History

Rather than compile an official history of micronations and Lavalon, the Government of the Republic provides the following links to documents by third parties. The Government of the Republic offers no assurances as to their veracity!

Articles About Lavalon

  • “Lavalon” from the MNeu wiki, 2010.

    The Republic is a non-territorial micronation, but in January 2010, Consul Jason Mckerra announced that his long term aim was now to purchase land in Australia for the Republic.

  • “The End of Lavalon?”, from The Micronational View, 2005.

    Over two years ago, on August 4, 2002, Kieran Bennett, a young man from Australia whose name is now synonymous with micronationalism, came into the micronational world and founded the Principality of Lavalon.

  • Aurora Welcomes First Tourists, from the Aquila Audax, by George Cruickshank, 2009

    Emperor George II this week hosted a two-day private visit to Atlantium’s Province of Aurora by Kieran Bennett and friend, of Wodonga, Victoria.

    Mr Bennett is the founder of his own micronation – the Republic of Lavalon – which currently exists as a largely theoretical exercise, strongly grounded in liberal, progressive, environmental and social justice concerns.

Press about Micronations

  • Lonely Planet Guide to Micronations: An interview with Simon Sellars

    My mother banned me from starting up a micronation ever again, unless I could back it up with sufficient armoury and investment capital, which of course I never could, being a very lazy kid.

  • Smithsonian Mag: Micronations of the World

    The difference between the two is recognition; according to The Lonely Planet Guide to Home-Made Nations, “…a nation is only recognized as a nation if other nations that have been recognized by other nations recognize it.” And micronations are never seen as such by anyone other than their founders and residents.

  • Mini-states Down Under are sure they can secede

    While some mini-states come and go, Hutt River Province celebrates its 35th anniversary this year. Princess Shirley, 76, claims to have government documents that, she says, recognise the province as a legal entity.

    Constitutional lawyers beg to differ.

    “These states have no recognition or status under Australian law whatsoever,” said Prof George Williams of the University of New South Wales.

    “It’s a nice way of thumbing your nose at authority but ultimately it’s just a fantasy.”

Books

First published in 1985, Edwin R. Strauss’s How to Start Your Own Country is the first known guide to micronations. Documents five twentieth century attempts to create new countries, including Minerva and Rose Island.
The Lonely Planet guide to Micronations. Their definition of a micronation includes everything from Sealand (a WWII military platform occupied by the Bates family), to the Conch Republic (a publicity stunt in Florida keys), to Lovely (the premise of a TV series), Molossia (a house and block in Nevada), and British West Florida (a website promoting the integration of part of Florida into the British Empire).
In How To Start Your Own Country comedian Danny Wallace sets about creating his own country. He tries to invade an inhabited island in the Thames, goes to the UN, solicits citizens, meets Noam Chomksy and visits Sealand. 2 disc set.

Misc