Planning & Growth – January to July 2024
Crowned that night of 31 December 2023, the Kings of Huzul, cousins of Oscar I, welcomed him to, from their domains, witness the awakening of a new year. It was surrounded by family that he saw the beginning of his Zinc Jubilee year.
It was in the first week of January that he assumed the post of Secretary-General of the Conference of Santiago for the second time; the first micronationalist to be reelected to the position, marking a period of particular imperial influence in South American micronationalism.
January was a month focused on the internal initiatives of the Empire, in addition to international adventures. Throughout that month, legislative activity stood out, and in February, a major cultural milestone occurred on the 12th of that month, with the founding of the Academy of Letters.
The second month of the year passed idyllic and peacefully, and in this leap year, the last day of that month was graced with a historic milestone for the reigning dynasty: Crown Princess Laura of Huzul was born – the first member of the imperial family to be born with a title, the first “born in the purple”.
Amidst the celebrations so typical of the imperial family and its newest member, the Court also expressed itself with diversity. In addition to the always well-received letters from foreign micronationalists (Duckionary, Obscurium and Angyalistan that month alone), on 17 March the Emperor received his cousin, Lucas VIII of Mauritia. He, in turn, was inducted into the Order of the Three Golden Fleeces.
While the Emperor’s personal diplomacy always bore good fruit, something that was to be seen throughout that semester, the Antarctic Micronational Union faced Iran’s abuses and its serious violations of the Antarctic preservation policies that the Empire and its allies had always defended.
Still in command of the Conference of Santiago, the Empire used its influence to resolve an old issue with the Kingdom of Ebenthal. Forgiving the large debt they had with the Empire, Karnia-Ruthenia extended its domain further south, and along with Quinta Velha, the three signatory parties of the Treaty of Sáenz-Peña established the Condominium of Süden-Süden, a micronation located in Argentina governed by an Argentine-Ebenthaler representative and assisted by Karno-Ruthenians and Quintavelhenses.
Throughout April, culture was vividly manifested: the new K.R.O.S.A. observatory in North America photographed the solar eclipse on the 8th, while new art representing the Emperor and other members of the Conference of Santiago was presented. In addition, the Imperial Collection received books as a gift from the Imperial House of Villa Alicia.
However, in absolute contrast to the lightness with which life had been going on in the Empire until then, on 07 May, attention turned to the Red Cross and its donation campaign for victims of the floods in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. This was the largest Red Cross campaign in its entire history to date.
In June, the Olympic spirit was already evident among the members of the Conference of Santiago, and it was not long before attention turned to the sporting power of the Empire. The Karno-Ruthenian Fencing Federation was reorganized and would become the first micronational fencing association in the world to hold in-person championships. Likewise, in preparation for the Delveran Heritage Festival, the Karno-Ruthenian Shooting Association was founded, the first micronational organization for shooting sports in the world.
That month would also happily contemplate a territorial reconfiguration. With the abdication of Brogan to the throne of Acrin, which would revert to Oscar I, another change was the annexation of Hochenberg to the Empire. The former Queen of Sildavia became the newest federal ruler of the Empire, by force of the Treaty of Oswiencin.
The following month continued with formidable activity. The longest micronational meeting in recorded history took place between the Empire, represented by Oscar I, and the head of government of the United Provinces of Mauritia, Viscount Khabbaz in Belas – 18 hours of uninterrupted festive meeting.
The same festive spirit was evident at the most recent edition of the Delveran Heritage Festival, which, in addition to the fencing and shooting tournament, included an entrance exam for new military personnel, a food fair, a meeting of Delveran citizens, an exhibition of historically relevant artifacts, the election of the new Consul and demonstrated with the greatest civic grandeur what it means to be Karno-Ruthenian. The Delveran essence filled the entire Karno-Ruthenian people with pride at the largest micronational event of its kind.
The first half of 2024 concluded with a visit by the imperial and presidential couple of Villa Alicia to the Empire. While Leonardo I leads Villa Alicia on its curious path between monarchism and Juche socialism, his wife Layanne is the President of the People’s Republic of Maragogui, the most active micronational socialist republic in South America. The meeting, already considered traditional by the dignitaries, strengthened the friendship between the parties and the tour had remarkable moments, such as the visit to the imperial capital and the preview of the commitment of the Empire, Villa Alicia and Maragogui to promote a major micronational event, in addition to the first in-person transfer of the position of Secretary-General of the Conference of Santiago to Leonardo I.
The Empire remains on its path of internal strengthening, which converts its stability into enchantment for the rest of the world. In an era of strictly virtual micronationalism, the Empire stands out for its real and in-person experience, forging friendships, experience and the creation of a real feeling of People building a Nation.