Travis I, Grand Duke of Westarctica
| Travis | |
|---|---|
| Grand Duke of Westarctica Overlord of Calsahara Sultan of Raphania Baron of Flandrensis | |
 Portrait of Grand Duke Travis | |
| Grand Duke of Westarctica | |
| First reign | 30 June 2004 – 14 January 2006 |
| Predecessor | Throne established |
| Successor | Philip |
| Second reign | 21 September 2012 – present |
| Predecessor | Jon-Lawrence |
| King of Calsahara | |
| Reign | 24 November 2009 – October 2013 |
| Predecessor | Nicholas |
| Successor | Self, as Grand Duke of Westarctica |
| Consul-General of the Achaean Territory | |
| In office 12 September 2001 – 6 June 2004 | |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Born | Travis McHenry 1980 (age 43) |
His Royal Highness, Grand Duke Travis (birth name Travis McHenry) is the founder and current Head of State of Westarctica, a micronation, new country project, and environmental non-profit corporation.
The Grand Duke has been involved with various micronations, and has founded three of his own, starting in 1996 with the Kingdom of Casbah, then Westarctica in 2001, and finally Calsahara in 2009. In between these projects, he served as a governor for two provinces of Molossia.
Early life
Travis McHenry began his life in 1980. When his great-grandfather died, the one-year-old infant inherited the title Baron of Dunluce Castle, stemming from his family’s ancestral lands in Northern Ireland and the various domains controlled by the O’Neil Clan during the early 1600s.
His first real position of leadership came in 1995 when he founded the break-away Kingdom of Casbah in rural Pennsylvania. Travis was proclaimed Maharaja, and ruled the agrarian nation with an iron fist. As a result of his various eccentricities and demanding temperament, he was overthrown twice, with the second usurpation resulting in his exile and the collapse of Casbah’s government in October 2000. The events of his reign in Casbah were later satirized in the stage play Delusions of Grandeur.
Westarctica
In late 2001, he discovered a loop hole in the Antarctic Treaty which legally allowed him to claim a huge swath of land on the Antarctic continent for himself. This area was initially called The Achaean Territory, but became a fully functioning nation named Westarctica in 2004.
Travis took the title Grand Duke and ruled Westarctica as a peaceful and progressive monarch. During this time, he made many diplomatic friendships with other international leaders and did much to advance the recognition of Westarctica among member-governments of the United Nations. Grand Duke Travis ruled Westarctica until 2006 when he turned over the reigns of government to his successor Grand Duke Philip.
On 3 June 2010, Travis reclaimed the throne of Westarctica from Grand Duke Jon-Lawrence and promptly proclaimed Westarctica a protectorate. He would return to a reestablished throne as Grand Duke Travis in 2012.
Involvement With Molossia
Immediately following his abdication of the Westarctican throne, Travis was approached by President Baugh of Molossia and offered a position as Grand Admiral of the Molossian Navy. He graciously accepted the ceremonial military post and shortly thereafter was appointed to the post of Governor of New Antrim, a ten-acre Molossian protectorate in Pennsylvania.
During his service with Molossia, Grand Admiral Travis fought in the War with Mustachistan, which lasted for two months in 2006. The Grand Admiral served with distinction on the Eastern Front by leading the Molossian Navy to victory in the Battle of Lake Jean, a feat for which he was awarded the Mustachistan War Medal. As Governor he successfully mediated the New Antrim Tobacco Crisis in 2007. Travis served as Governor of New Antrim from 2006 until the dissolution of New Antrim in late 2008.
Not one to go unemployed for long, in early 2009, President Baugh asked Travis to continue his service to Molossia by becoming the Governor-General of Desert Homestead, a Molossian province in southern California. While the hot, desolate province was a dramatic change from the green forests and flowing rivers of New Antrim, Travis accepted the post and began his tenure as Governor-General. His accomplishments included the clearing of rubbish from Desert Homestead, and the construction of Baugh Terrace, a monument to the Baugh family.
King of Calsahara
Travis acquired 2.5 acres of barren land in the California Valley and founded the nation of Calsahara in November 2009, proclaiming himself king of the new country. In an unusual move, Travis decided to adopt a regnal name, and chose the name Montague. Since ascending the throne, King Montague has developed Calsahara into a thriving micronation with a rich, diverse culture.
Personal life
King Montague is a professional actor, frequently appearing on stage, film, and television. In addition to acting, he has written many books including Tales of Terror, Delusions of Grandeur, The Warrior Poet, and his best-selling book, Into the Abyss: The Memoirs of a Paranormal Adventurer.
He resides in Las Vegas.
Honors and awards
Grand Duke Travis has received numerous awards, knighthoods, and honorary military appointments as a result of his diplomatic outreach and cooperation with foreign nations.
Honors of Westarctica and its Territories
Knight in the Illustrious Antarctic Order of the Orca, 2019- Knight Grand Cross in the Order of the Snowflake, 2015
- Knight in the Noble Order of Westarctica, 2005
- Grand Knight Commander in the Holy Order of The Cross, 2005
- Knight Commander in the Noble Order of the Sword, 2005
- Knight in the Order of Merit, 2005
Grand Knight Commander in the Order of the Desert Heart, 2009- General of the Legion in the Legion of Peace, 2009
- Master of the Universe in the Masters of the Universe, 2009
- Grand Thespian in the Illustrious Order of Thespians (abolished, but authorized for wear), 2009
Foreign Honors
Order of the Pebble, 2022
Historian of Dracul, 2020
Order of the Empire of Agber, 2020
King's Mark of Friendship, 2019- Slabovian Friendship Medal, 2019
- Queen-Consort's Fellowship, 2019
Order of the Double Samara, 2019
Order of the Snail, 2019
Better Weirder World Medal, 2019
West Who Medal of Friendship, 2019
Danduros Medal of Friendship, 2019- MicroCon 2019 Commemorative Attendance Medal, 2019
Order of the Ecological Merit of Beremagne, 2019
Order of the Glennish Empire, 2019
Order of the Golden Sextant, 2018
Medal of Micronational Excellence, 2017
The Desert Palm, 2017
Order of the Flat Earth, 2016- Order of the Sconnish Poppy, 2015
Grand Order of the Pink Flamingo, 2015
Order of the Lion Rampant (defunct), 2015
Order of the Blue Primrose, 2015
Knight of Shiloh, 2012- Order of the Dragon (defunct), 2012
Order of the Lion (defunct), 2011- Friendship Medal, 2011
Order of the Star (defunct), 2010
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Flandrensis, 2010
Imperial Knight of the Austenasian Order, 2010- Great Order of Vikesland (defunct), 2010
- Order of the Rifle (defunct), 2010
- Order of Honor (defunct), 2010
- Mustachistan War Medal, 2006
Order of Christina I, 2022
