The Empire of Austenasia is a micronation and self-declared sovereign state based in the United Kingdom. Formed in 2008, it operates under the constitutional monarchy of its self-styled Emperor, Jonathan Austen, and comprises twenty-four properties that have declared themselves independent under the leadership of a house in south London.
History
Austenasia was founded on 20 September 2008 by Jonathan Austen, a student, and his father Terry Austen, a security guard turned gardener. After sending a declaration of independence for their house in Carshalton to their local Member of Parliament, Tom Brake, Terry was named Emperor and Jonathan was named Prime Minister. Terry abdicated in February 2010, and was succeeded by Emperor Esmond III, who after a "civil war" and various internal disputes was replaced by a new leader, Declan MacDonagh, in December later that year. Jonathan then became emperor after Declan abdicated in January 2013 for personal reasons, and began a program of expansion which has seen people from across the world join the micronation by claiming properties which they live in or regularly visit. The micronation has been featured in several local and international publications, and has a certain amount of fame within Carshalton as being a local "quirk". The micronation produced and sold commemorative coins in 2018 in celebration of its tenth anniversary. Having initially received no reply to their declaration of independence, Jonathan met with Tom Brake MP in May 2011, who contacted Foreign SecretaryWilliam Hague to enquire about the criteria by which the UK recognises new states on Jonathan's behalf.
Geography
Austenasia claims several properties around the world, variously classified as "cities", "towns", "territories" or "crown dependencies". Wrythe, the micronation's "capital city", consists of a suburban house in the London Borough of Sutton. Several other British houses are also claimed, and other territorial claims include part of a university campus in Australia and a holiday home in the Hebrides. The micronation also has claims in the United States, Turkey, India, Algeria, and other nations.
