United Republics of Jamtland, Herjeådalen and Ravund De förenade republikerna Jamtland, Herjeådalen och Ravund (Swedish) Micronation | |
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| Anthem: "Jämtlandssången" | |
| Status | Active |
| Official languages | Swedish,Jamtlandic |
| Organizational structure | Republic |
• President | Eva Röse |
| Establishment | |
• Self-governance | 10th–12th century |
• Foundation | 1964 |
TheUnited Republics of Jamtland, Herjeådalen and Ravund (often shortened to theRepublic of Jamtland) is a humorousculture andmarketingproject ormicronation, withregionalist and historical elements based in theSwedish County ofJämtland, located in the middle ofScandinavia. From the 10th to 12th century Jamtland was self-governing and was independent of any crown, hence the name "Republic of Jamtland". It was annexed in 1178 to the crown of Norway. It still exercised significant self-rule, and its primary connection to the Norwegian king was through paying royal taxes. TheOrkney Islands were the only other area that enjoyed similar self-rule.
The Republic of Jamtland was founded in 1964 (recalling the former 10th-century republic) in reaction to emigration from the county. The event that triggered its foundation was thecentralist plan of Swedish officials to merge Jämtland County withVästernorrland County. The founders organized an association,The Liberation Movement, and mobilized the people through the "freedom festival"Storsjöyran. TV entertainerYngve Gamlin was "elected" president, andJamtland was proclaimed a republic in its own right, within theKingdom of Sweden.
The second president, the comedianMoltas Erikson, described the Liberation Movement as "51% in jest and 49% in earnest". It is largely seen as a humorous hoax, and actual support for an independent state among the local population is low. The movement's main focus is to preserve and promote the Jamtlandic culture,language and way of life,[1] but not independence for the three "constituent republics".[2]
The third president wasEwert Ljusberg, a man again fromshow business. Once a year he made a popular speech at the city festival Storsjöyran inÖstersund where he agitated against and mocked the "Big-Swedes", theSwedish government and theEuropean Union, in a simultaneously serious and joking manner.
Actress andtelevision hostEva Röse was elected the Republic's fourth president in 2022.[3]
In addition to theflag of the Republic of Jamtland (which unmistakably has the Norwegian Lion in its centre), the republic boasts its own national anthem, entitled "Jämtlandssången". Versions of the song exist in bothSwedish andJamtlandic, the official language of the republic.[4]
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