It has been a busy week in Austenasia, what, with the Independence Day celebrations, Team Austenasia gearing up for more international competitions, and other new and exciting projects in the works.
Independence Day was with widespread celebration across the Empire. That much celebration, in fact, that regretfully we we were not able to get a Times Article out as soon as we would have liked (although eagle-eyed readers will have seen our coverage of our biggest celebration on our new social media page, now a central location for all Austenasian updates, maintained by a social media team).
In the run-up to Independence Day, we published an article reflecting on Independence Day 2010, and the impromptu coronation of Emperor Esmond III (one of only three Austenasian Emperors alongside Emperor Terry and Emperor Jonathan to have ever received a coronation) in what was a time of great change in the nation.
As we headed into Independence Day proper, Emperor Alexander VI delivered a heartfelt speech and address to the people of Austenasia.
To the worthy People of Austenasia and to the World, We Offer our Salutations and Greetings!
Our Imperial Majesty is humbled by the honor of addressing the People of Austenasia and the global micronational community on the 18th anniversary of Austenasia’s declaration of independence. Since the founding of our Empire in 2008, multiple generations of Austenasians have worked together in service to each other and their community to build the great micronation we see today. We stand on the shoulders of our worthy predecessors as we proudly continue their great work and build this great inheritance not only for ourselves, but the generations of Austenasians who succeed us and our noble work.
Independence Day is the premier occasion on which we look back at our history and see our truly exceptional place in the micronational community. Few micronations survive their first year, and yet an entire generation later, we continue to grow and thrive within the global community of micronations. The people of Austenasia hold a long-time place of respect among their peers, and now many in the community look to us for leadership, just as we looked to the global community for support during the most challenging times in its long history.
It is from this unique place that we see that we are never alone. Austenasia is not sustained merely by the impressive list of proclamations, territorial claims, and legislation it has drafted over its eighteen years. Austenasia is made whole by its people, their strength of character, and their devotion to one another. It is for this reason and many more that Our Imperial Majesty is immensely grateful to be among you today, delivering this address.
This truth is made self-evident by our survival against the existential threats faced during the past year to its institutions, its assets, its reputation in the global community, and its very identity. Our friends, our heroes, and our noble people answered the call during Austenasia’s darkest hour with courage and camaraderie. They defended the Austenasian realm, restored our place in the micronational community, and ensured that the great work of the Empire in service to all people continues as it always has. Austenasia stands strong because of them, and Our Imperial Majesty is eternally grateful to them all beyond what Our words are able to convey.
This year has seen extraordinary work by the people of Austenasia. Our senior leadership has aided in efforts to restore truly Equal Protection for all Austenasians. We have improved our institutions, and restored our rightful place among the global community of micronations, in whose presence we once again stand proud and strong. Our international outreach continues to improve, and our esprit de corps is stronger than ever. Our Imperial Majesty counts Ourselves truly blessed to be among such excellent company, and We are honored and humbled to continue Austenasia’s work beside them wherever We are able.
Austenasia enters its nineteenth year with renewed vigor, confidence, and friendship with our fellow Austenasians and the greater community. During the course of this past year, the people of Austenasia have proven themselves worthy to stand proud in the annals of micronational history. This Independence Day, let us look to one another in the spirit of friendship, love, and loyalty, and celebrate our many years of excellence together. Let us give thanks for our Founders, our noble friends, and to all of the worthy people whose courage and sacrifice have made these celebrations possible. And, let us look to the future with incorruptible unity and determination, and celebrate our many achievements during this historic year.
May God bless you all, and bring prosperity to all our people and friends. And may God bring peace and glory to the Senate and People of Austenasia.
Long live the Empire of Austenasia, and long live her people!
The Emperor also granted and awarded honours to multiple subjects, dignitaries and worthy individuals as is customary on the holiday. A full list of the grants is available here: notable grants include Lord UaBlair’s appointment as Knight of the Order of Saint-Constantine for his charitable work throughout the Empire (including our ongoing fundraiser for the Olympic Refuge Organisation as featured in the Red Bull magazine); Adam Primus Imperator and Vera Caesarissa Romanorum’s appointments as Knight and Dame respectively of the Order of the Bullmastiff for their outstanding work as Counselor’s of State during the Emperor’s extended infirmity. Most notable of all, was the creation of a new title, ‘Hero of Austenasia’, which was created to recognise those who have brought great honour amongst themselves and their nation in such a fashion that our current honours system does not do justice to fully recognise. A number of individuals were elevated to this new title, and the Emperor waived the right to unilaterally award this title in future, instead requiring Parliament or the Senate to recommend a candidate.
Lord UaBlair published a heartfelt open letter to the Austenasian public from his office of Acting Prime Minister.
To my fellow citizens,
Eighteen years of Austenasia- something I imagine the Austen Family could not have imagined today, all those years ago; something I imagine many of us would not be able to fathom in our minds when we joined over the years. Yet, Austenasia has endured and is here not only as a monolith in micronationalism, but as a space for all, free and fair under her Emperor and the government that rules in his name.
Austenasia, a word with little meaning to some, but immense meaning to us all here today.
Austenasia, to me, means many things: hope, charity, respect, and above all, family. I joined Austenasia in 2020, and at the time, it was a place to distract myself from the Pandemic, and when I retired in 2022 for three years, I thought I wasn’t going to miss the community.
However, I did, and not only that, I missed my family in Austenasia. My return to Austenasia in 2025 was rocky, to say the least, but over the course of the last year and a half, my time here has become more extensive, not because of a sense of duty. It was a sense of belonging that brought me back, a place where a common man from the middle of nowhere in New England could make a name for himself, serve his fellow micronationalists by following their lead and leading in his own right.
Recently I had the pleasure of touring the Austenasian Town of Etchemin-on-Kennebec and Territory of Dirigo with a friend, who, after hearing what Austenasia and micronationalism as a whole meant to me, joined micronationalism in his own right. During that tour, I found myself filled with pride in what Austenasia has given me and what I imagine it has given many others.It is an honor to serve as your Acting Prime Minister on this momentous occasion, and I wish our beautiful nation, from humble neighborhood to humble neighborhood, a happy eighteenth birthday. I think I speak for many when I say this: Austenasia, never cease to amaze us with your resilience and acceptance of our fellow humans, no matter where they’ve come from.
Austenasia received well wishes and congratulations from abroad likewise. We received messages from Adammia, Atlia, Byzantium Novum, Flandrensis, Imvrassia, Meridiana, Misberia, Saspearian, the Würtige Empire, and more.
In other news, Team Austenasia continues to make headway in the 2026 MOF Chess Tournament, with Laird O’Halloran emerging as a favourite in the competition, and considered to most certainly be advancing from the group stages. The Austenasian Olympic is currently assembling a team for the 2026 Micronational Olympic Federation Intermediate Games hosted by Czech micronation Firburg this Autumn. The AOC has also proposed a Mancala Tournament to the MOF, building off of the success of the event during the 2025 Intergames hosted by Austenasia itself.
On Wednesday in accordance with constitutional duties, Emperor Alexander announced the 23rd of September to be the official start of the Autumn season.
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