Vera Hewitt

Vera Hewitt OJR OBM DGCSM DNVI
Secretary-General of the Revolutionary Committee of the Blair Mountain League
Incumbent
Assumed office 2 August 2021
Preceded by	Office established
Chairwoman of the NRR Central Executive Committee Prime Minister of the NRR
Incumbent
Assumed office 9 August 2021
Preceded by	Office established
1st President of the Commonwealth of New Virginia
In office 1 August 2020 – 2 August 2021
Prime Minister	Dame Elizabeth Lewis (2020, 2021) Dame Sophia Albina (2020-2021) Sir Simon White (2021)
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	Sir Adam Belcher as Acting President
3rd Prime Minister of the Empire of Austenasia
In office 4 March 2015 – 12 February 2020
Monarchs	HIM Emperor Jonathan I
Deputy	HIH Eritoshi, Countess of Memphis Lady Vice Admiral Elizabeth Lewis, Duchess of Bernardston
Preceded by	HIH Eritoshi, Countess of Memphis
Succeeded by	HSH Prince Dionisiy I, Duke of Lycaonia
19th Chair of the Grand Unified Micronational
In office 13 June 2014 – 13 September 2014
Preceded by	Bradley of Dullahan
Succeeded by	Adam I of Adammia
K. Riley Hewitt
Personal details
Born	United States
Citizenship	New Richmonder, Ashukov, American
Political party	Blair Mountain League
Residence	District of Fayette
Alma mater	Molossian Naval Academy University of Saint Charlie
Religion	Church of New Richmond The Episcopal Church
Military service
Allegiance	Empire of Austenasia New Richmond Republic
Branch/service	Austenasian Army (2013 - 2015) Imperial Navy (2015 - 2020) Corps of Revolutionary Guards (2021 - present)
Years of service	2013 - 2020 2021 - present
Rank	Dux (2013 - 2015) Admiral (2015 - 2020) Guard commander (2021 - present)
Commands	Americae Aquilonis Chief of Naval Operations Outlands Revolutionary Guard

Vera Hewitt OJR OBM DGCSM DNVI is a New Richmonder stateswoman, diplomat, lawyer, military officer, Empress of Abelden and former judge who is the founder and current paramount leader of the New Richmond Republic, which she established in the wake of the New Virginian July Revolution. She was a former prominent micronationalist and is most well known for having established and/or led a number of micronations including Ashukovo, Austenasia, and New Virginia. She was Vice-Chair of the Grand Unified Micronational.

Following the dissolution of her first micronation in January 2013 after five months of activity, Hewitt joined the now-defunct Confederation of Amager. She served as the Confederation's final Prime Minister for a few weeks prior to its dissolution in April 2013, upon which point the People's Republic of Montania was established under her leadership. She established the Ashukov Federation alongside Edward Jacobs and others in May 2013, with Montania becoming one of the first federated states thereof. Having been the principal author of the Federation's constitution, she was elected its first President. Throughout the First Federation's existence she served in a variety of offices; however, she remained the nation's principal diplomatic representative to the micronational community until her departure from the project in September 2014.

While still serving as an Ashukov politician and living within its borders, Hewitt established the Dominion of New Richmond as an Austenasian Crown Dependency in August 2013. Immediately following her departure from Ashukovo, she annexed the majority of Montania's land into the Dominion and petitioned the Imperial Parliament to elevate it to the status of town. The vote passed with little resistance and New Richmond became one of the founding towns of the Empire's first duchy outside of Great Britain, the Duchy of New Virginia. Hewitt then began her rapid ascent to power within the Empire, culminating in her victory in the March 2015 general election wherein she unseated the incumbent to become the third Prime Minister of Austenasia - an office she held for nearly five years. Hewitt remains the longest serving Prime Minister in Austenasian history.

Hewitt's term as Austenasian chief executive was characterized by a wide range of progressive policies aimed towards bolstering democracy and government accountability. Following a political dispute regarding same-sex civil unions between her left-wing Imperial Party and the conservative Emperor of Austenasia, Jonathan I, she began to organize the New Virginian independence movement in late 2019. The movement was successful, and the Commonwealth of New Virginia amicably seceded from Austenasia in February 2020. Hewitt was chosen to lead the newly-established republic as Chair of the Provisional Council, exercising near-dictatorial power with that council serving as a rubber stamp for her proposals and initiatives. She authored a draft constitution which was enacted by referendum in August 2020, and soon thereafter she was elected to serve as the Commonwealth's first President.

Under Hewitt's leadership, New Virginia rapidly became a leading nation within the MicroWiki community.

Hewitt attended the Molossian Naval Academy, where she received a certificate in military and naval sciences, and the University of Saint Charlie, where she received a doctorate in micronational law with a focus on constitutional law. She had a successful Austenasian military career, retiring after almost five years of service as an admiral of the Imperial Navy; and has held various judicial appointments, notably serving as a Supreme Justice and Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Grand Unified Micronational. She is a prolific author of micronational constitutions and is often consulted by micronationalists for advice on how to structure constitutional frameworks.

Dame Vera has in the past been consistently ranked as one of the most influential members of the MicroWiki Community, and ranked seventh on the October 2020 MicroWiki's Top 25 survey and eighth on the 2020 MicroWiki's 25 Most Influential. She was additionally named Dime Micronationalist of the Month for March 2019. Hewitt currently serves as an administrator of the Micropolitan Lounge, and was previously a MicroWiki Administrator from May 2014 to February 2020 and from July 2020 to June 2021.

Early life

Dame Vera Hewitt was born to William and Kristie Hewitt, the first of two children. She spent her early years living with her mother, great uncle and grandmother, while her father worked to provide for his family over 200 miles away. Around the age of seven, Hewitt, her parents, and her younger brother moved to the area now known as Saint Josephsburg in New Richmond.

Hewitt's first venture into micronationalism occurred as a young elementary school student, when she established the Playground Kingdom with the help of some friends. She was declared sovereign of the Playground. Her friends, who formed the Playground Army, conquered the playground. This kingdom later faded away as young Vera and her friends grew older.

Early career

On 28 January 2013, Hewitt established the Federal Republic of Montania. It joined the Confederation of Saint Luke and Amager soon thereafter. She quickly rose to power, serving as fourth and final head of government of that state. After the collapse of Amager, she led a coup in Montania and established the People's Republic of Montania.

Months later, Montania became one of the founding states of the Ashukov Federation. Hewitt served as President of the Federation starting 25 May 2013. She won the presidential election after her sole opponent, Edward Jacobs, withdrew his candidacy. On 22 September 2013, she lost the second Presidential elections to Edward Jacobs. However, on September 25, Hewitt was appointed Prime Minister of Ashukovo by the newly elected President Edward Jacobs. She later resigned.

After two months of absence from Ashukov politics, Hewitt was appointed Foreign and Home Minister in the Ford Cabinet and Supreme Judge on 25 January 2014. On 25 May 2014, she became the first person on to be appointed Prime Minister twice. She resigned in early September 2014 to focus on her Austenasian political career and renounced her Ashukov citizenship on 2 October 2014.

Austenasian career

Hewitt joined Austenasia as a Governing Commissioner in August 2013, when she ceded a small, unpopulated strip of land in what is now North New Richmond to the Empire. The land was declared to be the Crown Dependency of New Richmond, and Hewitt was appointed its Governing Commissioner. New Richmond remained a Crown Dependency for over a year, eventually annexing the adjacent land, thereby giving New Richmond a population of two. On 7 September 2014, New Richmond acquired the former Ashukov city of Saint Josephsburg, increasing the population of New Richmond from two to ten, and an Act of Parliament made New Richmond, along with Shineshore, an Austenasian Town. Hewitt was made Count of Greater Richmond and Acting Representative of New Richmond in Parliament. On Independence Day 2014, Hewitt was made a Caesar of Austenasia, and was appointed the Emperor's deputy for the North American Crown Dependencies.

Chancellor

Following Independence Day, Hewitt ran unopposed in the October 2014 local election, and was appointed Chancellor thereafter. She presented the Speaker of the House of Representatives Act 2014, which established the office of Speaker of the House of Representatives. She also laid the foundations for ambitious Treasury reform which was later enacted when she became Prime Minister.

Campaign for Prime Minister

Following the October 2014 local election, numerous Austenasian politicians, including Hewitt, expressed the opinion that then Prime Minister Countess Eritoshi of Memphis's democratic mandate had lost its legitimacy, as the electorate that had chosen her to serve as Prime Minister had become a small portion of the Austenasian population. The Emperor concurred, and on 3 January 2015 announced that a general election would be held on 3 March 2015. On February 4, 2015, the Emperor confirmed two candidates for the general election: the incumbent, Countess Eritoshi of Memphis and the Chancellor, Lady Dux Vera Hewitt.

Hewitt established her campaign team, Hewitt for Prime Minister 2015, with Adam von Friedeck as his chief adviser. The campaign team used social media extensively throughout the campaign, setting up a website and a Facebook page. Hewitt also released a platform wherein she stated that her campaign was non-partisan and that she invited all Austenasians, regardless of political affiliation or conviction, to support her.

Her campaign was effective. On 4 March 2015, Hewitt became Prime Minister of the Empire of Austenasia with 68.3% of the vote.

Prime Minister

Soon after she assumed the office of Prime Minister, Hewitt established her staff, the first of its kind in the history of the Prime Minister's Office. Adam von Friedeck, Hewitt's former chief adviser, was made Chief of Staff, and then Lady Legate Elizabeth Lewis was made Deputy Chief of Staff. Hewitt and von Friedeck appointed various members of the former campaign team to staff positions.

Hewitt's term was marked by several reforms to the government structure of the Empire, two constitutional amendments, the dissolution and formation of various ministries, the foundation of the now-defunct Imperial Navy, various annexations, and the general increase in the Empire's influence in the MicroWiki community. Hewitt was re-elected as Prime Minister in 2019 by a landslide vote of 86.84%, and continued to serve until the 2020 general election in which she did not contest.

Hewitt announced her retirement from Austenasian politics in November 2019, and a general election to determine her successor was scheduled for February 2020. HSH Prince Dionisiy I of the Town of Theodosiopolis was elected as Prime Minister. At the time of her retirement, Hewitt was the second longest serving Prime Minister in Austenasian history.

New Virginian career

Following the secession of New Virginia from the Empire of Austenasia on 11 February 2020, Hewitt assumed office as Chairwoman of the Provisional Council of New Virginia, becoming the first head of state and head of government of the Commonwealth.

Personal life

Hewitt lives in New Richmond. She is a classically trained choral and instrumental musician. She is an avid fan of college basketball, a military enthusiast, and is the former executive officer of her high school's Army Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps battalion, holding the rank of Cadet Major prior to graduation. She is a self-professed Anglo-Catholic and serves as the Bishop of New Richmond - the leader of the Anglican Connexion of the United Protestant Church of New Virginia. She is also a confirmed member of the Episcopal Church.

Military career

Hewitt, a graduate of the Molossian Naval Academy at Spyglass Hill, has served in various nations' armed forces. She served as a private in the Domanglian military in 2012 and as a colonel in the Ashukov Army for a brief time in 2014.

Ashukov Federal Armed Forces

• Colonel, Montanian Region Commander: 18 May 2014 - 2 October 2014

Austenasian Armed Forces

• Dux, Dux Americae Aquilonis: 3 October 2013 - 8 March 2015
• Admiral, Chief of Naval Operations: 8 March 2015 – 10 January 2020

United States Army Junior Reserve Officer's Training Corps

• Cadet Private: 6 January 2015 - 21 October 2015
• Cadet Staff Sergeant; Army JROTC Battalion, Alpha Company, 2nd Platoon, 4th Squad Leader: 21 October 2015 - 14 September 2016
• Cadet Major, Army JROTC Battalion Executive Officer: 14 September 2016 - 16 May 2017

Titles and honours

Noble titles

• Princess of All Ashukovo
• Duchess of Moravia
• Marquise of Saamark
• Margravine of Coburg
• Marquise of Giang Dương
• Countess Emmanuel
• Viscountess of Oldville
• Viscountess of North Xtabay
• Baroness Hewitt
• Baroness of Lamptree
• Lady of Barentszburg in Spitsbergen
• Lady of South Marine

Honours

Honours from micronations established by Hewitt:

• Order of the July Revolution
• Order of Blair Mountain
• Dame Grand Cross of the Noble and Illustrious Order of Saint Marinus
• Dame of the Order of New Virginian Independence
• Presidential Award of Merit and Honour
• Presidential Award of Honour and Justice
• Order of Radivojević
• Order of Beneficence

Foreign honours:

• Order of the Angel
• Dame of the Most Serene Order of Saint Michael
• Dame of the Order of the Snake Knights
• Dame of the Order of the Wyvern
• Commander Cross of the Order of William I
• Stranger Dame of the Order of Saint Michael
• Dame of the Order of the Meerkat
• Dame of the Order of the Heart
• Officer of the Order of the Baphomet
• Sister of the Order of the Steel Ring
• Member of the Most Honourable Order of the Throne of Sandus
• Essexia Cross
• Dame of the Order of Amelia
• Member of the Essian Order
• Lieutenant of the Order of the Marquis - 23 August 2021
• Companion of the Order of St Thomas and St Andrew
• Member of the Order of the White Dove
• Honorary Recipient of the National Service Medal
• Mahadeshabandhu
• Recipient of the Commemorative Medal of the First Anniversary of the Vishwamitran Monarchy
• Member of the Honourable Order of the Martlet - 11 November 2022

Former noble titles and honours

• Caesar - renounced
• Duchess of New Royton - renounced
• Duchess of Bohemia - renounced
• Countess of Greater Richmond - renounced
• Baroness of the Memes - renounced
• Baroness of Domum - renounced
• Dame Companion of the Glorious Order of Saint John - renounced
• Dame Imperial of the Order of Saint Constantine - renounced
• Imperial Dame of the Austenasian Order - renounced
• Dame of the Order of Adammia - replaced by Dame of the Order of the Meerkat
• Dame of the Splendid Analogy - renounced
• First Class Honor of the Order of Tolba - renounced
• Dame of the Order of the Penguin - renounced
• Member Special Class of the Order of Diplomatic Service Merit - order abolished
• Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Order of the Lotus - order abolished
• Dame of the Most Auspicious Order of the Sanghamitra - order abolished
• Dame First Class of the Order of the Precious Crown - order abolished

Ribbon bars