History

Austenasia was founded on 20 September 2008 when a family of four declared their south London home independent from the United Kingdom as the Empire of Austenasia, under the leadership of the newly-proclaimed Emperor Terry I and his son Crown Prince Jonathan.

The Empire grew tentatively and locally at first, with another house in the same town claimed in 2009 and nearby vassal kingdoms founded in 2010. A civil war broke out earlier that year between the two houses in Austenasia over a disputed succession following the abdication of Terry I, an issue which was settled by a referendum. Terry I was succeeded by Esmond III, who was in turn succeeded by Declan I.

In 2013, Crown Prince Jonathan – son of the founding Emperor Terry I – finally ascended to the Throne as Emperor Jonathan I. This saw the start of a period of rapid growth, seeing Austenasia expand internationally with houses and properties claimed across the world.

A detailed history of Austenasia, from its foundation to the present day, is below:

Reign of Terry I

Era of Foundation

A photograph published in the Sutton Guardian for an article on the Empire’s foundation.

The Era of Foundation is dated to begin on 20 September 2008: the day when, at 11:30am (BST/UTC+1), the town of Wrythe declared independence from the United Kingdom as the Empire of Austenasia. Emperor Terry I was unanimously proclaimed the nation’s first Monarch, and his son Crown Prince Jonathan was unanimously proclaimed the first Prime Minister. Crown Prince Jonathan then wrote a Constitution, which after being accepted by every Austenasian resident was sent with a Declaration of Independence via e-mail to the MP for Carshalton and Wallington, Tom Brake. On 13 October, Austenasia’s Declaration of Independence was sent to Gordon Brown, then Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and on 30 December, the Declaration of Independence was once more sent, this time to the UK Home Office. No reply was received from any of these declarations, which was interpreted as tacit consent for Austenasian independence.

A huge fifty two Acts of Parliament were passed during this era, which lasted for just over four months; the most legislation passed during any era. It was during this time that the legislative process was properly codified, laws regarding titles and honours were first made, the Austenasian Star was declared the national flag, provision for emergencies and abdications was made, the Austenasian Police and Austenasian Television Productions were founded, most modern-day Government Ministries were formed, and the first attempts at diplomacy were made with the establishing of friendly relations with Molossia and the appointing of an Ambassador to the United Kingdom.

During the Era of Foundation, HIH Crown Prince Jonathan exercised most powers of government, with Emperor Terry I taking on a primarily supervisory role and leaving most active leadership of the nation to his son. The Crown Prince was properly elected to the office of Prime Minister on 1 January in the first ever General Election when voters rejected the option to return to the United Kingdom. Relatives of the Emperor had been known as the Royal Family before 10 January, and held the style of Royal Highness; the passing of Act 47 on that day changed said instances of “Royal” to “Imperial”, in what was perhaps the first instance of the Austenasian Government implying that the Emperor outranked most other heads of state.

The surrounding British town of Carshalton began to become aware of its new sovereign neighbour when on 22 January an article was published in the Sutton Guardian, a local newspaper, on the founding of the Empire.

Era of Increasing Glory

A formal coronation was held for Terry I on 20 May 2009.

The Era of Increasing Glory is dated to have begun on 31 January 2009. This era was characterised by cultural advancement and territorial gains for the Empire. It also saw the Empire hit by the Great Snow of 2009, the first severe weather event to affect Austenasia since its founding.

Act 64, passed on 7 March, adopted Saint John the Apostle as the Empire’s patron saint, and the bullmastiff as the Empire’s national animal (following the example of several U.S. states, numerous secondary animals – e.g. a “national bird” and even a “national dinosaur” – were also adopted). A national anthem, ”God save the Emperor”, was adopted on 4 April, and a coronation was held for Terry I on 20 May.

On 21 February, a square foot of land in the Scottish Highlands personally owned by Crown Prince Jonathan was ceded to the Empire, and was annexed as Glencrannog. On 25 April, the Austenasian population expanded for the first time with the annexation of South Kilttown, the family home of one of Crown Prince Jonathan’s friends, Sir William Kingsnorth.

The Austenasian Army was founded on 23 May, and took part in its first conflict a mere two days later when it was forced to defend Wrythe from British attackers which had infiltrated the Imperial Residence, an event remembered as the Skirmish of the Treasury. The Austenasian Army was also mobilised on 28 August when it occupied and annexed Commius Flats (a small area of land adjoining Wrythe), extending the Empire’s land area to the largest it would be until 2013.

The Empire continued to gain publicity, being featured in an article in the Italian newspaper City in July. All throughout this era the majority of friends, relatives, colleagues and classmates of the Imperial Family became aware of the young nation.

The addition of South Kilttown to the Empire in April brought an end to the paramount leadership of Crown Prince Jonathan. He now had a fellow Representative, and although he still held the deciding vote as Prime Minister, it became convention that both Representatives had to agree for a law to be passed through Parliament. Emperor Terry I became increasingly withdrawn from politics, becoming an almost completely ceremonial Monarch, although he notably entered battle on behalf of the Empire during the Skirmish of the Treasury, and continued to exercise a supportive advisory role in discussions with the Prime Minister.

Era of Respected Harmony

Emperor Terry I signs Austenasia’s first foreign treaty, an agreement of mutual recognition and friendship with Vikesland.

The Era of Respected Harmony is dated to have begun on 20 September 2009, Austenasia’s first anniversary. After a year of domestic consolidation, the Empire began to first play a notable part in the online “MicroWiki Community”, and this era is marked by the establishment of diplomatic relations with small nations both within said community – such as Patetopia, St.Charlie, and the Slinky Empyre – and outside it, such as the Principality of Vikesland, with which. Austenasia’s first diplomatic treaty was signed during on 24 October. Informal friendly relations were built up with a number of other nations, such as New Europe and Landashir, and the Empire became a member state of the Grand Unified Micronational on 11 October.

Domestically, this era saw laws regarding the Monarchy, nobility, and elections being codified in greater detail, as well as the Empire being hit by the Big Freeze of 2009-10. In January, Tincomarus Department – part of Commius Flats – was ceded to the influential Slinky Empyre as a diplomatic gift, with the then Empress Margaret appointed its Vicereine.

Sole reign of Esmond III

Era of the Consolidation of Imperial Power

A graphic produced by the St.Charlian Observer to represent the civil war, depicting Princess Caroline and Esmond III in combat over Wrythe.

The Era of the Consolidation of Imperial Power is dated to begin on 16 February 2010, with the ascension of HIM Emperor Esmond III to the Throne. It is named after the Austenasian Civil War, the distinguishing event of the era.

On 15 February 2010, Emperor Terry I had announced that he wished to abdicate the Throne. His son Crown Prince Jonathan refused to inherit the Throne so that he could remain Prime Minister, and so it passed to the second in line, Dark Lord Esmond (a close friend of the Crown Prince, who had been made second in line to the Throne by Parliament as a symbolic honour). He ascended to the Throne at roughly 14:40 on 16 February, after accepting the offer of the Throne in a meeting in Sutton, London. This caused tensions with Terry’s daughter, Princess Caroline, who disputed the right of Parliament to control the line of succession and maintained that she was the natural second in line. She officially claimed the Throne on 3 March, and four days later the Vestry Conference was convened in an attempt to negotiate a compromise for the Princess. This meeting – held between the Crown Prince, the Princess, and Lord General William (Representative of South Kilttown) – ended in disaster with the declaration of a civil war upon Esmond III by Lord General William on behalf of Princess Caroline’s claim.

Wrythe remained loyal to the Emperor, whereas South Kilttown recognised Caroline as Monarch. Both sides recruited soldiers from the United Kingdom to fight in any prospective battles. Two “battles” did take place, one in Carshalton Park and another in the nearby Grove Park (modern-day Orly), both victories for the government but involving very few soldiers. Realising that the war would not be ended through military means, both sides agreed to hold a referendum to decide the issue of succession. On 16 May, the Austenasian people voted in said referendum, with the Emperor receiving double the votes cast for the Princess.

Princess Caroline then withdrew her claim to the Throne, and Lord General William surrendered. The war formally ended on 24 May with the signing of the Treaty of Ruskin Road, which confirmed recognition of the reign of Esmond III, granted amnesty to William, and sentenced the Princess to a nominal exile of a week to be undertaken during the family summer holiday.

The Civil War brought about a decisive change to the location of political power in Austenasia. While Parliament constitutionally remained the supreme authority, more power began to be held by the Monarch, with Esmond III actively wielding those powers which Terry I had exercised only on the advice of the Prime Minister. Nearly all soldiers recruited from the United Kingdom in support of Esmond III attended Stanley Park High School along with the Emperor and Prime Minister, with whom they were friends and classmates. The area in which they often met for what would usually be general social conversation became what was practically a military HQ, with war strategies and diplomatic policies being considered and decided. With most decision making now taking place in this unofficial HQ, the role of the Prime Minister began to decrease; the military officers looked more to the Emperor for leadership, as it was on behalf of his right to the Throne that they had enlisted.

The Empire was exposed to a large amount of publicity during this era. In March, the major South Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo published an article on Austenasia after a journalist visited Wrythe in February, spreading knowledge of the Empire’s existence to thousands of readers. Awareness of Austenasia also spread locally to a huge degree thanks to the civil war, especially in the schools of both Esmond III and Lord General William, with over a hundred local British citizens (mainly students) being recruited or volunteering to prospectively fight for either the Emperor or Princess Caroline.

Only four Acts of Parliament were passed during this era, two of which were directly in response to the Civil War. By rebelling against the Emperor, Lord General William lost his position as Representative of South Kilttown, and although William’s father Lord John was appointed Acting Representative, the latter exercised no effective authority and so for all intents and purposes Crown Prince Jonathan was once more sole Representative. Out of respect for democracy, he therefore kept to a minimum using his Prime Ministerial deciding vote to unilaterally pass Acts through Parliament.

Era of Mighty Imperium

The Grove Park was declared a new independent country as Orly, a vassal of Austenasia.

The Era of Mighty Imperium is dated to have begun on 24 May 2010, with the entering into force of Treaty of Ruskin Road. It is characterised by the zenith of Esmond III’s political influence both within Austenasia and over the Carshalton Nations, small nations based locally and inspired or influenced by Austenasia.

With the civil war over, the military HQ which had developed in the playground of the Emperor’s school became an unofficial “Imperial Court”, where Esmond III would sign Acts of Parliament into law and discuss politics and policies with the Prime Minister, military officers, and numerous self-appointed advisors and “courtiers”. Although his powers were defined and limited by law, the influence of the Monarch had now become so great as to have the Throne the most powerful that it would ever be under the 2008 Constitution. The imperial nature of the Monarch had been increasingly emphasised during the civil war, and Esmond III was now seen by many as the successor to the Roman Emperors, with the Empire as a whole quickly coming to adopt this view.

Sentiment amongst the public, military, and Imperial Court was such that Parliament passed two Acts which further increased the power of the Monarch. Act 124, passed at the start of July, removed Parliament’s power to call a Vote of No Confidence on the Monarch to establish a Regency (this was repealed in March 2011), gave the Monarch immunity from prosecution, and bestowed upon him the power to grant the titles of Caesar and Augusta (reflecting the emphasis now placed on the Roman, imperial nature of the Monarch’s title). Act 127, passed in September, gave the Monarch the right to issue Imperial Edicts; although limited in effect to Crown lands and unable to overrule Acts of Parliament, this was the first time that the Monarch could legislate independently of Parliament. 18 September saw an impromptu coronation for Esmond III at the Imperial Residence, at which he took the Imperial Diadem from the hands of Crown Prince Jonathan and crowned himself; again, an action which stressed his own authority.

By late June, many British citizens who had supported Esmond III during the war without enlisting in the Austenasian Army had embraced the idea of forming their own nation, in imitation of Austenasia. Led by Sir Calum Jarvis, a classmate of the Emperor and Crown Prince, they declared the local Grove Park independent from the United Kingdom. In accordance with the idea that Esmond III was the successor to the Roman Emperors, and that the Austenasian Throne therefore held legitimate suzerainty over the former Western Roman Empire, they asked him to appoint Calum as their leader in order to give him legitimacy. Esmond III therefore gave Sir Calum the title of Caesar, and gave him authority to rule over the newly founded nation of Orly.

Orly was officially founded on 4 July, but later that month split into the Kingdom of the Grove and the Kingdom of Copan, both of which continued to view Esmond III as their overlord in his capacity as Emperor. The Midget Nation-in-Exile had also become a de facto vassal of Austenasia by this date, and in October the long-defunct nation of Rushymia was nominally resurrected, with Esmond III as its titular King. These four nations – the Grove, Copan, the Midgets, and Rushymia – alongside Austenasia became known as the Carshalton Nations, named after the town they were based in and around.

The Empire continued to establish new diplomatic relations during this era, focusing more on quality than quantity. A military alliance between Austenasia and the Kingdom of Wilcsland (originally named Moylurg) was established, and a protectorate over Dorzhabad was set up. Diplomatic relations were also established with Calsahara, Gishabrun, and NottaLotta Acres.

Domestically, South Kilttown was renamed to Zephyria and Lord William re-appointed its Representative in September, with a view to “rehabilitating” the formerly rebel town and putting the civil war in the past.

By December 2010, Crown Prince Jonathan had begun to have doubts about the long-term suitability of Esmond III for the Throne. After a succession of increasingly eccentric actions and announcements, Esmond III asked the Crown Prince to devise a plan to make him a “dictator”. The Crown Prince instead conspired with King Declan I of Wilcsland and Copan to remove Esmond’s ability to threaten Austenasia’s constitutional order.

Copan and the Grove were reunified into Orly as a single state, ruled by Declan I. He and Crown Prince Jonathan then orchestrated a war between Austenasia, Orly, and the Midgets, which concluded with a peace deal by which Declan I was made joint Emperor of Austenasia by Parliament.

Joint reign of Esmond III and Declan I

Era of Joint Imperium

Declan I: Emperor of Austenasia, Tsar of Orly, and King of Wilcsland

The Era of Joint Imperium is dated to have begun on 19 December 2010 with the ascension of HIM Emperor Declan I to the Throne, ruling alongside Esmond III. The era is characterised by the decrease in the power and influence of Esmond III at the expense of that of Declan I, in the aftermath of what had come to be known as the War of the Orlian Reunification.

Esmond III did not take the news of Declan I ascending the Throne well, and on 5 January attempted to use the military – many of whom were more loyal to him than to Austenasia itself – to overthrow the constitutional government. However, this attempt failed after Crown Prince Jonathan intervened and almost tricked Esmond into abdicating.

Parliament enacted a set of military reforms, including the renaming of ranks and units to model the armed forces more on the imperial Roman than the British military. This served as a reminder to the Austenasian Army that it was ultimately controlled by Parliament and the Ministry of Defence, and not Esmond III. This undermined his control of the military, especially given most officers associated the highly popular reforms with Declan I, who had passed the legislation.

This era also saw the Empire regaining control over the Tincomarus Department after the fall of the Slinky Empyre, and new verses added to the national anthem.

Era of Respected Glory

The Austenasian flag flying from the Imperial Residence on Independence Day 2011, the Empire’s second anniversary.

The Era of Respected Glory is dated to have begun on 31 March 2011. This was the date on which Parliament passed a Vote of No Confidence against Esmond III, depriving him of the powers of the Throne but keeping his title as nominal co-Emperor. This followed assurances from leading officers of the Austenasian Army that they would respect whatever decision Parliament made in regards to Esmond’s position, and left Declan I as the sole holder of the powers of the Throne. The influence of Esmond’s school-based Imperial Court – no longer able to play anything more than a ceremonial role – massively declined. It lost the ability to exercise even this influence after 13 May 2011, when it no longer met due to the school year in which Esmond III and Crown Prince Jonathan were in departing for study leave, finishing their exams, and the majority of them leaving the school.

Barely a week after Esmond III was removed from power, on 9 April, the Midgets – in personal union with Declan I since December – were annexed by Austenasia. As they had no land claims, the Empire did not physically increase in size, but the Austenasian Army was joined by five new Midget recruits. The Austenasian Throne also increased its title to the inheritance of Rushymia, given the Midgets had previously claimed a cultural/political succession of sorts from the historical nation.

On 20 May, Crown Prince Jonathan met with the local British Member of Parliament, Tom Brake (to whom the Austenasian Declaration of Independence had originally been sent), and discussed the stance of the United Kingdom towards the Empire. Tom Brake MP wrote to the British Foreign Office on behalf of Austenasia, and later informed the Sutton Guardian that he “wish[ed the Crown Prince] every luck with his campaign” to have Austenasia recognised.

On 4 June, the imperial title of Declan I and Esmond III was recognised by a claimant to the German throne. The self-declared German Emperor, Sebastian I, had seized power over some German territory and declared the revival of the German Empire as a relative of Wilhelm II, employing several serious legal arguments to put forward a genuinely substantial claim to be his lawful successor. His new administration was recognised by Austenasia and several other small nations, and so his recognition of Austenasia’s imperial rank was considered as just as valid as if it had come from any other legitimate emperor. This recognition from another emperor was considered the final step in legitimating Austenasia’s claim to have an imperial throne and thereby be a successor to Rome, and its anniversary has henceforth been annually celebrated as the public holiday of Imperium Day.

An Acting Prime Minister was appointed for the first time during June. Between the 5th and 22nd of the month, Lord Marshal William exercised the powers of the office while the Crown Prince undertook GCSE examinations. In July, the Imperial Standard, the Austenasian Coat of Arms, and a state motto were adopted through Acts 153 and 154, and national stamps were produced for the first time in early September.

This era also saw a period of increased diplomacy. Although no new formal bilateral ties were established, the Empire played a leading role in restoring the Grand Unified Micronational to activity, and sent Crown Prince Jonathan as its delegation to the 2011 Intermicronational Summit. The Empire established increasingly friendly informal relations with a large number of those in the “MicroWiki community” via the 2011 Summit, casual online conversations between Crown Prince Jonathan and various international leaders, and the prominent role which Austenasia played in June mobilising widespread dissatisfaction among the community against the leadership of the OAM.

In early September, an Act was placed before Parliament to organise a referendum in which the population of the Empire would vote on whether to keep the original Constitution or to adopt one of two proposed replacement constitutions. The referendum took place on 18 September, with a proposal by Crown Prince Jonathan receiving 86% of the votes and entering into force two days later.

Sole reign of Declan I

The Orange Pyramid, a monument in honour of Emperor Declan I situated in Wrythe.

On 20 September 2011, the current (albeit amended) Austenasian Constitution entered into force. As one of its provisions, it removed Esmond III from his by then purely titular role as joint Monarch, thereby marking the start of the sole reign of Emperor Declan I. His reign as sole Monarch was designated the Era of Majestic Imperium, the final period of Austenasian history to have been given an era name.

The 2008 Constitution had been very short, but the new 2011 Constitution included far more detail, enshrining various features of Austenasian government which had become considered part of a de facto “unwritten constitution” as well as reforming the judicial system. It also formally expanded the powers of the Throne, reflecting the new reality that had developed regarding the Monarch and Prime Minister’s respective exercise of political power.

Austenasia restarted the establishment of formal diplomatic relations, entering into such with several nations during this period (including Reyla, Juclandia, Sandus, Landashire, Überstadt, and Florenia, small countries with which it maintains relations to this day). In July 2012, Austenasia was represented by the Crown Prince at the PoliNation conference in London, and the following day Wrythe hosted the Empire’s first state visit when it welcomed the leaders of Francisville, Landashire and Sandus.

The international influence of the Empire continued to grow throughout this period. Crown Prince Jonathan was elected to two greatly successful quarterly terms as Chairman of the GUM in December 2011 and June 2012. November 2012 saw Austenasia voted the most influential nation in the MicroWiki Community.

On 23 December 2011, a general and local election took place, in which Crown Prince Jonathan stood against Lord Marshal William, and was re-elected Prime Minister with 75% of the vote.

This period saw several changes among the Empire’s protectorates. Adjikistan (later renamed Monovia) and Domanglia were accepted as protectorates in October 2011, followed by New Balland in April 2012. However, April also saw Domanglia removed from its status as a protectorate after its leader fell out with Declan I; the same happened with New Balland the following month, during which Dorzhabad also dissolved. This left Monovia as Austenasia’s sole protectorate, a status which was changed to “protected state” in October 2012, the change signifying that the Empire remained responsible for its defence but not for its foreign affairs.

The rule of Declan I over Austenasia and its personal union with Wilcsland led to various aspects of Wilcslandian culture being incorporated into the Empire, leading to somewhat of a cultural renaissance during this period. Examples of significant Wilcslandian cultural influence include the usage of Moylurgian hieroglyphs (which developed a distinct Austenasian form, known as “Carshaltonized”) for some ceremonial purposes, the introduction of the Papacy of the Proto-Cults, and the construction of the Orange Pyramid. Most Wilcslandian influences have since largely disappeared, with the Papacy being one of the few remnants of this era to survive to the current day (albeit purged from most of its Wilcslandian features and reformed as the office of the Pontifex Maximus).

Declan I issued various Imperial Decrees and Imperial Edicts during his reign, on issues ranging from foreign policy to the banning of the display of the Union Flag in Austenasian territory as a seditious activity. His somewhat autocratic style of governance (compounded by the fact that he would never actually step foot in Austenasian territory) led to a certain level of unpopularity, and a reputation as an “oriental despot” which has somewhat sullied his legacy. On 20 January 2013, he announced his intention to abdicate due to personal issues. As the son of Terry I, Crown Prince Jonathan remained Heir to the Throne, and accepted it shortly after Declan’s announcement, becoming the new Austenasian Monarch as Emperor Jonathan I.

Reign of Jonathan I

Early reign

Jonathan I and Taeglan I Nihilus sign the Treaty of Wrythe at the former’s coronation.

The ascension to the Throne of HIM Emperor Jonathan I was shortly followed by Declan I gifting the Wilcslandian colony of New South Scotland to the Empire later that evening. This was followed by the annexation of Axvalley, a Brazilian farm, on 20 February; both of these territories were annexed with the new status of Crown Dependencies.

The coronation of Jonathan I took place at the Imperial Residence on 23 February 2013, attended by various dignitaries and covered by the local “macronational” news. Emperor Taeglan I Nihilus of the Reylan Imperial Triumvirate was among the guests, and his visit to Wrythe was used as an opportunity for the two monarchs to sign a treaty recognising each other’s claim to imperial rank. The media coverage of the coronation resulted in a spike of interest in Austenasia in the local area, especially at the sixth form college attended by Jonathan I and Orlian noble Countess Eritoshi.

With Jonathan I now holding the Throne, the position of Prime Minister automatically fell to the Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Marshal William, who became head of government as Acting Prime Minister. Despite the office of Prime Minister having gradually lost power and authority to the Throne, Jonathan himself still held immense personal influence due to his status as Founder and his long-running role as the “one-man civil service” formalised in the position of Secretary-General; for the first time, these two positions were now united with the office of the Monarch. This led to the Throne becoming under Jonathan I more powerful than it had ever been before; the transition seen under the reigns of Esmond III and Declan I from the consultative, moderating role of Terry I to proactive executive leadership was now complete. This new-found activity and influence of the Throne, combined with William’s awareness that he had not been elected to his new position, resulted in William while Acting Prime Minister proposing no new policies and taking on little executive leadership, acting mostly as a “rubber stamp” for the Emperor’s decisions on matters.

Another acquisition, Corinium Terentium, was annexed on 4 May later that year from the British county of Gloucestershire. Corinium Terentium was given the new status of a Territory along with Glencrannog, land fully under Austenasian governmental control but with no inhabitants. Continuing the rapid spate of annexations, a third Town – Thanasia, located within walking distance of Wrythe – joined the Empire ten days later, with Countess Eritoshi of Memphis appointed its Acting Representative, and another Territory, Emperorsland (claimed from Cambridgeshire), was annexed the following month.

Effective Austenasian suzerainty over the Carshalton Nations was reasserted on 24 June. A group of Orlian citizens dissatisfied with the rule of Declan I over Orly declared him deposed and asked Emperor Jonathan I to appoint monarchs of the Grove and of Copan. Returning Orly to its state before Declan I reunified it in December 2010 (that is, the Kingdom of the Grove and the Kingdom of Copan, each with a monarch appointed by the Emperor), Jonathan I was confirmed as Orly’s suzerain by its citizens before appointing new monarchs to rule over it.

A fourth Town, Palasia, was annexed on 12 July with Lord John Gordon as its Acting Representative, bringing the Empire’s population to 25. July furthermore saw the cutting of relations with Wilcsland, with the Emperor relinquishing his Wilsclandian titles and announcing the end of their alliance.

16 August and 16 November also saw the annexations of New Richmond and Terentia, two land claims the futures of which would be intertwined up to and after their departure from Austenasia in 2020. Both were at the time Crown Dependencies, each consisting of an uninhabited piece of property. New Richmond was the first Austenasian claim on the North American continent and would, in time, grow to be Austenasia’s largest and most populated land claim.

A general election was held on 18 November 2013, with the results being announced the following day. Lord Marshal William stood against Lord John Gordon and Countess Eritoshi, with the latter elected Prime Minister with two-thirds of the vote after William dropped out and endorsed her.

Between the ascension of Jonathan I to the Throne and the election of Countess Eritoshi, several legal reforms took place at the behest of the Emperor. 11 February saw the Offences Against the Person Act and the Property Act 2013 passed into law, vastly expanding the comprehensiveness of Austenasia’s criminal code. The Empire of Austenasia Act 2013 (passed 4 May) introduced the distinction between Towns, Territories, and Crown Dependencies which – with the exception of the minor additions of City status and Marches – has remained to this day. Furthermore, the Armed Forces Act 2013 (28 August) and the Police Act 2013 (8 October) each codified into a single Act the various statutes which had built up the Austenasian military and police respectively, alongside the introduction of minor reforms to said bodies.

Jonathan I also continued to represent the Empire abroad during this period. As well as hosting the heads of state of Reyla and of Landashir at the Imperial Residence for his coronation (see above), the Emperor represented Austenasia for the week-long 2013 Intermicronational Summit in Paris in July, and also hosted Sebastian Linden (then of Francisville) for a visit to Austenasia and the Carshalton Nations on 26 October 2013.

The remainder of this page is under construction.

Premiership of Countess Eritoshi

Premiership of Lord Admiral Kennedy

Premiership of Prince Dionisiy

Premiership of Lord Gordon

Premiership of Lord Wilson

%d bloggers like this: