Republic of Molossia

For the ancient Epirote tribe of Molossia, see Molossians.
Republic of Molossia
Respubliko de Molossia
Micronation
Flag Coat of Arms
Motto: Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained
Anthem: "Fair Molossia is Our Home"[1]
Capital
and largest city		Baughston
Official languages English, Esperanto, Deseret alphabet (English)
Organizational structure Constitutional presidential republic (de jure) Military dictatorship (de facto)
 •  President Kevin Baugh
Legislature National Assembly
Establishment
 •  Declared September 3, 1999 
Area claimed
 •  Total 0.0053 km2
0.002 sq mi
Population
 •  estimate 3
Membership 31 (2016)[2][3]
Purported currency Valora
Time zone Molossian Standard Time (UTC-7 hours, 41 minutes)
Molossian Daylight Time (UTC-8:41)
Calling code +1 775

Molossia, also known as the self-proclaimed Republic of Molossia, is a micronation, founded by Kevin Baugh (b. 30 July 1962) and headquartered at his home in Dayton, Nevada. The Republic of Molossia has claimed itself a nation but it is not officially recognized as a country by the United Nations or any country.

It consists of Baugh's house (known as the Government House), about 0.01 acres (40 m2) in size, as well as 1.3 acres (5,000 m2) of surrounding property, enclaved by Nevada. It formerly claimed a property in Pennsylvania as well. Originally established as a childhood project in 1977, Molossia subsequently evolved into a territorial entity in the late 1990s.

The name Molossia is derived from the Spanish word morro which means "small rocky hill". Baugh has stated the ancient Greek tribe of Molossians is unrelated.[4]

History

On September 3, 1999, Baugh created the Republic of Molossia as a successor to a childhood make-believe kingdom called "The Grand Republic of Vuldstein", and declared himself to be its president.

On November 13, 2012, Kevin Baugh created a petition on the WhiteHouse.gov We the People website requesting formal recognition of the micronation. However, his petition did not gain enough signatures for recognition.

On April 11, 2015, Kevin Baugh hosted Micro-Con 2015 in Anaheim Central Library in California. Micro-Con was created to attract media attention to the micronational world.[5]

On 16 April 2016, Baugh hosted a tour of his nation, sponsored by the website Atlas Obscura.[3]

Territory

Border sign, Harmony Province

Molossia consists of two properties (previously three) that are owned by Baugh, located within the continental United States and comprising a total area of 6.3 acres (2.5 ha): Harmony Province, located within Dayton, Nevada, is the smallest of Molossia's territories at little more than one acre (4,000 m2) in size. It is the Baugh family's primary place of residence, and the site of Molossia's designated capital, Baughston. Baughston was renamed from Espera on 30 July 2013 to commemorate President Baugh's 51st birthday.[6] The United States of America's street address for Kevin Baugh's house is 226 Mary Lane Road, Dayton, NV 89403.[7]

The Protectorate of New Antrim was located at an undisclosed location in Pennsylvania and was the largest of Molossia's territories at a little over 8 acres (3.2 ha) in extent. It was named after County Antrim in Northern Ireland and had its own governor, Grand Admiral Hess. It is no longer claimed by Molossia.

In August 2003, Baugh purchased a small piece of rural land in Northern California. This was referred to the Colony of Farfalla. The property was sold late in 2005, after Baugh inherited more land which he subsequently named Desert Homestead Province, in Southern California.[4] Desert Homestead was previously owned by Baugh's grandfather, and the property has since been declared a "national monument" dedicated to him. Finally, in early 2015, it was shared, that Farfalla Colony is Molossians territory again.[4]

Vesperia is the name of Molossia's claim of 49,881 square miles (130,000 km2) on the planet of Venus.

Additionally, Molossia claims a spot named Neptune Deep in the North Pacific Ocean, about 750 kilometres (470 mi) southwest of Mexico.[8]

Operations

His Excellency President Kevin Baugh (born July 30, 1962)

Proclamations

The Republic of Molossia claims to be a sovereign, independent nation-state, completely surrounded by the United States. As a result, it has adopted a system of government recognizably similar in structure to that of a sovereign state.

Same-sex marriage has been legal in Molossia since 2002.

Military

The Republic of Molossia has no Army or Air Force. It maintains a standing Navy with a fleet of four vessels and a land infantry division, the Molossian Naval Infantry. The M.S. Spindrift, the Navy's flagship is a 13-by-3-foot (3.96 by 0.91 m) Allen Class inflatable boat. The M.S. Manatee and twin boats M.S. Bandicoot and the M.S. Platypus form the remainder of the fleet. The M.S. Wombat, the first vessel of the Navy, built in 2005, was decommissioned on 7 April 2013. The Navy has one commissioned officer and 49 honorary commissioned officers.

Space program

The Republic of Molossia Ministry for Air and Space Exploration is charged with all matters related to air and spacecraft in the Republic; it previously was under command of the now disbanded Molossian Air Force). It has many running projects in existence including the Skylofter Project.

Structure

Molossia is a republic governed by a constitution creating a National Assembly and other institutions of state. However, "due to unrest and the ever-present foreign menace from over the border", a state of martial law exists, enabling President Baugh to exercise all powers of governance, including foreign affairs, while making the National Assembly an advisory body with no legislative powers.[4]

Foreign relations

Molossia recognizes several other micronations, with numerous treaties enacted to this end.[4] In May 2008, a summit was held with Grand Duke Paul, leader of the Grand Duchy of Greifenberg, another micronation. Plans were made for the revitalization of the League of Small Nations, a nearly defunct organization devoted to the prosperity of all micronations claiming land. This was Molossia's first formal state visit.[9] Molossia asserts it was one of the first countries to recognize the Republic of Kosovo, one day after the Albanian majority country was declared on February 18, 2008, with Baugh sending an official letter to the newly formed government.[10] However Molossia now only opens informal relations with other states.

Economy

Molossia sells a variety of products in person and online, including homemade soap and signed photographs of the Baughs.[11][12][3] Cinderella stamps are also produced by Molossia through its self-created Postal and Telegraph Service.[13]

Molossia's purported currency is the Valora, which is subdivided into 100 Futtrus and pegged to the relative value of Pillsbury cookie dough.[14] Cookie dough is stored in an outbuilding called the Bank of Molossia, from which Valora coins made from gambling chips and printed "banknotes" are sold.[15][16]

Tourism

Molossian customs station

In recent years the various micronation-themed art installations and landscaping projects that Baugh has constructed around his home have begun to attract outside interest, with Baugh taking visitors on guided tours of the property by prior arrangement.[9] As of 2008, he claims to have hosted around 15 visitors in a year. Visitors are required to produce a passport and their pocket change in order to be admitted.[17] Baugh has stated that these requirements are waived for citizens of Andorra, Liechtenstein, San Marino, Monaco, Seborga and "any other country recognized by Molossia".[4]

Visitors are not allowed to bring certain items onto the property, including tobacco and incandescent light bulbs.[18]

War with East Germany

The Republic of Molossia has claimed to be fighting a war with East Germany[19] and it has issued war bonds to finance the war effort.[20] It claims to have been fighting it since November 2, 1983.[19] Although East Germany is now defunct, President Baugh asserts that Ernst Thälmann Island, allegedly given to East Germany by Cuba in 1972, is sovereign territory of East Germany, and thus allows the war to continue. In reality, the island has always been under Cuban sovereignty and was not given to East Germany; Fidel Castro merely renamed the island after a 1930s-era German communist leader, Ernst Thälmann, during a Cuban state visit by East German leader Erich Honecker in June 1972.

In popular culture

Molossia was the main focus and site of the two-year anniversary of the That Guy with the Glasses website. Doug Walker produced a six-part mini-series starring Channel Awesome members titled Kickassia, primarily set and filmed on-location in Molossia and a nearby hotel. In the film, the Nostalgia Critic conquers Molossia and becomes its new leader, with the help of various other members of the "That Guy With the Glasses" site. The critics succeed and rename the nation "Kickassia" with plans to hopelessly conquer the United States, but the Critic becomes corrupt with his own power, leading the members of Channel Awesome to revolt against him and return Baugh to power. Baugh stars as a comical version of himself.[21]

Molossia appeared as one of several micronations in the Japanese online webcomic Hetalia: Axis Powers. Baugh is seen interacting with other micronations such as Sealand, Seborga, and Wy.[22][23]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Our New National Anthem Republic of Molossia (www.molossia.org). Date 28 January 2014; access date 4 September 2014
  2. ↑ "Newsbites". Republic of Molossia. 18 March 2012. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 "Interviewing the President of Molossia". Atlas Obscura. 14 April 2016. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Republic of Molossia - Official Website". Republic of Molossia. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
  5. ↑ MicroCon 2015
  6. ↑ "The President's 51st Birthday". Republic of Molossia. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
  7. ↑ Ames, Justin (16 July 2014). "Visiting The Republic Of Molossia: Part 1 of 2". The Velvet Rocket. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
  8. ↑ "Neptune Deep". Republic of Molossia. Retrieved 24 March 2010.
  9. 1 2 "Follow-up interview with Kevin Baugh, president of the Republic of Molossia". Wikinews. 1 May 2008. Retrieved 12 August 2008.
  10. ↑ "Kosovo" (Press release). Molossia. 18 February 2008.
  11. ↑ "Autographed Photos". Republic of Molossia. Retrieved 2014-09-16.
  12. ↑ "Supremo Soap!". Republic of Molossia. Retrieved 2014-09-16.
  13. ↑ "Molossian Postal, Telegraph & Telephone Service". Republic of Molossia. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  14. ↑ "Molossia’s currency, the Valora, is linked in value to Pillsbury Cookie Dough (the current exchange rate of 1 Valora to $1 is 0.75)." Atlas Obscura article, April 2016
  15. ↑ "Bank of Molossia". Republic of Molossia. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  16. ↑ "'Lonely Planet' Explores Micronations". Day to Day ([National Public Radio]]). 1 November 2006. Retrieved 19 April 2008.
  17. ↑ "Tech TV Interview". Republic of Molossia. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
  18. ↑ "Republic of Molossia announces new customs station". Wikinews. 12 May 2008. Retrieved 13 August 2008.
  19. 1 2 "The War With East Germany". Republic of Molossia. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
  20. ↑ "Buy War Bonds". Republic of Molossia. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
  21. ↑ "The Invasion Movie!" Republic of Molossia. Retrieved 4 December 2010
  22. ↑ "Molossia - Hetalia Archives". Hetalia Archives. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  23. ↑ Micronations: Lonely Planet Guide to Home-Made Nations. Oakland, CA: Lonely Planet Publications. 2006. pp. 64–68.

Further reading

External links

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Republic of Molossia.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Molossia.
External images
A 30th-anniversary coin
A customs station
A passport stamp from Molossia
A postage stamp from Molossia
A set of stamps
Wikinews has related news: Wikinews interviews Kevin Baugh, president of the Republic of Molossia
Wikinews has related news: Wikinews holds a follow-up interview with Kevin Baugh, president of the Republic of Molossia
Wikinews has related news: Wikinews interviews Molossian president Kevin Baugh on his country's recent intermicronational summit
Wikinews has related news: Micronation Republic of Molossia announces international summit
Wikinews has related news: Republic of Molossia hosts state visit
Wikinews has related news: Republic of Molossia announces new customs station

Coordinates: 39°19′22.08″N 119°32′22.92″W / 39.3228000°N 119.5397000°W / 39.3228000; -119.5397000

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