116
VENTURE
Make it official
“You have to state your presence,” says Alexander (pictured left). “It’s about how you choose to interact with the world.” In 2008, Terry I and Jonathan sent a formal declaration of independence to their local MP, Tom Brake, who contacted then UK foreign secretary William Hague to enquire about the official criteria for recognition of new micronations.
Pick a strong name
When choosing your regnal name, do the homework so you don’t accidentally inherit a legacy of failure. “Alexander means ‘defender of others’,” the emperor says. “I chose it for idealistic reasons. It’s a solid name for someone whose job is to keep things thriving.”
Establish your authority
Alexander VI, the recently crowned emperor of Austenasia, on how to lead a micronation It’s not easy being emperor. Just ask Alexander VI of Austenasia. Last June, the micronation founded in a Surrey semi in 2008 was rocked by a constitutional crisis when then prime minister Lord Andrew Musgrave staged a coup to overthrow incumbent emperor Aggelos I. “It was a case of two big personalities clashing,” Alexander says. “When it came to a head, our founder Jonathan backed Aggelos.” Lord Andrew didn’t leave quietly. He took the digital keys to the kingdom – the .com domain – where the splinter group now operates; the official monarchy moved to .org. Aggelos’ eventual abdication handed power to Alexander, or Crown Prince Shiro as he was known. The estimated number of micronations ranges from 100 to 400. Unlike officially recognised microstates such as Monaco, these are self-declared entities created for political, hobbyist or artistic reasons. Austenasia’s history is surprisingly dense for a project run from a living room. Founded in September 2008, when Terry I and his son Jonathan declared their home a sovereign state, the micronation eventually grew to include nearby “vassal kingdoms” and then properties worldwide. Over time, Austenasia shifted THE RED BULLETIN
from a suburban hobby to a revivalist realm claiming a lineage from the Roman Empire. It even has its own newspaper, constitution and enforceable laws. Today, Alexander reigns from Thailand, where he works a day job while managing a diaspora of 126 subjects via Discord. “In five minutes, you can go from talking to a dude from India to a dude from America,” he explains. “It’s very educational.” The emperor has never visited his own capital, however. “I hope to visit Carshalton one day,” he says, “for my official coronation.” Between managing Austenasia’s MicroWiki and passing acts to claim new “territorial” parcels of land, Alexander acknowledges the absurdity. “We have to embrace the theatricality. And if it was all about self-aggrandisement, that shine would fade. It’s all about the people.” For those keen to carve out their own slice of suburban sovereignty, the emperor offers these rules…
“I hope to visit Carshalton for my official coronation” Alexander VI, emperor of Austenasia
Don’t suffer bad actors
Even in a nation of 126 people, you’ll encounter the equivalent of an internet troll. Alexander is clear that while the setting is theatrical, discipline must be real. “You get the odd bad actor who comes in with the sole intention of making others angry,” he warns. “We’ve expelled a prime minister and deposed emperors in the past. It’s never a pleasant process, but sometimes you must give them the boot. You have to maintain a good atmosphere.”
Embrace benevolence
Under Alexander VI, Austenasia focuses on charity, having set up the ‘Order of Saint Constantine’ as the empire’s primary vehicle for charitable work. Its latest initiative is a fundraising drive for the Olympic Refuge Foundation, which supports young refugees through sport. “In terms of charity, Austenasia is one of the quieter organisations,” he says. “Flandrensis and Westarctica [both claiming area in Antarctica] exist solely for conservation, for instance. Ladonia [in Sweden] does the same for artists. For many of us, it’s an opportunity to do a little bit of good in the world.” To learn more about Austenasia, visit the official website: austenasia.org
MATT BLAKE
BECOME A RULER
TOM HUSSEY
HOW TO
A king without a mandate is just a person in a fancy hat. Alexander proved his proactive stance immediately by tackling a stalled constitutional issue: the legalisation of same-sex marriage. “I saw this on my desk and said, ‘We should do something about this,’” he says. “[So] I put down the gavel. We’re improving our systems day by day to ensure every person has a voice.”