Land from gemstone-rich area claimed for Austenasia

A 1.44 acre property in Utah was annexed to the Empire of Austenasia today after being claimed by its landowner, Lord Michael Simpson. The property, which has been named Rubrum Beryllium, is uninhabited. The land is situated in a district where discoveries of red beryl – also known as bixbite or red emerald – have been made. Red beryl is a very rare gemstone of high value. It is hoped for a prospecting mission to take place in the near future. Should any red beryl be found in Rubrum Beryllium itself, it would be of great financial benefit to the Empire. Lord Simpson is one of the Empire’s leading landowners. He has previously claimed three other territories – Florencium Carolina, Elliessium Colorandum, and Golcondiarum – for Austenasia, all of which he owns and administers as Governor.

Lord William Wilson elected Prime Minister

Lord William Wilson, Count of Oribrazos, has been elected the sixth Prime Minister of Austenasia. Precise figures are yet to be confirmed, but the preliminary count indicates that Lord Wilson has received 76.6% of the vote whereas his rival candidate, Lady Addison Dillon, received 23.4% of the vote. This translates to thirty six and eleven votes respectively from the forty seven Austenasian subjects who voted yesterday. With seventy three of Austenasia’s population eligible to vote, this was a 64.4% turnout. Lady Addison campaigned on a platform of electoral and governmental reform and environmentalism, whereas Lord Wilson campaigned to promote Austenasian culture and government activity and accessibility. The past several weeks saw Wilson’s campaign dominate the news. Although Lady Addison published a campaign website, Lord Wilson also released weekly campaign videos in which he explained his policies and positions. Lord Wilson is expected to release his first Prime Minister’s Broadcast later today. Wilson’s predecessor, Lord John Gordon, was thanked and congratulated in the House of Representatives yesterday by the Monarch and other Representatives for his time in office as the Empire’s head of government. Lord Wilson’s first involvement with Austenasia came in April 2019, when he was appointed the Empire’s diplomatic Consul to Texas. Wilson became an Austenasian national in January 2020 upon founding the Town of Nahona, which he represents to this day as Representative. He was further instrumental in arranging the annexation of the Town of North Nahona in June and the March of Campo de Jonatán and Territory of Jackson in August late that year. Appointed Deputy Prime Minister on 1 June last year, Lord Wilson also served as Home Secretary from August 2020 to February earlier this year, and has held the office of Chief Herald since 3 June 2020.

IGS Expedition to Plemstall

His Imperial Majesty the Emperor yesterday undertook an expedition of the Imperial Geographical Society (IGS) to Plemstall via the Millennium Greenway. Although some previous IGS expeditions have had two participants, this is the first expedition to have been composed of a single person. An Imperial Decree of March 2018 authorised excursions by a single member of the society to be given expedition status. The Millennium Greenway – often known locally as Chester Greenway – is a former railway line which now functions as a footpath between Connor’s Quay and Mickle Trafford, spanning several miles north of the city of Chester. The Emperor joined the Greenway just under three miles from its eastern-most point, walking along to the village of Mickle Trafford. Once there, he continued on to Plemstall, an adjoining hamlet. Plemstall is home to St. Peter’s Church, built on the site of a hermitage inhabited by St. Plegmund. Famed for his holy life living as a hermit at Plemstall, St. Plegmund was elected Archbishop of Canterbury in 890 after being chosen by King Alfred the Great. As Archbishop, St. Plegmund worked to support a flourishing of scholarship until his death in 923. The Emperor also visited the nearby St. Plegmund’s Well, a nearby holy well. It was used by the saint for baptisms during his time as a hermit, and remains a site of Christian pilgrimage to this day. A video of the expedition can be seen here.

Enfriqua safe from Algerian wildfires

Word has been received that Enfriqua is not under threat from the relatively nearby wildfires burning in northern Algeria. Enfriqua is an autonomous Crown Dependency of Austenasia, annexed from the M’Sila province of northern Algeria in January 2015. Multiple ongoing deadly wildfires have been raging in nearby areas of Algeria since 9 August, killing ninety people so far. His Excellency Mr Akka Bey, the crown dependency’s Governing Commissioner, has reported that Enfriqua is not under threat from the wildfires and that “everything is going well” for them. Enfriqua consists of a residential property inhabited by a family of four. Mr Bey has also served as the (unaccredited) Austenasian Ambassador to Algeria since February 2016.

Lord Austin Jaax retires – Kingeston downsized

Sunday 22nd saw Lord Austin Jaax retire from frontline politics, resigning most of his positions within Austenasia. This came after Lord Jaax took on a greater role in Canadian local politics, resulting in increased demands on his time. Lord Jaax joined Austenasia in December 2018 as the Governing Commissioner of Kingeston, a new crown dependency which upon its creation consisted of an uninhabited area of farmland. Kingeston was expanded in May last year, becoming a Town with the annexation of a part of Jaax’s family home, making himself and his brother Austenasian residents. Jaax was appointed Acting Representative of the new town, being elected to the position proper a few months later in July. Now, however, the changes made to Kingeston in May 2020 have been reversed as a result of Jaax’s resignation. An Act of Parliament was passed yesterday, transitioning Kingeston back into a crown dependency. Jaax will be staying on as Kingeston’s governing commissioner due to the comparatively few duties required in administering an autonomous and uninhabited claim, but has resigned from his other posts, including Baron of Kingeston; as a knight, he will therefore henceforth be known as Sir Austin. Jaax had served as Chancellor since June 2020, and as Speaker of the House of Representatives since February earlier this year.

Lord Wilson and Lady Dillon confirmed as general election candidates

Emperor Jonathan I yesterday confirmed two candidates for next month’s general election. Lady Addison Dillon, Representative of Blue Ridge, will be running against Lord William Wilson, Representative of Nahona. Both candidates have recently founded political parties to organise their supporters: Lady Dillon the Alliance Party and Lord Wilson the Arete (Excellence) Party. The Alliance Party describes itself as “syncretic” and “endorses civil rights, equality before the law, Athenian direct democracy, and broad technological and social reform.” Lady Dillon has noted that it “focuses on social issues rather than ideological economic specifics.” Lord Wilson has stated that the aim of the Arete Party “is to bring about the best of cultural, economic, and political life in Austenasia through the application of the 11 moral virtues described in Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics.” The Arete Party held a party conference earlier today, in which incumbent Prime Minister Lord John Gordon was elected party secretary. Two other Representatives have also joined. The general election will take place on 17 September, and will elect the country’s sixth Prime Minister. The winner of the election will come into office the following day, 18 September, which this year as the third Saturday in September will also be Austenasian Independence Day. The incumbent Prime Minister, Lord John Gordon, has been in office since June last year, but is stepping down as head of government due to increasing demands on his time, as well as the fact that despite enjoying broad popular support he was not directly elected. Lady Addison Dillon became an Austenasian governor in July 2020 upon claiming the then Territory of Blue Ridge. This was expanded into a Town in December with the annexation of her adjoining residence, of which she was elected Representative in February. She currently serves as one of Austenasia’s three delegates to the Grand Unified Micronational. Lord William Wilson joined Austenasia with the creation of the Town of Nahona in January 2020. He currently holds office as Deputy Prime Minister and Chief Herald, and also served as Home Secretary from August 2020 to February 2021.

Riverside land claimed in territorial changes

Wednesday 11th August saw territorial changes taking place for Austenasia, with a new territory being claimed from the U.S. state of Maine while most of New Pontunia was ceded back to Louisiana. The new Territory of Cenomannica overlooks a waterfall in the Machias River, Maine, and was claimed for Austenasia by the now Lord Archie Birch. Cenomannica spans 660 square feet and is part of a public park boasting scenic riverside views. Meanwhile, the autonomous crown dependency of New Pontunia has been downsized to a single house, the family home of its leader Duke Andrew I. New Pontunia joined Austenasia in October last year as an already existing nation of twenty three people claiming thirteen residential properties and two public parks. The dependency was significantly downsized in February with the cession of the two parks and four of its houses. The decision to further “streamline” the dependency down to the Duke’s house alone was made due to most of its residents – friends who had initially joined prior to it joining the Empire – having fallen out of contact with Andrew I or no longer being interested in living independently from the United States.

Imperium Park designated national monument

A charter was signed on Wednesday 28th July bestowing national monument status on Imperium Park in Nahona. The charter, signed by Emperor Jonathan I in his capacity as Minister for Culture and by Lord William Wilson, Representative of Nahona, provides for the maintenance and preservation of the park. Spanning just over 140 square feet, Imperium Park is a recreational area dedicated to Austenasian and Imperial history. It was unveiled on Independence Day 2020, with work having begun in May earlier that year. The most prominent feature of Imperium Park is the Imperium Monument, composed of the Columna Passus Imperatori and the Vallum Austenum. The former is a limestone column inscribed with the names of the incumbent Augusti and Caesari at the time of its construction, whereas the latter is a perimeter wall inscribed with heraldry. The park also contains a seating area and spaces for the display of temporary art exhibits. Work on the continued beautification and maintenance of the park is ongoing. Imperium Park is only the third site to be granted national monument status, giving it official recognition as a “site or structure within Austenasia of importance to the culture and/or history” of the Empire.

Gordon not to stand in September general election

Parliament has authorised an early general election to take place this September, in which Lord John Gordon, incumbent Prime Minister, has said he will not stand for re-election. Under the Elections Act 2020 passed in November last year, general elections are meant to be held every four years. However, exceptions can be made by Parliament, as took place this morning. Although the next general election was not due until February 2024, it will now take place on 17 September later this year. Lord Gordon is currently training with the British Army, and the increasing demands on his time have led to his decision not to run for re-election as Prime Minister. Lord Gordon has served as Prime Minister since 1 June last year. Uniquely, rather than being elected, he was appointed directly to the position by Emperor Jonathan I after the latter assumed emergency powers to calm the May 2020 political crisis. The new Gordon premiership saw a quick return to stability and normality, reaching a record-breaking growth in Austenasia’s population and land claims and a flowering of culture. The demographic changes accompanying this growth are another factor in the decision to call an early general election. The candidates for the upcoming election will be confirmed by 20 August.

Another territory claimed as Hoagland ceded

Saturday 10th July saw Hoagland ceded back to the United States of America at the same time as a new territory was annexed from the same country. Hoagland was claimed in July 2017 as an Austenasian Territory after previous periods under the sovereignty of Adammia and the Holy Roman Empire, and was governed by its founder, Grant Hawkins, who lived nearby. Consisting of a grassy area bordered by Ohio, Hoagland was administered by Hawkins until earlier this year, when he and his family moved aware from the area. Hawkins was unable to find a replacement for the office of governor, and so the decision was made to dissolve the claim. In a symbolic nod to their previous claims over the land, Adammia and the Holy Roman Empire have both been given a nominal chance to reclaim Hoagland before it is ceded back to the USA. Simultaneously, however, a new Territory has been established with the annexation of Travarn. Travarn is comprised of a wooded area and contains a hunting post. It is the personal property of Lord Hunter Prater, who has claimed it for Austenasia and been appointed its governor, and it is an enclave of north Alabama. Travarn measures 40 acres, whereas Hoagland was just over a third of an acre; this exchange of claims has therefore been a large net territorial gain for Austenasia.