| MicroCon | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Micronational |
| Frequency | Biennial |
| Country | Intermicronational |
| Inaugurated | April 11, 2015 |
| Attendance | 132 (2023,Joliet, Illinois) |
| Organized by | Micronational governments |
MicroCon is a biennialsummit orconference ofmicronationalists held in every other year since April 11, 2015. The event was created by Kevin Baugh of theRepublic of Molossia, and every summit since has been hosted by a differentmicronation. MicroCon is a significant event in the micronational community, serving as a venue for exchanging ideas between micronationalists. The event has also been compared to the micronational equivalent of a session of theUnited Nations General Assembly. The largest edition, MicroCon 2019 inHamilton,Ontario, Canada, had 113 attendees from 43 micronations. MicroCon 2023 was the first edition to consist of two separate events: an American summit inJoliet, Illinois, and a European summit inYpres, Belgium.
MicroCon is a biennial convention formicronationalists held since 2015. The event was created by Kevin Baugh, President of theRepublic of Molossia.[1] Micronations arepolitical entities thatclaim independence and mimic acts ofsovereignty as if they were asovereign state, but lack anylegal recognition.[2] Many exist "only on the internet or within the private property of [their] members"[3] and seek to simulate a state rather than to achieveinternational recognition; their activities are almost always trivial enough to be ignored rather than challenged by the established nations whose territory they claim.[4][5] MicroCon is a significant event in themicronational community.[6] A venue for exchanging ideas between micronationalists, MicroCon has been compared to asummit and dubbed the micronational equivalent of a session of the assembly of the United Nations.[7][8]
The first edition of MicroCon commenced on April 11, 2015 at the Anaheim Central Library inAnaheim, California. The event was organised and hosted by Baugh.[9][10] Ongoings at the convention included presentations by attendees, a formalball, and a trip to the nearbyDisneyland.[11] Various tables in the publicrec room at the library displayed micronationalregalia.[12] Attendees were allowed to host presentations between 10–15 minutes long on theirmicronation or any micronational topic of their choosing; a laptop was provided and attendees hosting presentations were allowed to bring acompact disc orflash drive with their presentation material.[10] One presentation included a choreographed battle performed by thenonprofit Lamia Knights of the Kingdom of Shiloh. A keynote address bymicropatriologist Steven F. Scharff was delivered to the conference via YouTube.[12] The ball held at the end of the convention, the MicroCon Cotillion, was semi-formal and commenced at theUnitarian Universalist Church in Anaheim.[MC 1] Sources for the number of attendees varies;[a] thoughBloomberg News, citing MicroCon 2015's official website, lists 36 attendees representing 17 micronations.[12]
MicroCon 2017 commenced between June 23–25 in Reid H. Cofer Library atTucker,DeKalb County, Georgia, and was attended by "more than 70 delegates"[13] representing 26 micronations.[b] Hosted by Queen Anastasia von Rubenroth of theKingdom of Ruritania, events included sightseeing inAtlanta, bowling, a gala dinner, diplomatic conference, exchanging of micronational awards and presentations on micronationalism.[7][13][14] Much of June 24 was spent on these presentations hosted onPowerPoint, ranging from jocular to academic in focus. Attendees dressed in full royal and militaryregalia: "in pearls and kitten heels, electric blue sailor suits, glitter-coated boots, and capes."[13]Vice News produced a short documentary on the convention.[7][14]
MicroCon 2019 commenced between July 19–21 inHamilton, Canada, and included a gala dinner and laser tag tournament. It was hosted by the United Slabovian Empire.[15][MC 3] The summit had 113 attendees representing 43 micronations, including two unaffiliated with any micronation.[MC 4] MicroCon 2022, delayed by theCOVID-19 pandemic, took place between 4–7 August inLas Vegas, Nevada and saw 100 attendees representing 30 micronations.[MC 5] It was hosted by theGrand Duchy of Westarctica.[MC 6]
MicroCon 2023 consisted of two separate events; the first American summit occurred between June 30–July 2 inJoliet, Illinois, and received 110 delegates from 42 micronations, 132 attendees in total.[16] The second event commenced on August 12 inYpres, Belgium, and received 68 attendees from 25 micronations. TheRoyal Republic of Ladonia hosted both summits, the second alongside theGrand Duchy of Flandrensis.[17][MC 7] The conference in Joliet featured another formal gala, diplomatic reception, a questions and answers session and a micronationshow and tell.[18][19]
MicroCon 2025 occurred between June 27–29 at Ruby Foo's Hotel inMontreal, Canada. Hosted by theAerican Empire, the event welcomed 47 micronations from countries including Australia, Latvia, and the United Kingdom. In concluding the conference, it was announced that the 2027 iteration would be held inSan Diego bySlowjamastan. The event was covered by micronational researcher,Robert Motum, in Canada'sGlobe and Mail.[20]
  2015 2017 2019 2022 2023 2025 2027 Location of North American MicroCon summits |   2023 2027 Location of European MicroCon summits |
|
| No. | Dates | Location | Host micronation | Attendance | Presenters |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11 April 2015 |  Anaheim,California | Republic of Molossia | 36[12] | Adrianne Baugh,Kevin Baugh,Christopher Beyette, George Bragg, Joseph Vladimir Christ, Anastasia von Ephlberg, John Farr, Jacob Felts, Adam Freideck,Travis McHenry, Samantha Miller, Arthur Pagan, Yan Pagh, Henry Roberts, Steven F. Scharff,Carolyn Shelby, McCovey Staples, Vladimir Veselovsky, Carolyn Yagjian |
| 2 | 23–25 June 2017 | Tucker, Georgia | Kingdom of Ruritania | 70+ | Michael R. Bannister, Adrianne Baugh,Kevin Baugh, George Bragg,Omar Cisneros, Richard of Edania, Catherine von Ephlberg, Julianna von Ephlberg, Ernest-Emmanuel von Brownburg-Amethonia, John Farr,Eric Lis,Jean-Pierre Pichon, William Soergel, Carolyn Yagjian |
| 3 | 19–21 July 2019 |  Hamilton, Ontario | United Slabovian Empire | 113 | Alexis Baugh, Ernest-Emmanuel von Brownburg-Amethonia, Dean Easton, John Farr,Jordan Farmer, Adam Freideck,Eric Lis,Travis McHenry, Kwon Minsung,Jean-Pierre Pichon, Phillip Pillin,Carolyn Shelby, William Soergel, Olivier Touzeau |
| 4 | 4–7 August 2022 | Las Vegas,Nevada | Westarctica | 100 | AP,Kevin Baugh, Igor Beloff, Ernest-Emmanuel von Brownburg-Amethonia,Zaq Landsberg,Travis McHenry, John Farr,Jordan Farmer, Bennie Ferguson, Georganna Gore,Robert Motum, Andrew Perdomo, Phillip Pillin, Charles Ross,Carolyn Shelby,Randy Williams |
| 5 | 30 June–2 July 2023 | Joliet, Illinois | Ladonia | 132 | George Bragg,Jordan Farmer, John Farr,Eric Lis, Rankin MacGillivray, Katie Bellis Miller, Christina Nowell, Phillip Pillin, Anna Ralls-Ulrich, Matthew Salzer,Carolyn Shelby, Mari Katoka,Randy Williams |
| 11–13 August 2023 |  Ypres,Belgium | Ladonia & Grand Duchy of Flandrensis | 68 | Adrianne Baugh,Kevin Baugh, Yvan Bertjens, Lloyd Bryant, Dominic Desaintes-Bellamare, Frei von Fräähsen zu Lorenzburg, Ffion McEvoy,Travis McHenry, Vincent Merchadou, Clotilde Milan, Sandra Petermann,Jean-Pierre Pichon, Arthur de Tourneau, Olivier Touzeau,Niels Vermeersch,Randy Williams | |
| 6 | 26–29 June 2025 | Montreal,Quebec | Aerican Empire, Saint-Castin, & Sancratosia | — | Kevin Baugh, George Bragg, Jordan Farmer, Michael Farr,Eric Lis, Rankin MacGillivray, Christina NowellTravis McHenry,Jean-Pierre Pichon, Asa Ward,Randy Williams, Matthew Salzer, Anna Ralls-Ulric[21] |
| 7 | 6-8 August 2027 | San Diego, California | Republic of Slowjamastan[22] | ||
| 24-26 September 2027 |  Aigues-Mortes, France | Principality of Aigues-Mortes[22] |
References that are cited to the official websites of MicroCon:
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| In popular culture |
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