United Kingdom of the Great Bayou

United Kingdom of the Great Bayou
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: "Ra'esh Bayou" "Long Live the Bayou."
Anthem: "God save the King" "Battle Cry of Freedom"
Status	Self-proclaimed sovereign state
Capital	Da'a'ck
Largest city	Amesston (Overseas)
Government	Federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy
• Monarch	Charles I
• Prime Minister	Christoph Billung
Legislature	Parliament
• Upper house	House of Lords
• Lower house	House of Commons
Establishment
• Elaro-Pontunian Unification	8 July 2022
• Constitution Ratified	9 July 2022
• Elaro-Zepranan Reunification	9 July 2022
Area
• Land	103.7 km2 (40.0 sq mi)
Population
• 2022 estimate	200-250

The United Kingdom of the Great Bayou also known as the Great Bayou or United Bayou was an intermicronational union composed of Ela'r'oech, Pontunia, Alaria, Zeprana, Naga, and Lateritia located primarily in the Bayou Sector, however it has territories as far as the New England Sector and Rhode Island Sector which was founded after the unification of the Empire of Ela'r'oech and the Kingdom of Pontunia on 8 July 2022. Notably, this is likely the largest deep south micronation in the United States by land claims and possibly population. It dissolved on 6 August 2022, due to Andrew Perdomo being unhappy with his role in the nation, and Elarians wishing to be independent again.

After the Emperor of Ela'r'oech acquired the Pontunian throne, the two parliaments merged into the Parliament of the United Bayou to oversee the creation of another United Bayou. After Madgett v. Perdomo, there were renewed plans to re-establish the United Bayou. However, as Pontunia showed no interest in such, it was not forced. However, after Pontunian aggression towards the Empire of Ela'r'oech, the resolution to recognize the Catholic Republic of Pontunia as an illegal breakaway state.

Etymology

In usage in the Southern United States, a bayou is a body of water typically found in a flat, low-lying area. Bayous are commonly found in the Gulf Coast region of the southern United States, especially in the Mississippi River Delta, where the Kingdom has significant territory. The name also comes from the Bayou Sector, which most micronations in the Kingdom are from.

Sovereignty

The sovereignty of the United Bayou is still being discussed in the union today. In the Parliaments of Ela'r'oech and Pontunia, both nations are deciding how to handle the United Bayou. The discussion primarily stems from the fact that as the sovereign of both nations, Charles I has Pontunia and Ela'r'oech de-facto acting as a personal union. However, with the United Bayou, it is also being called into question as to whether the two independent micronations will join into one new micronation, which would then undermine both sovereignties, or if the Bayou is simply a union.

As it stands, the United Bayou simply acts as a personal union, however it is subject to change by the Parliament.

Proposals

Britannia proposal

The main proposal for the United Kingdom of the Great Bayou would be adopting a government system similar to that of Great Britain. In it, both Ela'r'oech and Pontunia would be regarded as separate constituent micronations which are part of the micronation and legal union known as the United Kingdom of the Great Bayou. Neither nation would change their territories or how they govern their local territories.

In this Great Britain approach, however, each micronation has a set representation in the United Bayou. The Empire of Ela'r'oech would be the nation with the House of Lords, the upper house of the Parliament of the United Bayou, and the Kingdom of Pontunia would be the nation with the House of Lords, the lower house of the Parliament. This example primarily promoted more political diversity and democratic ideals in Pontunia, while Ela'r'oech would be culturally and socially the same, as there would be little to no change seeing as most Parliament members in the Empire already act as aristocrats.

Dual monarchy proposal

The other main proposal for the United Kingdom of the Great Bayou is that the two nations join it, however the title would be completely unnecessary, legally. The two micronations of the Empire of Ela'r'oech and the Kingdom of Pontunia would be effectively sovereign. Charles I of Ela'r'oech would still be presumptively the monarch of both micronations. Their two legislatures would work completely independently and in their own interests.

Konigreich proposal

A separate proposal for the United Bayou would be to adopt a new government system almost entirely, with the main point of the proposal being a cultural shift from French and British approaches to their government, and instead replacing them with more Germanic and Prussian approaches. In this 'Konigreich' proposal, the Empire of Ela'r'oech would dissolve all of it's territories, with Pontunia not needing to as it already has none.

In the proposal, the King would act as the authoritarian, with a council of advisors appointed by him from both Ela'r'oech and Pontunia. The territories of the Empire of Ela'r'oech and Kingdom of Pontunia would almost become one, with the two known as Federal States - something that was in the 2022 established United Kingdom of the Great Bayou - or, in this proposal, Königreiche (State Kingdoms) and there would be an arbitrary amount of Imperial Territories (Reichsländer) which would act as their form of provinces.

Other proposals

In the Federal Union Proposal, the United Bayou could adopt a federal system similar to the United States or Germany. In this model, both Ela'r'oech and Pontunia would remain independent micronations but come together under a federal government for certain common issues, such as defense, foreign affairs, and economic policy. Each micronation would have its own government responsible for local affairs.

In the Confederation Proposal, instead of a full union or federation, the United Bayou could become a confederation. In this scenario, Ela'r'oech and Pontunia would agree to cooperate closely on specific matters, but they would retain a high degree of sovereignty. The confederation might have a weak central authority that deals with common interests, leaving most governing powers to the individual micronations.

History

Ela'r'oech was initially founded in 11 August 2018 as the First Artillery. Pontunia was Founded 12 January 2020 as the Duchy of Ponchartrain-Maurepas. The two countries merged after negotiations on 8 July 2022. The next day, Zeprana reunified with the Empire of Ela'r'oech and the constitution was ratified on the same day.

Initial United Bayou

On 14 July 2022, after the nation was failing to fully unite due to internal relations with members of the government becoming shaky, a two breakaways were established. There was a Zepranan breakaway made followed by Andrew Perdomo's led Pontunia seceding from the Kingdom. The Zepranan breakaway was easily dealt with via military force and establishment of temporary martial law in the area. Pontunia remained as a secessionist partially recognized state until 29 July 2022 when Pontunia and the Kingdom officially reunified.

Re-establishment of the Union

After the dissolution of the United Kingdom in 2022, Pontunian aggression towards the Empire of Ela'r'oech in 2023 led the Empire to declare the initial dissolution an illegal secession, citing that Pontunia had no reason nor legal right to leave the United Bayou. It was eventually decided on 14 December 2023 that the United Bayou would be using a mixed form of both the Britannia and Konigreich proposals.

Government and politics

The Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy ruled by Charles Mevd, the King of the Bayou. There is no Prime Minister, or second-in-power set in place yet. The legislature is the parliament with the Upper house consisting of an appointed House of Lords and the Lower house consisting of an elected House of Commons.

The House of Commons may propose and vote on new resolutions. In the event that the resolution passes, it is passed on to the House of Lords which must then discuss the idea of vetoing the resolution. If the resolution is not vetoed, then the resolution is passed on to the King for him to sign it.

The United Bayou is currently governed by the monarchy and the Parliament of the United Bayou, which itself is made up of the Parliament of Pontunia and the Parliament of Ela'r'oech.

Geography

Both constituent nations of the United Bayou are located in Louisiana, a state located in the southern region of the United States. As such, the climate of the United Bayou is often humid and warm. In the winter, it can get to as low as the 30s in Fahrenheit degrees. For the colonies outside of the mainland, for example in the Colony of Raul, the temperatures in the winter can get to as low as the negatives.

Territories

Within the mainland of the United Bayou, there are five states. Two states are in the Empire of Ela'r'oech, and two states are in the Kingdom of Pontunia. Carolusia, the capital state, is located in an area decidedly shared by both constituencies, so is usually regarded as being simply the property of the United Bayou as a whole.

Outside of the mainland, there are two colonies. The colonies, as of 2023, are the Colony of Raul, and the Colony of Volcavia. The two colonies are located in Florida, and Washingston State respectively.

States of the United Kingdom of the Great Bayou

Flag and Name	Parliamentary Representative	Date established	District
Carolusia	Vacant	15 December 2023	None, federally autonomous
Mabo	Vacant	15 December 2023	Ela'r'oech
Hanpo	Vacant	15 December 2023
Fīdlub	Vacant	15 December 2023	Pontunia
Moonz	Vacant	15 December 2023

Colonies of the United Kingdom of the Great Bayou

Flag and Name	Date established	Location	Status
Volcavia	15 December 2023	Florida, United States	Complete lack of autonomy
Raul	15 December 2023	Washington State, United States

Demographics

Citizenship

As of the 2022 Census, 92.9% of all respondents say they are a citizen of the Kingdom.

Race

• 85.7% of respondents identify as White.
• 7.1% identify was African American
• 7.1% identify as mixed race.
• 14.3% of respondents identify as Hispanic (Latino)
• 57.1% of respondents identify as part of the Elarian race/ethnic group.