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Seal
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| Motto: E Tenebris Lux (English: Out of Darkness, Light) Musical Anthem: Auroran Hymn, by Camille Saint Saens | |
| Type of entity: | Micronation |
| Location: | Sydney, Australia |
| Area claimed: | n/a |
| Membership: | 831 (2004) |
| Date of foundation: | 27 November 1981 |
| Leadership: | George Francis Cruickshank (Emperor George II) |
| Purported organisational structure: | Elective constitutional monarchy |
| Language: | Latin and English |
| Purported currency: | Imperial Solidus |
The Empire of Atlantium, based in Sydney, Australia, claims to be a progressive political advocacy group promoting the idea of world government, "non-territorial sovereignty" and a hybrid monarchist-republican form of government. External observers often call it a micronation, though it denies that label.
The Atlantium website uses several different self-descriptions, including "self-declared state" and an "aspirant microstate". The earliest documented media report referring to Atlantium is a 1984 philatelic magazine article about their cinderella stamp releases.
Atlantium claims to have been established in 1981 by three Sydney teenagers: George Francis Cruickshank, Geoffrey John Duggan, and Claire Marie Duggan. Cruickshank (born 1966) called himself "Emperor George II" and was declared "Sovereign Head of State".
Geoffrey Duggan (1982-1986), Damian Scott (1986-1988), and Kevin Fanucchi (1988-1990) served as elected "prime ministers", but by 1990, when the original group members had graduated from university and moved to different locations, the group ceased to be active.
In 1999, Cruickshank purchased an apartment in the inner Sydney suburb of Potts Point, and soon after revived the "Empire", launching a website, which was instrumental in attracting new members.
As of August 2004, the group claimed to have 831 "citizens", in over 60 countries. It is not clear how many members might be considered "active". The website names just over 20 individuals holding such functions as minister, director, magister, and imperial legate.
Among the causes Atlantium is on record as supporting are the right to unrestricted international freedom of movement, the right to abortion, the right to assisted suicide, and decimal calendar reform.
In line with its claim to be a "non-territorial" state Atlantium does not maintain any formal territorial claims; however, it does promote the idea that Cruickshank's 61 m² apartment, which serves as its headquarters, has a status similar to that of a consulate or embassy; in practice the property remains under Australian jurisdiction.
No established nation has recognised Atlantium's sovereignty claims, and it has no reciprocal diplomatic relations, but instead appoints "unaccredited diplomatic representatives" called "Imperial Legates" to serve its interests and support its citizens in various parts of the world.
Atlantium says its citizenship does not supersede previously existing citizenships. Atlantians contend that they are all dual-citizens, and that Atlantium actively encourages its members to participate in the political processes of their resident countries.
While the group uses the words "citizenship" and "diplomatic" idiosyncratically, supporters note that Atlantium has made no secret of its attempts at redefining existing paradigms, and claim that doing so is a fundamental motivation for the group's existence.
The group has awarded "Imperial Honours" to recipients in various parts of the world - generally in recognition of political activism or for service to local communities.
It also mints and sells coins and banknotes denominated in "Solidi". The website claims that the profits from those sales are used for "the Empire's ongoing operations" as well as charitable causes, though there is no verifiable accounting of that.
Notes
- Bill Hornadge (September 1984). "Atlantium Empire". Stamp News. p. 196.
- John Mulhall (July 2002). "The Empire Strikes a Coin" (PDF). The Australasian Coin & Banknote Magazine.
References
- John Ryan, George Dunford & Simon Sellars (2006). Micronations. Lonely Planet Publications. pp. 74–77. ISBN 1-74104-730-7.
- Charles Green (2005). "The Empire of Atlantium". Cabinet Magazine.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - Judy Lattas (March 2005). "DIY Sovereignty and the Popular Right in Australia" (PDF). Macquarie University.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - Nick Squires (2005-02-24). "Mini-states Down Under are sure they can secede". The Daily Telegraph.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - Mark Dapin (2005-02-12). "If at first you don't secede...". The Sydney Morning Herald — Good Weekend. pp. 47–50.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - Colin R Bruce (2005). Unusual World Coins. Krause Publications. p. 10. ISBN 0-87349-793-7.
- Justin Norrie (2004-05-07). "His Majesty George II: The boy from Hurstville who now rules a big flat". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 3.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - Justin Norrie (Nov–Dec 2003). "Micronations". HQ Magazine. pp. 90–93, 144–145.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - John Mulhall (July 2002). "The Empire Strikes a Coin" (PDF). The Australasian Coin & Banknote Magazine.
- David Fickling (2002-11-20). "Passport to Pimlico — Aussie style". The Guardian.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - Billy Adams (2001-08-29). "The national madness of King George". The New Zealand Herald.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - Calin Stroila (2001-07-16). "Cea mai mica tara este intr-un apartment". Libertatea (Romania). p. 1.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - Bill Hornadge (September 1984). "Atlantium Empire". Stamp News. p. 196.
- "Worldwide Stamp Identifier: Bogus Issues". International Society of Worldwide Stamp Collectors.