Republic of Molossia

It consists of Baugh's house, backyard and front garden, as well as two other properties in Southern California and Pennsylvania. According to author John Ryan, Molossia is "a hobby... that has been pushed... to the nth degree."^[1] 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 notes that the ancient Greek tribe of Molossians is unrelated.^[2] In 2000 Molossia hosted The Intermicronational Olympic Games. ^[3]

History

Molossia traces its origins to a childhood micronation project - the Grand Republic of Vuldstein - which was created by Baugh and James Spielman on May 26, 1977. Vuldstein's leadership consisted of King James I (Spielman), and Prime Minister Baugh.

On September 3, 1999, Baugh created the Republic of Molossia as a latter day successor to Vuldstein, and declared himself to be its president.^[2]

In August 2003 Molossia purchased land in Northern California, claiming it as a colony called Farfalla. This claim was withdrawn in late 2005, replaced by Desert Homestead Province in Southern California.^[2]

Territory

Molossia consists of three properties located within the continental United States and comprising a total area of 5.8 hectares (14.3 acres).

Two of these are owned by Baugh and his wife, while the owner of the third is unknown, but is presumed to be its designated "governor".

Harmony Province is located near Dayton, Nevada and is the smallest of Molossia's territories at little over one acre in size. It is the Baugh family's primary place of residence, and the site of Molossia's designated capitol, Espera.

Desert Homestead Province is located in Southern California. Baugh inherited it at the death of his father in 2005. Baugh has declared the entire property to be a national monument dedicated to him.^[2]

The Protectorate of New Antrim is located at an undisclosed location in Pennsylvania and is the largest of Molossia's territories at a little over eight acres (3.2 hectares) in extent. It is named for the Irish County Antrim and has its own "governor", although as of August 2008 the identity of that individual has not been made public.

Government

Proclamations

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

Structure

Molossia is officially 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 the President, Kevin Baugh, to exercise all powers of governance, including foreign affairs.^[2]

Laws

Foreign Relations

Molossia recognizes several other micronations, with numerous treaties enacted to this end.^[2] In May 2008, a summit was held with Grand Duke Paul, leader of the Grand Duchy of Griefenberg, another micronation. Plans were made for the revitilization of the League of Small Nations, a nearly defunct organziation devoted to the prosperity of all micronations claiming land. This was Molossia's first ever formal state visit.^[4] Molossia asserts it was one of the first countries to recognize the Republic of Kosovo, one day after it was declared on February 18, 2008, with Baugh sending an official letter to the newly formed government.^[5]

Molossian Postal and Telegraph Service

Molossian Postal and Telegraph Service only functions within the Republic of Molossia since the micronation is unrecognized and therefore has no equivalent agencies outside it. The Postal and Telegraph Service currently produces stamps [1], [2].

Tourism

In recent years the various micronation-themed art installations and landscaping projects that Baugh has constructed around his home have begun to attract the interest of some outside Molossia, ^[6] to the extent that up to 10 tourists now visit annually.

Visits are only possible by prior arrangement, and involve a 45-minute guided tour conducted by Baugh - typically in character and in uniform. Visitors are required to produce a passport, and their pocket change in order to be admitted.^[7] Baugh has stated that these requirements are waived for citizens of Andorra, Liechtenstein, San Marino, Monaco, Seborga and "any other country recognized by Molossia".^[2]

Legitimacy

Baugh has made tongue-in-cheek assertions that Molossia is a real nation, citing the Montevideo Convention on the Rights and Duties of States and the United Nations Charter in support of his claims.^[2] However, Molossia does not have bilateral relationships with any sovereign state, Baugh pays US taxes (which he refers to as "foreign aid"), and in practise all of Molossia's territories remain under US jurisdiction.

Military

Molossia is not known to have a military. In typical tongue-in-cheek manner, Baugh has beeen known to claim the he possesses a knife which could provide the defence of Molossia.

Geography

References

Notes

^ "'Lonely Planet' Explores Micronations", Day to Day, National Public Radio (2006-11-01). Retrieved on 2008-04-19. "[Alex] CHADWICK: In the book Micronations: The Lonely Planet Guide to Self-Proclaimed Nations, you call an American entity, is it the Republic of Molossia? Am I pronouncing that correctly? Mr. [John] RYAN: Yeah. CHADWICK: This is the most delightful micronation, you say. Mr. RYAN: I think it is. I think when I discovered this republic, which is in Nevada - in one man's house and backyard and front garden - I think I stumbled across what for me really typifies the whole micronational movement. It's very creative, it's quite eccentric, and it brings out I think the best in good humor in people who are just keen to take control of their own affairs. And it's really a hobby for this particular fellow that has been pushed, you know, to the nth degree. He set up a little model railroad in the back garden, and he's got a space program where he regularly launches toy rocket ships and straps cameras to them in a vain attempt to get an aerial photograph of his property. CHADWICK: This is Kevin Baugh, who calls himself the president of Molossia. Mr. RYAN: That's right. And he gets about looking like a South American dictator from the '70s in big, reflective sunglasses and military regalia. But it's all done in very, very good humor. He's pegged his currency, which is made of gaming chips with his face on the front, which is appropriate for Nevada. He's pegged his currency to the value of Pillsbury cookie dough. It's just his wife and his two sons. I think it would be quite an interesting family life. CHADWICK: You talked to the leaders of many of these places. Either you saw them in person or you called them or maybe had e-mail exchanges. Were you able to figure out how seriously any of them take this? Mr. RYAN: Yeah, I think to differing degrees. But one thing - even President Baugh of Molossia said to me that he didn't mind us, you know, engaging in the good humor but not to make light of it, not to treat it with too much disrespect; that he was still trying to, you know, make a point and do something and that he deserved, you know, some respect in that process." Transcript retrieved via eLibary on 2008-04-19.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ "Republic of Molossia".
^ http://www.molossia.org/olympics/
^ "Follow-up interview with Kevin Baugh, president of the Republic of Molossia", Wikinews (2008-05-01). Retrieved on 2008-08-12.
^ Molossia. "Kosovo". Press release.
^ http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Wikinews_holds_a_follow-up_interview_with_Kevin_Baugh,_president_of_the_Republic_of_Molossia
^ http://www.molossia.org/media/interview.html
^ Template error: argument title is required.
^ "US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990". United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.

Contents