Status Current Official languages Portuguese Demonym Reunian Founded 28 August 1997 | Capital Saint Denis Ethnic groups Mostly Brazilian Organizational structure Absolute Monarchy | |
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Holy empire of reunion top 10 facts
The Holy Empire of Reunion (in Portuguese Sacro Império de Reunião) is a micronation that was founded 28 August 1997 as a political and constitutional simulation.
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History
It claims the territory of the French ultramarine department of Réunion Island, but has no sovereign territory of its own and has never been recognized by any other sovereign state. Its creators were students of the Law School of the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, and to date, most of its adherents are thought to be Brazilian.
The "Empire" has minted its own coins, printed its passports, and produced flags for its citizens since 2000. The micronation claims its main objective is a deep political interaction amongst its citizens. In that same year, The New York Times mentioned its behind the scenes politics as having "intrigues that have not been seen since Louis XIV, wielding influence through Reunion's virtual courts and chambers." The Reunians engage in political battles in their online forums and discussion boards, and meet every year in an annual convention.
Reunion is also featured with a double page article on the book Ils ne siégent pas a l'ONU, by Professor Fabrice O'Driscoll, of the Aix-Marseille University. In the book, it is mentioned that the country uses a political system known to its subjects as "potentially absolute monarchy".
The micronation has been portrayed by the media of dozens of countries, and has been the star of a front page article of Reunion Island newspaper, Le Quotidien (above, on the left), which use it to trace a parallel between its independence and the idea of having independence from France.
In 2006, the country joined the Kiva Intermicronational Team, having lent, together with micronations like the Republic of Molossia, money to more than 115 people in need around the world.
According to the BBC, the Holy Empire of Reunion has contact with 175 other micronations.
On 17 July 2014, leadership of the micronation was passed to John White of Limerick, Ireland through excession of the previous leadership's term limits as defined by the Reunion Constitution. The terms of the constitution which allowed this come to pass were i) any citizen of the world may consider themselves a citizen of Reunion, ii), the constitution allows any citizen with three nominations be considered for any position of government, iii) and uncontested nominations are automatically deemed elected. Given the lack of scheduled elections, the change in leadership was deemed valid under reunion law although most citizens were not aware of the transition.