Republic of Minerva

Flag
Motto: Land of the Rising Atoll Musical Anthem: tba
Type of entity:	Micronation
Location:	Minerva Reefs, south of Fiji 23°23′S 178°58′W
Area claimed:	tba
Membership:	Unknown
Date of foundation:	January 19, 1972
Leadership:	President Morris C Davis, 1972-1973, 1982
Purported organisational structure:	Republic
Language:	English
Purported currency:	Minerva Dollar

The Republic of Minerva was one of the few modern attempts at creating a sovereign micronation on the reclaimed land of an artificial island. The architect was Las Vegas real estate millionaire and political activist Michael Oliver, who went on to be involved in other similar attempts in the following decade. Oliver formed a syndicate, the Ocean Life Research Foundation, which allegedly had some hundred million dollars for the project and had offices in New York and London. They anticipated a libertarian utopia of light industries, commercial activities and fishing as part of the economy of the new nation. Image File history File links Flag_Minerva. ... Micronations – sometimes also referred to as cybernations, fantasy countries, model countries, and new country projects – are entities that resemble independent nations or states, but for the most part exist only on paper, on the Internet, or in the minds of their creators. ... January 19 is the 19th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year that started on a Saturday. ... In a broad definition, a republic is a state whose political organization rests on the principle that the citizens or electorate constitute the ultimate root of legitimacy and sovereignty. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... Micronations – sometimes also referred to as cybernations, fantasy countries, model countries, and new country projects – are entities that resemble independent nations or states, but for the most part exist only on paper, on the Internet, or in the minds of their creators. ... Before Mexico City, Tenochtitlan was an artificial island of 250,000 (Dr Atl) Dejima, not allowed direct contact with nearby Nagasaki Formoza (Gdynia) The World in Dubai An artificial island is an island that has been formed by human, rather than natural means. ... This article is about the city of Las Vegas in Nevada. ... Real estate is a legal term that encompasses land along with anything permanently affixed to the land, such as buildings. ... A millionaire is a person who has a net worth or wealth of more than one million United States dollars, euros, UK pounds or units of a comparably valued currency. ... Immigrant, Las Vegas real estate millionaire and political activist, Oliver was the founder of the micronation project the Republic of Minerva, a failed attempt to create a sovereign state in the South Pacific in 1972. ... State nickname: The Empire State Official languages English Capital Albany Largest city New York City Governor George Pataki (R) Senators Charles Schumer (D) Hillary Clinton (D) Area  - Total  - % water Ranked 27th 141,205 km² 13. ... Part of the London skyline viewed from the South Bank London is the most populous city in the European Union, with an estimated population on 1 January 2005 of 7. ... See also Libertarianism and Libertarian Party Libertarian,is a term for person who has made a conscious and principled commitment, evidenced by a statement or Pledge, to forswear violating others rights and usually living in voluntary communities: thus in law no longer subject to government supervision. ... Utopian, in its most common and general positive meaning, refers to the human efforts to create a better, or perhaps perfect society. ... Prism splitting light Light is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength that is visible to the eye (visible light) or, in a technical or scientific context, electromagnetic radiation of any wavelength. ... One of the most influential doctrines in history is that all humans are divided into groups called nations. ...

The Minerva Reefs at 23°23′S 178°58′W in the Pacific Ocean was the site chosen for the Republic. The Minerva Reefs were named after the whaling ship Minerva, wrecked on South Minerva after setting out from Sydney in 1829. Prior to the Minerva Republic, the Minerva Reefs were also notorious due to an October 1962 shipwreck in which a group of Tongan islanders were stranded on the reef for three months. The Minerva Reefs are a group of reefs located at 23°23′S 178°58′W in the Pacific Ocean. ... The Minerva Reefs are a group of reefs located at 23°23′S 178°58′W in the Pacific Ocean. ... Sydney is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian state of New South Wales, as well as Australias largest and oldest city (founded in 1788). ... 1829 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... 1962 (MCMLXII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ...

In 1971, barges loaded with sand arrived from Australia, bringing the reef level above the water and allowing construction of a small tower and flag. The Republic of Minerva issued a declaration of independence in letters to neighboring countries and even created their own currency. In February 1972, Morris C. Davis was elected as Provisional President of the Republic of Minerva. 1971 (MCMLXXI) is a common year starting on Friday (click for link to calendar). ... Patterns in the sand Sand is an example of a class of materials called granular matter. ... A declaration of independence is a proclamation of the independence of a newly formed or reformed independent state, usually from a part or the whole of the territory of another nation, or a document containing such a declaration. ...

The declaration of independence in January 1972 was greeted with great suspicion by other countries in the area. A conference of the neighbouring states (Australia, New Zealand, Tonga, Fiji, Nauru, Western Samoa, Cook Island) met on 24 February 1972 at which Tonga made a claim over the Minerva Reefs. 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year that started on a Saturday. ... The Independent State of Samoa (conventional long form) or Samoa (conventional short form) is a country comprising a group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean. ... February 24 is the 55th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year that started on a Saturday. ...

On June 15, 1972 King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV of Tonga issued a declaration stating that the Kingdom of Tonga sought to extend jurisdiction into the territory of Minerva, and sent an expedition to claim the land. The Minervan flag was hauled down, and the atoll was later annexed by Tonga, known in Tongan as Teleki Tonga and Teleki Tokelau. Tonga's claim was recognized by the South Pacific Forum in September 1972. Meanwhile, Provisional President Davis was fired by founder Michael Oliver and the project collapsed in confusion. June 15 is the 166th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (167th in leap years), with 199 days remaining. ... 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year that started on a Saturday. ... The word king has many meanings: For the head of state, see Monarch. ... King Taufaahau Tupou IV His Majesty King Taufaahau Tupou IV (born July 4, 1918) has been the king of Tonga since the death of his mother Salote Tupou III in 1965. ... September is the ninth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of four Gregorian months with 30 days. ... 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year that started on a Saturday. ...

In 1982, a group of Americans led again by Morris C. "Bud" Davis tried to occupy the reefs, but were forced off by Tongan troops after 3 weeks. 1982 (MCMLXXXII) is a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

In recent years several groups have allegedly sought to re-establish Minerva. One, founded in October 2003, by a Charleston, South Carolina based individual identified on the group's website only as "Prince Calvin" promotes itself as a "principality", while others claim to represent a continuation of the early "republic". No claimant group has to date made any attempt to take posession of the Minerva Reefs territory. State nickname: Palmetto State Official languages English Capital Columbia Largest city Columbia Governor Mark Sanford (R) Senators Lindsey Graham (R) Jim DeMint (R) Area  - Total  - % water Ranked 40th 82,965 km² 6 Population  - Total (2000)  - Density Ranked 26th 4,012,012 51. ...

In November of 2005, Fiji lodged a complaint with the International Seabed Authority concerning territorial claim over Minerva. Both Tonga and Minerva have lodged counterclaims. The International Seabed Authority is an intergovernmental body established to organize and control all mineral-related activities in the international seabed area beyond the limits of national jurisdiction, an area underlying most of the world’s oceans. ...

References

• Erwin S Strauss, How to start your own country (Breakout Productions, Port Townsend, 1999)
• Olaf Ruhen, Minerva Reef (Halstead Press, Sydney, 1963)
• Public International Law, VII.A.4: Menefee, Republics of the Reefs
• South Seas: The Minerva Ploy, Newsweek, 23 October 1972
• South Sea Reef Proclaimed a Republic by 3 Americans, New York Times, 30 January 1972
• Micronations: Principality of Minerva, FHM Estonia, January 2005
• Principality of Minerva, Lahontan Valley News and Fallon Eagle Standard, by David Henley, December 2004

October 23 is the 296th day of the year (297th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 69 days remaining. ... 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year that started on a Saturday. ... January 30 is the 30th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year that started on a Saturday. ...

External links

• Principality of Minerva - site belonging to a current claimant "principality".
• Minervan Coin - site with details of the 1973 coin issued by Minerva.