has had a significant impact upon the region in recent years.

Administrative divisions

The State of Esse is separated in two "primary" forms of administrative subdivisions. The first, known as provinces, have the wider scope of autonomy among Essian political subdivisions. Each province is entitled to construct its own provincial government built upon the model of the statewide government, including a Provincial President who is elected from amongst the members of a direct democratic Provincial Conseil d'État. Provincial governments recognize the unequivocal supremacy of state law, though enjoy a range of lawmaking powers. Being direct democratic makes provincial governments largely act as regional committees of the statewide Conseil, as members of one legislative body typically choose to act as conseillors within the other as well. Provincial governments are often active in legislating on issues relating to education, zoning, and community policing. Esse currently has two provinces; Bérit is Esse's most populated region by a large margin. Bérnardstown, the other province, is a city-province and the oldest region in the nation.

The second form of administrative divisions in Esse, known as territories, are not entitled to the elaborate political structures of provinces and are instead administered directly through the Conseil d'État. Territories also do not elect a President. Typically, territory status is reserved for rural areas and regions with little or no resident population. To date, Ubermont is Esse's lone territory, a rural region bordered by Bérit to its south and encompassing some of Esse's most well-known natural landmarks, such as Baldelac and Forêt d'Ubermont. Additionally, Ubermont is the largest Essian region by land area.

Administrative divisions of Esse.

Flag	Arms	Picture	Name	Capital	Established	Population	Official(s)
Provinces
			Bérit	Nashuanne	6 September 2022	12	Provincial President  • Vacant
			Bérnardstown	Bernardstown	30 April 2020	1	Provincial President  • Vacant
Territories
			Ubermont	—	6 September 2022	2	—

Cities

The four cities of the State of Esse were all constitutionally incorporated, though most existed in some form under the previous constitution within the Uber-Essian Union. Three of Esse's four cities are located in Province de Bérit, by far the state's most developed region. Nashuanne is both the capital and most populated city in Esse, located in the northeast corner of Bérit and separated from Territoire d'Ubermont to the north by Nashuanne Commons, the state's largest municipal park. Nashuanne is named for the extinct Nashaway tribe of modern-day New Hampshire, United States. To the west of Nashuanne is Sancairn, located across Autoroute A1 and formerly incorporated within the capital city until it was split into its own municipality in 2024. Sancairn is named for Burkinabè revolutionary Thomas Sankara, as is its largest municipal park Jardin de Thomas. Azurbourg is located on the south side of Bérit, while Bernardstown — the nation's oldest city — is within its own separate enclave. Bernardstown is Esse's most urban city.

New cities can be incorporated both by the Conseil d'État and provincial governments. Territories generally do not have incorporated cities or towns.

List of cities in Esse
No.	City	Province	Founded	Population
1	Nashuanne	Bérit	6 September 2022	8
2	Sancairn	Bérit	22 September 2024	3
3	Ubermont	Ubermont	6 September 2022	2
4	Azurburg	Bérit	6 September 2022	1
5	Bernardstown	Bérnardstown	30 April 2020	1

Government and politics

A passport issued by the Essian government.

The State of Esse is a unitary presidential republic with power heavily centralized in its executive branch led by the nation's head of state, the president. Since the September Unitary Coup and September 2024 presidential election, former monarch Henry Clémens has served as Esse's inaugural president. The president is elected to a three-year term with no constitutional term limits, and also represents the State of Esse in the biannually-rotating First Stewardship of the Uber-Essian Union.

Below the presidency is the Office of the Vice President, the role of which is largely ceremonial however critical in the event of the removal, resignation, or death of the president. In this case, the vice president assumes the role of "acting president" until such a time as a special election can be organized. Within the executive branch is a cabinet appointed and overseen by the president which assists in the essential functions of the state. Most cabinet officials are appointed to lead specific executive bureaus, the number of which is decided by the president. Such offices include the Bureau de la Citoyenneté (BC), Bureau de la Sécurité Sociale (BSS) and Bureau des Élections (BE). The president can fill, leave vacant, establish and dissolve executive bureaus unilaterally as deemed fit through the use of the power of executive order.

Culture

Essians hold many historical revolutionary groups and figures in high reverence, including the American Black Panther Party.

Esse is well-known for its rich cultural heritage, defined by unique patterns of social behaviors, institutions and norms. While not a monolith, its people are known largely as being influenced by Western culture owed primarily to Esse's geographical enclaving within the United States. Essian culture is encompassed by practices reminiscent of 1970s counterculture in the United States and contemporary France, with lighter inspirations drawn from ancient Israel and Judah and modern New England. The cultural practices of Esse have vastly evolved since its foundation, and its people are collectively known as the Essian people.

Essians are largely characterized as a socially progressive people, and if recognized as a macronation the state would be among the most advanced in the world with regards to social equity, LGBT rights, and political rights. Essians typically embrace collectivism, many being unified by a common sense of egalitarianism. Esse's constitution details an extensive list of human rights entitled to every citizen, including freedom from hate crime and hate incidents, the right to housing, a living wage, universal healthcare, and freedom of assembly, among more.

As both an Anglophone and Francophonie nation, Esse largely aims to represent the oppressed peoples of both the English- and French-speaking worlds. Within Esse, a high admiration is held for many historical revolutionary groups and figures, including the American Black Panther Party and Indigenous Army of Saint-Domingue, many of whom are recognized with roads, landmarks, and public organizations named in their honor. The streets on which the Office of the President (Avenue Stokely-Ture) and the Conseil d'État (Avenue Hampton) are housed bare the names of Black Panthers Stokely Carmichael and Fred Hampton respectively, while Fanon Collège — Esse's foremost public university — is named for French Afro-Caribbean decolonization figure Frantz Fanon.

The majority of the Essian people speak English as their native language; in addition to French, English serves as one of Esse's two official languages. All government documents must be available in both English and French, though English is in effect the lingua franca of the state and virtually all day-to-day functions are carried out in the language. The Essian language is recognized as Esse's "third language," though is in practice a dead language and, as such, public documents are not required to be published in Essian.

Esse as a state is made up of moderate religious diversity. While officially a secular nation, the majority of Essians subscribe to some form of Christianity. The majority of Christians identify as Protestants, though there is a notable community of Irish Catholics as well as nondenominational Christians. Esse has a large minority that does not identify with any religion, a population making up over one-fifth of the state's population.

Art

Mona Lisa, Raymond Hains (1972).

Essian art is heavily inspired by 20th-century art movements from the United States and France, in particular postmodernism, neoexpressionism, nouveau réalisme, and lettrism. In regards to visual art, drawing and painting are the two most popular art mediums in Esse. Graphic art is also quite popular, though often aims to emulate both drawing and painting. Assemblage is a popular artistic medium, in addition to similar styles such as bricolage and décollage. Essians hold many artists and their work in high esteem, among the most acclaimed including the work of Jean-Michel Basquiat, Philip Guston, Raymond Hains, May Stevens, and Kara Walker, among others. Inspiration from the work of feminist artists is common.

Thematically, art in Esse often explores topics of liberation and colonialism. This is largely manifested through the emulation of American protest art particularly derived from the nation's vast immigrant communities, such as the works of Iranian American painters Nicky Nodjoumi and Ardeshir Mohasses, both of whom have their work held to high praise. The Museum at Nashuanne Commons, Esse's largest public museum, refuses to accept works that have been acquired through the forced occupation of any land or group of people.

On the left, James Baldwin, one of the most acclaimed writers in Esse. On the right, his 1963 anthology The Fire Next Time.

Literature

Essian literature is among the state's most popular and acclaimed cultural exports. Essian writers are largely inspired by postcolonial literature, urban fiction, and postmodernism, as well as high fantasy and magic realism. Both fiction and nonfiction writing remain popular in Esse, while both forms of writing often tackle topics of abolition, imperialism, existentialism, and morality. Essian literature draws inspiration from a variety of regions and time periods, including turn-of-the 20th century writers such as Upton Sinclair and Thomas Hardy, Yoruba folk-based writers such as Amos Tutuola, and British Indian writer Salman Rushdie. Of high fantasy novelists, J.R.R. Tolkien and his The Lord of the Rings trilogy is considered a cultural staple. Other popular fiction novels include The Jungle (1906), The Palm-Wine Drinkard (1952), Haroun and the Sea of Stories (1990), and Interpreter of Maladies (2000).

Essayists and their work are also popular in Esse. Of essayists, African-American writer James Baldwin is a beloved literary figure in Esse for his contributions to both fiction and nonfiction, as well as for his work as a civil rights activist. Baldwin's 1963 anthology The Fire Next Time, a collection of two essays, is required reading in Essian school curricula. The writer's life and accomplishments are honored on James Baldwin Day, celebrated on his birthday, and Baldelac — the nation's lone natural lake — pays homage to the writer. Other popular essayists include Angela Davis and Toni Morrison.

Music

The logo of Diarchy, a band formed partially in the Essian Commonwealth.

One of the nation's oldest cultural staples, Essian music has been widely recognized within and beyond its borders for its diversity, prolificity, and accomplishment within micronationalism. Essians are avid listeners of many American musical styles, including jazz, hip hop, funk, and indie rock. French hip hop is also widely popular. The influence of African American music within Esse is stronger than any other range of genres; in particular, jazz music is popularly considered synonymous with Esse. Of jazz music's subgenres, hard bop, jazz fusion, spiritual jazz, and avant-garde jazz are the most listened. "Love Is Everywhere," a track by spiritual jazz icon Pharoah Sanders, is considered an unofficial national anthem of Esse. Sanders is among the nation's most popular jazz figures, along with John Coltrane, Alice Coltrane, Miles Davis, and Duval Timothy.

Esse is known for its underground indie rock scene. Diarchy, a band comprised of Henry Clémens and Newton von Uberquie, was formed in 2017 partially within the Essian Commonwealth and has since released an album titled The Diarchy (2018), an extended play titled Sojourn (2020), and seven singles. The band partially inspired the formation of the Uber-Essian Union, and has received coverage from micronational media outlets such as the Eskhavn Guardian and Amerston Post.

Cuisine

Vietnamese iced coffee.

Food in the State of Esse is relatively diverse, but is significantly influenced by French cuisine and the cuisine of New England. In particular, French bread is widely popular in Esse, particularly brioche, croissant, and pain de campagne. Baguette is popular, though to a lesser extent. In terms of foods with French origin, bisque is a common dish in the nation both as an entrée and side dish; as the latter, bisque is often served complementary with a form of melt sandwich combining a croque monsieur with a grilled cheese. Esse's large expatriate population from the Northeastern United States contributes to its New England–influenced cooking traditions, which is heavily centered on seafood including Atlantic lobster, salmon, and clams. Pizza is a common dish, primarily either Greek pizza or New Haven–style pizza.

Essians have an avid beverage culture. In particular, coffee and tea are two of the most popular drinks in Esse. Largely a result of Esse's warm, humid climate coffee is more commonly served iced rather than hot throughout most of the year. Arabica is the most commonly used coffee plant in Esse, and in a tradition alike with that of Louisiana Creole cuisine, dark-roasted coffee is often infused with chicory. Popular coffee drinks in Esse include Vietnamese iced coffee, café au lait, and caffè mocha. Vietnamese iced coffee is often infused with chicory as well in a blend popularized by Vietnamese immigrants to the United States in the late 20th century. Common tea drinks include matcha and masala chai, both typically served over ice.

Despite the commonplace consumption of caffeine, Essians have a much more apathetic and even conservative view on alcohol consumption. While indulgence in wine and spirits is not abnormal, Esse has a substantial community that practices sobriety and abstinence from alcohol. Several individuals within the People's Alliance have signaled a willingness to move towards alcohol prohibition.

Media

Print head of L'Avocate.

The freedom of the press is constitutionally enshrined as a human right in Esse. Combined with the nation's long history of contributions to domestic and micronational journalism, this forms the foundations of high value and prestige Essians hold for consumable media. Both public and private media organizations operate within the State of Esse, the largest of which is Südwürdigestädte Morgenpost, a private Beaconite media company which aggregates news from across the Würtige Empire. In regards to public media, the Essian government funds a newspaper entitled L'Avocate, published quarterly in black-and-white print and incorporating a journal of government activities in the prior quarter, a list of ongoing community projects and social programs, and bold graphic illustrations.

As part of its wider objectives of making print journalism widely accessible and incentivizing the industry's growth, Esse also circulates international newspapers in its major cities for no cost, including the Beaconite Isambard Gazette.

Sports

Official home kit of Bernards, a football club based out of Bernardstown.

Sporting is a national pastime for many Essians. The national sport of Esse is association football, which is also the most popular sport in the nation. Essians often participate in football in the fields of Ubermont, while many are avid fans of foreign leagues such as the Premier League, Ligue 1, and Major League Soccer. A digital variation of association football known as spreadsheet football was invented in the Uber-Essian Union in February 2023 in order to simulate matches and even entire seasons of the sport within a micronational context. Since its invention, spreadsheet football has grown to be an intermicronational phenomenon featuring clubs from throughout the Würtige Empire and several guest nations including New South Scotland, the Landgraviate of Satirno, and the Commonwealth of Havnesgade-Amager. In its inaugural season, Esse boasted three clubs in the top flight of the Wurtige and Uber-Essian Spreadsheet Football Association (WUESFA), with two more clubs in the second flight. Jairo, an Essian design firm, is a popular kit manufacturer for spreadsheet football clubs.

Beyond footballing exploits, basketball is recognized as the second-most popular sport amongst Essians. Fans of the sport are avid watchers of the National Basketball Association, though also have an affinity for LNB Élite, Olympic basketball and the FIBA World Cup. Essians are typically supporters of the France national basketball team and Paris Basketball. Converse and New Balance are the most favored basketball apparel manufacturers.

Holidays

The government of Esse recognizes ten national holidays on which government offices are closed, except in the extraneous circumstance of a national state of emergency. The first national holiday of the Gregorian year is New Years' Day, on the first day of the calendar year, while the final holiday is Christmas Day. Despite being a secular nation, Esse recognizes Christmas Day as a national holiday due to its widespread observance across the state. It is the only religious holiday recognized by the national government.

National holidays

Name	Date	Description	Notes
New Years' Day	1 January	The first day of the year according to the Gregorian calendar.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day	Third Monday of January	Honors the life and accomplishments of civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr.
Malcolm X Day	Third Friday of May	Honors the life and accomplishments of civil rights activist Malcolm X.
Commonwealth Day and Unification Day	1 June	Celebrates the establishment of the first Commonwealth of Esse and the formation of the Uber-Essian Union.	Celebrated only as Commonwealth Day prior to 2020.
Juneteenth	19 June	Commemorates the ending of slavery in the region of the modern Houston sector.
James Baldwin Day	2 August	Honors the life and accomplishments of author and activist James Baldwin.
Founders' Day	3 August	Celebrates the establishment of the Federated States of America, Esse's oldest predecessor state.
Lenny Face Day	18 November	Commemorating the first known usage of Lenny Face on the internet.
Day of Mourning	Fourth Thursday of November	Recognizes the Native American genocide in the United States.	Also recognized as Thanksgiving Day.
Christmas Day	25 December	Commemorates the birth of Jesus of Nazareth.