Yes, I'm a real baron of a fake country

[barondave]

brithistorian asked about Our Noble rank. We've moved the response here since many of our Friends may be interested; if not, please feign import and perhaps delight. We are pleased.

The country of Ladonia is a small (1 km sq) at the southern tip of Sweden. Short story of a micro-country: Sweden wouldn't let Lars Vilks, an artist, build his large pieces in their country. Too late, they were built, and rather than take them down he declared the area a sovereign country. They are still engaged in legal battles going back to 1980. Interestingly, one of the crew on the Endeavour, the ship We engaged to Antarctica, lives just a few miles from there. He was amazed We even heard of the place, and was further croggled to find out We were a Noble. He invited Our Royal Self to visit. We shall check Our schedule.

We first found out about Ladonia when most people did: A few months after 9/11, when several thousand Pakistanis applies for citizenship to escape the Afghan war (failing to read the part about no immigration or jobs), the story made CNN. I applied for "citizenship" and went so far as to become a Baron, allowing Us to use the royal "We". We're listed in the Nobles of Ladonia. We have a certificate and everything. Framed.

The proper address for a Noble of Our rank is "Sir" or "Your Lordship", but since none of you reside in Our barony, you are excused from the formal greeting. We produced a tract that was handed out at Marscon 2004, containing a more detailed history and pictures.

The motto that will grace our herald: Ad Astra, Per Aspera!

Anyone is invited to apply for citizenship of Ladonia. Citizenship is free and easy. Becoming a Noble is harder, but not much.

Comments

[supergee.livejournal.com]

My doctor of divinity degree cost $25. Is your title comparably pricey?

[barondave.livejournal.com]

$12, though We also send Lars a Shockwave CD. He sent back the certificate plus a pin, which We have around here someplace...

[skylarker.livejournal.com]

Ladonia sounds like a fun country. Have you ever actually been there?

[barondave.livejournal.com]

No, but We were close once, in 1973. The place is a major tourist attraction (the park, not necessarily Ladonia or Lars' huge sculptures) and gets about 50,000 visitors a year. Might be fun to visit Magnus (Our Friend from Antarctica) and see the country. But our Duties are pressing here...

Ladonia

[(Anonymous)]

Greetings, your Lordship, from a fellow citizen of Ladonia! I recently "immigrated" to the fine country, becoming the Minister of Italian Cooking to Her Majesty. Good to know I'm in good company.

Sir Michael

[aedifica]

Your motto is the same one I had engraved inside my class ring! Well, actually mine read ADASTRAPERASPERAVI, which I have to fight to keep myself from reading as "ad astra per asperavi," when actually it's "ad astra per aspera vi"--I added the year to the end.