History of Karnia-Ruthenia

The history of Karnia-Ruthenia covers the history of Karnia-Ruthenia and its predecessor states, from the foundation of the Kingdom of Ruthenia to the present state. The name Ruthenia has been in use since November 2014 when it was a kingdom and from 2016 as an independent kingdom of the Empire due to the Karno-Ruthenian Compromise of 2016. Ruthenia was dominated by the House of Götzö-Thomaz-Rocha (or House of Ruthenia) since its foundation in 2014, then became the Karno-Ruthenian Empire as a dual monarchy with Karnia in 2016.

Historiography
The history of Ruthenia raises some questions. Should it be confined to the current Karnia-Ruthenia or to all lands formerly ruled by the rulers of the Empire, like the Principality of Lomellina? Of the lands now part of modern Empire, many were added over time, while other parts are now part of other micronations.

Overview
The micronationalists who created the Empire began their careers micronational between 2009 and 2016. Besides the difference between the years they began their involvement with micronationalism, the influences of these micronationalists can also be observed in the current structure of Karnia-Ruthenia.

The European micronationalists of the Empire were influenced by the micronational practices of the continent, closer to the definition of "aspirant states" like the Principality of Seborga, the Principality of Sealand and the Principality of Hutt River. This kind of micronations are founded based on historical or legal anomalies (divergent interpretations of law). These types of micronations are usually located on small (or disputed) territorial enclaves, generate limited economic activity founded on tourism and philatelic and numismatic sales and are tolerated or ignored by the nations from which they claim to have seceded.

Among the Americans micronationalists who helped the creation of the Empire, the micronational shed practiced was defined as political, social and economic simulations; even modelist projects, focused more on culture than for a micronational practice considered pure, resuming themselves in recreating the past or simulating political or social processes. Those micronational projects tended to be reasonably serious and they were largely inspired by micronations as the Holy Empire of Reunion and the Grand Duchy of Flandrensis, among others.

Ruthenia (2014 - 2016)
The oldest micronation that compose the Empire is tke Kingdom of Ruthenia. The first settlements on the land now claimed by Ruthenia date from the first half of the eighteenth century, having been founded with the arrival of the Royal Family of Portugal in Brazil. With the fall of Napoleon and the return of the Braganza Dynasty to Portugal, the House of Thomaz-Rocha decided to remain in the region, having established power and prestige among the locals.

From then on, the future ruling family of Ruthenia ignored the government and wielded autonomy over the area, not being contested by any authority. On 19 November 2014, after nearly two centuries of uninterrupted exercise of power in the region - but a force in decline, a major step was taken. After gaining permission from his father, the now King Oscar of Ruthenia established the Throne of Ruthenia, declaring Ruthenia to be an independent kingdom. The following day, the flag and the national coat of arms, the royal title, the ministries of Foreign Affairs, Interior, Finance and the Royal Household, Defence and Immigration were established, and religious freedom in the kingdom was granted. In the early hours of 21 November, the Kingdom of Acrin was the first nation to recognize Ruthenia, followed by the German Reich of Mednyi and the People's Republic of Hashima.

The early Ruthenian history were plagued by uncertainty and political instability, but King Oscar was able to maintain order and develop the kingdom. On 22 March 2015, the capital was officially moved to the south, to Persenburg-Götzödorf, having previously been Alto da Solidão. An Absolute Monarchy from his beggining, everything has changed with the Constitution of 2015. Ruthenia became a confederate constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system of government, wherein the King of Ruthenia is the Head of State and the Chancellor is the Head of Government, and the Power of the King was splited among the legislative, executive and judicial branches of government.

The Scandinavian Affair
Widely reported in the national and foreign media, the "Scandinavian Affair" was a crisis which started with a referendum to decide which national language would be adopted by Ruthenia. Lusophones and Anglophones micronationalists had splited the government, disputing for power and forcing the King to favoring one group against other. A plebiscite was summoned and ended with the victory of the supporters of the English language. With Portuguese limited to being the language of the Court, the Lusophones began an exodus from Ruthenia. The Anglophones, led by the Duke of Erdene, tried to incite rebellion, later being punished.

During this crisis, the Empire of Munkkia approached the Ruthenian government, proposing an union between the two micronations. The Ruthenian people didn't approve the proposal, not wishing to have their faith and culture becoming a minority. The union failed and the relationship between Munkkia and Ruthenia was severely damaged. One of the most tragic moments was a false accusation of espionage made against a Norwegian subject, which caused national uproar, despite having also been an example of popular disapproval against union of the two micronations.

The decision not to join Munkkia was taken during a meeting convened by King Oscar, during which it was also decided that the King would participate more actively in power at least until a Constitution comes into force. Also on this occasion, it was announced that Ruthenia would be, until further notice, an absolute monarchy, and the King would exercise, with support from the General Assembly, a "royal dictatorship". After the estabilishment of a constitutional monarchy, Ruthenia became a democratic micronation. On March 2015, the King of Ruthenia and Mathias L. Magnussen, President of Munkkia estabilished informal conversations, restoring a peaceful distance between the nations.

The Union with Libertia and Savage Islands


After the Lomellinian Revolt in the last days of the Principality of Lomellina, Prince Guilherme I was officially overthrowed by Richard Abreo-Louis after the capture of Castello di Valle, Lomellina's capital city. The dethroned prince went to exile in the Autonomous Kingdom of the Savage Islands, which was formed by his cousin, King Francis II. After a week in exile, D. Guilherme took the conclusion that he still held ruling power in Lomellina Consolato and founded the Duchy of Libertia within the city along with his Ducal Family.

On 30 January 2015, D. Guilherme established contact with the King Oscar of Ruthenia, with the idea of annexing Libertia into the Kingdom of Ruthenia, a request that was instantly accepted. On 23 February 2015, D. Francis II of Savage Islands gave the rights and sovereignty of the islands to his cousin, D. Guilherme da Lomellina e Berenguer, the Duke of Libertia. The Kingdom was transformed into the Grand Duchy of the Savage Islands and annexed to the Kingdom of Ruthenia after D. Guilherme confirmed loyalty to the Ruthenian Monarch.

On 19 June 2015, D. Guilherme da Lomellina e Berenguer abdicated to his title of Grand Duke due to the fact that the Portuguese Republic and the group called People's Alternative for the Canary Islands are both involved in a territorial dispute that could create diplomatic, political and physical problems to the Kingdom of Ruthenia and the Duchy of Libertia. On the same day, the King abdicated his Savish titles and dissolve the Grand Duchy. This fact ended the occupation which lasted four months and seventeen days.

Ruthenian Antarctica


After the loss of Savage Islands, the Ruthenian Government restarted the expansion plans. On 30 June 2015, the Government of Ruthenia annexed the Kaiser Wilhelm II Land, located on the eastern portion of Antarctica, which came to be known as Grand Duchy of Gaussland. The Ruthenian government says "the move was to promote a better world through the protection of environment as well as in respect to the imperial ambitions que can only be filled by such attitudes".

The Kaiser Wilhelm II Land, the part of Antarctica lying between Cape Penck, at 87°43’E, and Cape Filchner, at 91°54’E, became an integral part of the Ruthenian State from the date of the decree issued by King Oscar, but at the time the Kingdom of Ruthenia was admitted as the sixteenth member of the Antarctic Micronational Union, Ruthenia claimed a much larger territory, then ruling the territory between USLSSR and St.Charlie.

The Kingdom of the Golden Dragon and the Throne of Lion
Main article: Overthrow of the Badakistani monarchy During the end of 2014 and the first half of 2015, the Brazilian micronationalism noted the creation of multiple projects lasting a few weeks and denoted a lack of professionalism and commitment to the expansion of micronationalism. When Filipe Machado founded the State of Bessabia, known as the "Kingdom of the Golden Dragon" because of the coat of arms of the kingdom, the Crown of Bessabia was offered to the King of Ruthenia, who accepted. Although Bessabia has become part of Ruthenia and willing of great administrative autonomy and that the King had moderator power provided by law, Oscar of Ruthenia pledged not to make Bessabia only an administrative region of Ruthenia. Since then, the Bessabia became the Lusophone image of Ruthenia, responsible for the contact of Ruthenians with micronations from Brazil and Portugal, as well as others whose official language was Portuguese.

Less than a month after the annexation of Bessabia, one of the biggest allies of Ruthenia between the Portuguese-speaking micronations, the Badakistan, went into a dizzying dismantling of democracy and disappearance of micronational activity. In this scenario, the Ruthenian diplomacy interfered in the case and through intense negotiations, the King of Ruthenia became, on 20 September 2015, the Shah of Badakhshan. Through that act, the King of the Ruthenians became an imperial figure and Ruthenia increased its relevance in his country of origin. Although not considered a change of treatment or a transition from a royal centralized government to a imperial centralized government, profound political changes would be operated from that moment.

Despite Emperor Oscar's reign have been relatively successful and well accepted by most reputable micronations, it was a highly unpopular monarch. His subjects rejected it to see that it was a foreigner who did not identify with the micronation and who cared about the Anglophone sector, more than the Lusophone. Between the end of November and the first week of December of 2015, the political situation was unsustainable. The return of former monarch Jaffar Sheri brought concerns and uncertainties. Willing to regain the throne, he sought the support of other micronations and garnered support among the aristocracy and the military.

Anticipating the coup through informations from the Ruthenian Secret Service, the Emperor decreed the dissolution of the Majlis, the parliament and took upon himself the command of the armed forces. Provided with dictatorial powers, contacted the Stadhouder of the United Provinces of Mauricia to hand over sovereignty over the territory, ending the Badakistan as an independent and sovereign micronation. A union treaty was signed in the last hours of 08 December 2015. The Badakistan became a province of a traditional Brazilian micronation and the then Emperor, deprived of his power, assumed the title of "Hereditary Lord of Badakistan Lands".

The October coup attempt
Main article: 2015 Ruthenian coup d'état attempt

On 22 October 2015, Nailimiskam Lisavovich Okbob, a supposed Ukrainian micronationalist, announced that it had established in 2007 its own "Kingdom of Ruthenia". However, they were never presented evidence that foundation and the usurper was aware of the original Ruthenia, including the fact that he was a member of the M.A.G.N.A. Group, a Facebook group dedicated to convivial Ruthenians and friends of the micronation.

Ignoring the arguments of the Government of His Majesty, Okbob made maximum publicity possible, trying to promote his micronation as legitimate and as part of Ahaanian Union, a micronation founded earlier by the usurper. As a result, the Ruthenian government launched a massive advertising campaign, highlighting the originality of the project and making it clear, through the slogan "The one and only Kingdom of Ruthenia, that there would only be only one Ruthenia.

Treated as attempted coup by the legitimate Government of Ruthenia, the usurper was supported only by Cesidio Tallini, who tried to force a "peace agreement" where both micronations coexisted. Oscar I of Ruthenia objected strictly condone what he declared to be a "fraud." The Legitimate Ruthenia was supported by the Republic of Lostisland, the Empire of Pavlov, the Principality of Aigues-Mortes, the Kingdom of Gaston, the Consulat of Surland, the Empire of Lemuria, the Kingdom of Ruritania and the Imperial Grand Duchy of Lundenwic.

It is regarded as the end of the incident the "abdication" presented by the usurper to the throne of Ruthenia.

The Autumn Revolution in Acrin
During the first four months of existence of the Kingdom of Acrin, the King and his government were devoted to foreign relations, the formulation of their national symbols, which suffered greatly Ruthenian influence and attempts to attract investment and establish connections with other micronations, misguided attitudes that made the inexperienced government of the time lose much of their enthusiasm and credibility.

Over the next eight months, no activity was observed. The Ruthenian Government, the greatest ally of Acrin at the time, tried numerous times to contact, either in order to get news or in order to propose a union of crowns led by Ruthenia. In November 2015, when Acrin and Ruthenia would complete one year of existence, King Eitan of Acrin was appointed to the Order of the Foundation of the Kingdom of Ruthenia. Before the failed attempt to contact the King of his award, the Ruthenian government began formulating a audacious plan.

On 19 November 2015, the Ruthenian government issued an ultimatum: either Acrin answer their messages within one month counting of that date, or the King of the Ruthenians, as the Aristocratic Chieftain of the Clans of Acrin, would claim the throne for himself. Although this version of events be announced by the Ruthenian government, the first contact attempt occurred through Micronation.org Forum, nine days before the e-mail was sent to King Eitan and the government of Acrin.

There was no answer. In the words of King Eitan himself when he made the King of the Ruthenians the Aristocratic Cheftain of the Clans of Acrin, he explained that "You lead all the families as one aristocrat". Based on this interpretation, Oscar of Ruthenia not only was the last active Acrinian noble, as was also responsible for leading the nobility of Acrin. Thus, with the government abandoned, it would be an obligation of Ruthenians to protect the micronation.

Through a special decree of 15 December 2015, Oscar of Ruthenia dethroned King Eitan, granting to him, however, the title of Prince Szteinbaum of Acrin. In the same act, he removed the entire autonomy of Acrin, making the kingdom a little more than a Ruthenian province. Other executive acts were issued by the new king, who ordered new flag, new coat of arms, new capital and advertising his rise, which was greeted with enthusiasm in Ruthenia. By becoming part of a larger kingdom, Acrin acquired more visibility, even though it cost their entire independence. Ruthenia, in turn, was little benefited, since the so-called "Autumn Revolution" only increased their territories and announced the start of its most aggressive and imperialist actions.

Libertia (2014 - 2016)
Another precursor state of the Empire and driving force for the start of the expansionist process of the Kingdom of Ruthenia was the Duchy of Libertia, founded on 1 December 2014 but its history is older and closely related to the Principality of Lomellina. The whole history of the principality and the early history of the duchy was, as the Kingdom of Ruthenia own history in its begin, a troubled period, but the development of the duchy made of it the cultural center and one of the Empire's most influential states, as well as the second most populous state of the micronation.

Principality of Lomellina
The Principality of Lomellina was an enclave and exclave micronation with self-proclaimed territories in Antarctica, Italy and Greenland. Its capital, Castello di Valle, was located in Valle Lomelina, a region of Lombary, Italy, making it the core of the principality, though the Prince lived at the Lomellina Consolato. The principality was claimed to be founded around the beginning of the 13th century, but only seceded in 6 August 2014 by initiative of D. Guilherme da Lomellina e Berenguer, after proving his direct descent from the House of Lomellini, the founders of Lomellina.

The Lomellinian Revolt and the Foundation of the Duchy
On 20 November 2014, the Lomellinian Aristocracy proposed a government change in which the High Chanceller Richard Abreo-Louis had complete ruling power over the aristocracy members, in a decision that did not pleased the Prince of Lomellina, since the prince had gave great autonomy for aristocracy.

His denial started an anti-absolutist campaign against him on 26 November. The same day, the event now called "Lomellinian Revolt" began, and Richard Abreo-Louis was crowned as the constitutional successor of Prince Guilherme and his reign lasted for only 3 days. On the 01 December, Guilherme I was officially overthrowed by Richard Abreo-Louis after the capture of Castello di Valle, Lomellina's capital city. After 04 December, Richard turned the nation into a State in which the only territorial posession was Castello di Valle, thus creating the State of Lomellina.

As for the dethroned D. Guilherme I, he exiled to the Autonomous Kingdom of the Savage Islands, which was formed by his cousin, King Francisco de Moniz II. After a week in exile, D. Guilherme took the conclusion that he still held ruling power in Lomellina Consolato and founded the Duchy of Libertia within the city along with his Ducal Family.

Union with the Kingdom of Ruthenia
On 30 January 2015, D. Guilherme established contact with the King Oscar of Ruthenia, with the idea of annexing Libertia into the Kingdom of Ruthenia, a request that was instantly accepted, since the two were old friends. King Oscar appointed Guilherme as Chancellor of Ruthenia and place his family between the other Ruthenian noble houses by Royal Decree n. 033 of 1 February 2015 that states in its fifth article: "I grant autonomy to the Dukes of Libertia to rule the Duchy from which it comes from that in full accord and harmony with the Government of Ruthenia." and in its sixth article that "I nominate His Royal Highness the Duke of Libertia, for the position of Chancellor of Ruthenia, whose functions shall be established by the Constitutional text".

Since then, the Duchy of Libertia has been one of the most important cultural centres of Ruthenia and home of the Libertian Archives which gave Ruthenia and all its vassal states the most reliable source in Ruthenian documentation and micronational ex-libris as well as several official documents of the now sissolved Principality of Lomellina.