Johannus von Ikner

The Right Honourable Johannus von Ikner CR, OWL was the second Chancellor of the Empire of New Europe and military officer. He was the founder of the New European Fascist Party. Before becoming Chancellor he served as King and later State Leader of the Social Republic of Illinois (January–December 2009). Following the Chicago Skirmish, which began the New European Civil War, after 10 days of fighting the Fascist forces were defeated Ikner was replaced by Ryan Evans of the Libertarian Party. He was tried and convicted for his part in the civil war and sentenced to exile to his family home in Florida. After serving four months in exile he appealed for a second trial in which he received a pardon. Following Emperor Wilhelm's abdication in 2013 and the creation of Zározemě he expressed interest in taking part in shaping the new nation.

Imperial politics
Following his election as King in January 2009, Ikner founded the New European Fascist Party. Two months into his reign he campaigned for a change of government in Illinois. In a conversation between Chancellor James Russell and Emperor Wilhelm the campaign ended in his favor. Ikner made Illinois into a single-party fascist state modelled after Italy under Mussolini. Taking the title Il Duce he effectively ended the Illinois monarchy.

Domestic policy
On 19 April 2009, Ikner petitioned the government to begin a policy he called "Germanization of the State". This was a policy that simply intended to have German culture dominate everyday life in the state of Illinois. Illinois had a dominant German population at the time, however the few that were not of German ancestry were forced to adopt German names or themes. The government approved and the title Il Duce was changed to Staatsführer. Ikner also claimed territory off the coast of Florida on behalf of the imperial government. The claim was made on the grounds that his family owns a home in the St. Petersburg area which they regularly stay.

Chancellorship
By the constitutional law of the time, the monarch had the power to appoint and dismiss the chancellor as he saw fit. By December 2008, Chancellor Russell had been inactive for such a lengthy period of time that Wilhelm dismissed him. Many thought he would apoint King Matthew of South Carolina but Wilhelm wanted to continue with Russell's imperialist policies and apointed Ikner, who was the outgoing chancellor's party chairman. With his new position Ikner resigned from his position as Staatsführer of Illinois. He was succeeded by his Vice-Führer, a Meissner-Antifan War hero named Vaughn Bullock.

Domestic policy
In his term, Ikner's government decided to adopt a broader version of his Germanization plans in Illinois. Under his leadership New Europe developed its own sense of cultural identity. Ikner instuted New Europe's first national holiday and made plans for future youth programs for the time when New European citizens began having children of their own. He was fiercely against any opposition to his government or the monarchy which lead to periodic oral confrontations between his government and members of the secondary parties. While on holiday in the St. Petersburg colony he is infamous for putting down what was labelled as a potential rebellion of aliens to the empire. In truth he got into a heated arguement with strangers over the existence of New Europe and micronationalism that resulted in an altercation between his group and these unknown individuals. The propoganda was however intrumental in demonstrating his stance as a devout New European in the eyes of the public, while also proving to the monarchy his support for the throne. When the emperor called for what is now commonly known as the New European First Reformation, Ikner opposed the idea. He felt the empire simply needed more time to develope its culture. He later supported it when he was approached by the emperor and informed of the upcomming elections were to be rigged in favor of the Fascist Party. Following the Fascist majority in parliament he was nominally dictator of New Europe, however his personal support for the monarchy kept him from assuming absolute control of the empire.

Foreign policy
Diplomatically, Ikner was known to be a firm advocate and believer in the imperialist agenda New Europe had at the time. His term as chancellor is marked with New Europe's stagnation and downfall as a community leader. He was a known opponent of the community's various socialist and communist states, in particular Erusia of whom New Europe had been in a Cold War with eachother since May 2009. In an attempt to expand New Europe's colonial empire and confirm New Europe's place as the police power of the community the Ikner government declared war on Camuria who had been considered a community annoyance. When the emperor pushed for entering the War over Micronational Communism on the communist side, he opposed it and even tried to argue with the emperor against the idea. When both conflicts ended New Europe had gained little more than it already had with no objectives achieved and as a result the entire nation considered both ventures a failure. In July 2009 the emperor pushed for another attempt to ease relations with Erusia in which Ikner lead the New European delegation. The negotiations broke down with Ikner leaving in a rage and he immediately pushed for war, which was declared on 07 July. Although the war ended in a technical cease fire New Europe was left as a broken power with community influence plumiting faster than ever. Ikner would abandon any further expansionist ideas and focus on restoring New Europe's resources which had been exhausted by three wars.

Civil war and exile
Following New Europe's diplomatic humiliation in, what is locally called, the Red War extremist groups within the Fascist Party, particularly Ryan Lahiff who was the dictator of Connecticut at the time, began to call for the end of the monarchy. Initially Ikner refused to take part in these calls for Wilhelm's abdication but was at some unknown point convinced by Lahiff that it was what was best for New Europe. On the night of 20 November 2009 he ordered the Army to ignore any further commands from Wilhelm's emails or contacts. Ikner then publicly demanded that he abdicate in favor of a fascist regime. The emperor refused and met with Ikner in a public park in the capital. When it became clear that Ikner could not be persuaded Wilhelm was going to have him arrested, Ikner then order the troops he had hidden nearby to engage the Imperial Guard and capture the emperor, this became known as the Chicago Skirmish which lasted three hours and ended with Wilhelm's capture by the Fascist soldiers. Ikner then forced the emperor to aknowledge the end of the monarchy and to go into exile. A final attempt on Ikner's part to prevent civil war was the promise of compensation to any non-fascist organizations which would be branded as traitors if they opposed the new regime. Many refused which resulted in Queen Catherine of Tenessee to declare a state of civil war on the evening of 22 November. Throughout the war Ikner expressed a relentless brutality that had never been seen in the micronational world before or since. He was constantly ingoring the set rules of engagement agreed upon prior to each battle. As well as a complete disregard for the welfare of his followers. After the Battle of Chicago, he was captured and resigned from all his positions, then placed on trial as a traitor in the Trial of Major Fascist Rulers. He was found guilty on all charges and sentenced to exile. He and his family around this same time moved to their home in St. Petersburg where Ikner himself was under watch from the government.

Appeal
On 19 April 2010, Ikner's advocate appealed to the Supreme Court to reveiw his conviction. Ikner attempted to appear in court but was warned that if he did it would likely cause a scandal diplomatically for the emperor. As a result his second trial was done in absentia. After three days of testimony the court ruled that Ikner was still guilty of treason but his sentence was reduced to five years banishment. He then sent in a written formal letter of apology to Wilhelm expressing his deepest regrets for his whole term as chancellor as well as pleaded for forgiveness. Wilhelm responded with an Imperial Pardon which was given under the condition that he never again take part in any level of politics on New European soil. Ikner accepted but he went inactive soon after that.

Since exile
On 23 July 2012, after notification from the Republic of Hillsborough that they were based in the St. Petersburg colony the government contacted Ikner to determine if he was still in the area. In the conversation that determined that Ikner returned to Chicago at an unknown point, Ikner asked the government to rejoin the Imperial Army. After a brief debate the government accepted and reinstated him at considerably reduced rank. Ikner then requested to work on a new military project for the military as part of the overall New New Europe Project. He created what was being considered the special forces of the army the "Security Service". He created this unit from former fascists and other individuals who take part in local World War II re-enactments. In December 2012 Inker's restrictions were fully removed allowing him to re-enter politics if he wished. He stated that he may form a new political party and act as a member of the Imperial Assembly however he would rather pursue his military activities. He eventually created Freedom Party of New Europe of which he was charged with what became the final attempt to revitalize New Europe. When it was deemed unsuccessful the emperor abdicated thus permanently ending New Europe. Still under the Freedom Party banner, although name changes are in debate, Ikner is currently organizing the Zározemě Senate to determine the new nations structure and government.

Decorations and badges
Ikner's decorations and badges include the following: {| style="width:100%;"
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Titles and styles

 * 20 May 1993 – 15 May 2016: Herr Johannus von Ikner
 * 15 May 2016 – present: His Serene Highness The Prince of Ikner


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