Aerican Empire | |
|---|---|
 Flag of the Aerican Empire | |
| Capital | Montreal, Quebec |
| Official languages | English |
| Demonym | Aerican |
| Government | |
• Emperor | Eric Lis |
| Area | |
• Total | 750,503 km2 (289,771 sq mi) |
| Population | |
• Census | 200 |
TheAerican Empire (/ɒˈɛrɪkɪn/ah-ERR-i-kin;French:Empire aéricain), conventionally referred to in short form asAerica (/ɒˈɛrɪkə/ah-ERR-i-kə), is an unrecognized self-proclaimed monarchy inCanada, founded in May 1987 for fun.[2][3] Its name stems from the term "American Empire".[4] In 2000The New York Times described its website as "one of the more imaginative"micronation sites.[5][6][7]
The Aerican Empire was founded on May 8, 1987 byCanadianEric Lis[8] and a group of friends. For the first ten years the Empire was almost completely fictional, claiming sovereignty over a vast galaxy of feigned planets and engaging in wars against other micronations (although never resulting in physical contact).[9] In 1997, the Empire created its own website.[10]
In 2007, Aerica first issued "novelty passports." The first issued passport was exhibited in thePalais de Tokyo 2007 Micronational art exhibition.[citation needed] Aerica issued stamps for the first time in 2015.[11][better source needed]
The project's mission statement is: "The Empire exists to facilitate the evolution of a society wherein the Empire itself is no longer necessary."[9][12][13] It describes itself as having aparliamentary system, with various elected bodies and offices, under the oversight of an Emperor (currently the founder, Eric Lis).[14] Lis, who founded the Aerican Empire as a child, obtained hisM.D., C.M. fromMcGill University.[citation needed]
The group's activities are permeated by a great deal of humour and a love ofscience fiction and fantasy, with recurrent references toStar Wars,The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and similar works. Annually, the Empire holds story-writing contests, role-playing and wargaming days, and such events as the Dog-Biscuit Appreciation Day Scavenger Hunt.[9] It also developed a religion called Silinism, the worship of the Great Penguin; originally intended as ajoke, but which the group says has thirty practitioners worldwide.[5] It has holidays and "niftydays" (such as Saint Bill's Day, "honoring the ultimate nerd"[15] and Topin Wagglegammon, "the Niftiest Day of the Year"[16]).
Delegations from the Aerican Empire were in attendance at the Polinations academic conference inLondon in 2012[17][18] and theMicroCon micronations convention inAtlanta in 2017.[19] Aerica was also represented at MicroCon 2023 inJoliet, Illinois.[20]
In 2025, the Aerican Empire hosted MicroCon 2025 at Ruby Foo's hotel in Montreal, which was attended by 120 participants from 48 micronations.[21][22][better source needed]
Their flag is similar to theflag of Canada, with a yellowsmiling face instead of the red maple leaf in the white square (although the red rectangles on the sides have different side length ratios).[citation needed]
taifa was invoked but never defined (see thehelp page).Aerican Emire: Aerican, one of the more imaginative sites, refers to itself asthe Monty Python of micronationalism, and its inhabitants worship a being known as the Great Penguin. The site warns its readers:Aerican places a high emphasis on silliness. People who cannot act silly are permitted entry only on a limited basis. A smiley-face adorns the flag.
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