Principality of Freedonia
{{Short description|Defunct micronation}}
{{Distinguish|Freedonia|Republic of Fredonia}}
{{Infobox
| above = Principality of Freedonia
| subheader = Unrecognized micronation
| label1 = Claimed by
| data1 = John Kyle
| label2 = Date established
| data2 = 1997
| label3 = Area claimed
| data3 = None
}}
The Principality of Freedonia was a micronation based on libertarian principles. It was created as a "hypothetical project" by a group of teenagers in the United States in 1992. The project was formalized as a new country project in 1997, which included attempts in 2001 to lease territory in Somaliland. The attempt to lease land was rejected.
It was headed by a Texas university student named John Kyle, who used the title Prince John.Micronations: The Lonely Planet Guide to Home-Made Nations, John Ryan, George Dunford, and Simon Sellars, Lonely Planet Publications, 2006 {{ISBN|1741047307}} (paperback){{cite web|url=http://www.metroactive.com/papers/cruz/11.22.00/netnations-0047.html|title=Wanted: Homeland for 300 Webheads|website=Metroactive|date=22 November 2000|access-date=2 January 2006}} The Principality of Freedonia itself was based in Boston, Massachusetts.
Coinage
While the Freedonia project was active, it minted its own currency. It had a number of 50 Freedonian dollar 1 oz silver coins minted.{{cite web|url=http://www.geocities.com/erik_mccrea/linksF.html |title=Links To Micro-National and Fantasy Coins: Listings F|access-date=2 January 2006|website=Yahoo! Geocities}}{{dead link|fix-attempted=yes|date=October 2010|bot=AnomieBOT}} It offered these coins for sale on the organization's website.{{cite web |url=http://www.freedonia.org/bof.html |title=Bank of Freedonia |website=The Principality of Freedonia |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120820010915/http://www.freedonia.org/bof.html |archive-date=20 August 2012 |access-date=2 January 2006}}
Current status
The Freedonia project's website has not been updated for a number of years and its discussion forum no longer functions, e-mail communication with the self-styled Prince does not work, and the entire project appears to be defunct. E-mail statements from the founder indicate the project is not being actively pursued as of 2004.
As of 2013, the Freedonia website is no longer available.
See also
- List of micronations
- {{section link |Freedonia |Use in general English}}
References
Further reading
- [https://books.google.com/books?id=5ZRrwrlIPSYC&pg=PT32&lpg=PT32 Micronations]. pp. 56-59.
- [http://www.thesundayleader.lk/archive/20020825/review.htm "The invisible empires"]. The Sunday Leader. (scroll down on page)
- [http://blogs.houstonpress.com/news/2009/07/libertarian_micronation_freedo.php "Houston 101: Hail, Freedonia (Except For The Part About The Killings)"]. Houston Press.
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20120925080527/http://www.freedonia.org/ Official website (archived)]
{{Micronations}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Freedoniajlk}}
Category:Micronations in the United States
Category:States and territories established in 1997