Sovereign Natopian Empire

Conception ~ August 23, 2002 ~ Natopia is born as a fictional city in the clouds, founded by Nathan Shepard, Joel Castleberry, and Aaron Pavletich.

First Reorganization ~ September 2002 ~ Natopia is organized into a complex city with a working government. Second Reorganization ~ October - December 2002 ~ Natopia is reorganized into a micronation: first as the Natopian Alliance, then the Supreme Sovereign State of Natopia, and then finally the Supreme Sovereign States of the Natopian Alliance.

Internet Awakening ~ December 2002 - February 2003 ~ Natopia learns of and joins several internet micronational organizations. Changes name to Supreme Sovereign Republic of Natopia and creates even more detailed government. Establishes alliances and friendships with several foreign nations.

Tasneemian Revolution ~ March 2003 - May 2003 ~ Rumors of Prime Minister Tasneem's overthrow of the Grand Chancellor circulate during the most severe period to date of Natopia's decline in popularity and activity.

Summer Awakening ~ June 2003 ~ MP Tasneem's plot is disproved. Natopian activity is increased with the prospect of T-shirts and other products available. Internet site is completly redone and several new micronations approach Natopia for diplomatic recognition. Plans for a one year anniversary party are being thought out for Natopia Day on August 23.

Colonial Expansion Period ~ late July 2003 ~ The colonies of Hazelwood, Belleville, and Fenton are reorganized and expanded into Regions. The Regions of Shepard, Hoheit, and Frieden are dissolved into the new Regions. The new Regions were created to facilitate Natopia's rapid expansion, as a result, the entire St. Louis metro area has been annexed. The First Annual Natopia Day Gala is to be held on the begining of Sovereignty Week, August 17. Celebrations and awards will be part of the festivities.

First Anniversary ~ late August 2003 ~ The capital city of Lindstrom hosts the First Annual Natopia Day Gala to great success. The first year of Natopia is celebrated among officials, citizens, and friends. The Region of Fenton was dissolved and its land added to the Region of Dracoheim, the chancellor of Fenton was installed as chancellor of Dracoheim as a result. The Grand Chancellor's personal pet, Copernicus the lizard, dies of natural causes. Out of memory, the Grand Chancellor dedicates the Copernicus Memorial Animal Habitation. As well as establishing this animal habitation, His Excellency also creates educational benefits such as the Natopian Astronomical Society and the Natopian Gallery of Art and Artifacts.

Second Autumn ~ September 2003 ~ Completely new web site is unveiled. Several citizens express interest in government positions. In a paradoxal turn, Natopia's international involvment has suffered due to the internal attention the Grand Chancellor is giving.

Isolation ~ October 4 -20 2003 ~ Due to internal conflicts and a new citizen crime organization Natopia's foreign relations have been frozen for an undefined time period. The Grand Chancellor is focusing all of his time on improving and maintaining the Republic amidst revolution rumors, continued threats from Emilyland, and general uninterest. On a side note, the Copernicus Memorial Animal Habitation was gifted a female veiled chameleon, named "Andromeda," by His Sovereign Excellency. Natopia will use this isolationist period for inner development and will eventually return to the international scene.

Emergence ~ October 21, 2003 - November 2003 ~ Due to magnificiently fortunate circumstances, most of the problems plagueing Natopia have all but vanished somehow. Natopia has perervered! This freezing and isolation of Natopia was the worst period Natopia has experienced thus far. A peace treaty is being worked out between Natopia and Emilyland, and Olgaria has all but dissolved. An amendment is being discussed by the Grand Quorom for ratification that will eventually expand the Senate's powers. The only dissenting voice is the Grand Judge, who beleives such an amendment would undermine her authority in the government. Unfortunatly, all of the Grand Qourom must agree for an amendment to be ratified, and this amendment is absolutly necessary. The Grand Chancellor will be trying to convince the Grand Judge to change her vote, otherwise the Natopian Senate will be grossly underpowered.

Korhal Interaction Period ~ December 2003 ~ One of Natopia's closest allies, Korhal, approached the Grand Chancellor with the prospect of a merger. Feeling a merger may not benefit both nations, His Sovereign Excellency suggested a close confederation and the Korhal - Natopia Confederation was created. Initial government structure consists of several ambassadors from each nation discussing the permanent government of the confederation.

Imperial Reorganization ~ January 9, 2004 ~ The Supreme Sovereign Republic of Natopia's constitution was Redrafted by the Grand Chancellor, resulting in a slightly modified constitution and a new name, the Soverign Imperial Republic if Natopia. The new constitution grants the Senate clearly defined powers, as well as the judicial branch, military branch, and most noticeably, the Regional governments. A slight change in Regional and military doctrine allows the Grand Chancellor to send the Natopian Defense Force as an occupational force into non-Natopian territory. Once occupied the territory may be granted Regional status and be admitted into the Republic. This change reflects the inclusion of the word "imperial" in the new national name. As an Imperial Republic, Natopia more truely resemblies what it actually is, a unique mixture of absolutism and democracy.

Second Imperial Reorganization ~ April 2004 ~ Feeling that the Imperial Republic was too large to legitimatly lay any claims over, the Grand Chancellor began to Redraft the constitution to establish Natopia's territroy as Protectorates. These small political divisions are the land owned by a Citizen of Natopia. Protectorates are still organized into the two existing Regions, Hazelwood and Lochhatonia, so that the Regions may send Senators to the Grand Natopian Senate. More importantly Natopia joins the International Association and becomes allies with it's founding member, the Republic of West Overbrook. Feeling a renewed interest in intermicronational politics, the Grand Chancellor works closely with the IA's Interim Prime Minister, Zachary Klaas, to promote the IA to other micronations and internally grow the organization.

External Blossoming ~ May 2004 - Late June 2004 ~ The Grand Chancellor is appointed IA Minister of External Affairs, becomes a citizen of the IA, establishes diplomacy with Republic of Lavalon after the overthrow of their monarchy, becomes a citizen of Lavalon, establishes a treaty with Imperial Republic of Shireroth, Natopia voices interest in the 2004 Intermicronational Olympics, and participates in the Micronational Flag Tour. On June 11, 2004, the second draft of the constitution is signed and becomes the governing document of the Republic.

The Grey Age ~ July 2004 - January 2005 ~ In July, the Region of Macon is annexed into the Republic with Jenny C. as regional chancellor. At the begining of September, internal activity takes a sharp drop, a drop that Natopia has been unable to dig itself out of. Nathan Shepard was elected as Prime Minister of the International Association and was appointed as Chief Justice of the Republic of Lavalon. Tasneem Chowdhury was elected to the office of President in Lavalon as well. Marred with internal suffering, the Grey Age also shows Natopia's far reaching influence external influence. The Lavalon Free Juice and Bagels Party retructures as the Progressice Bagelcratican Party and survives as the largest political party in Lavalon, ensuring Natopia's legacy to be preserved in foreign lands. Natopia enters into diplomatic treaties with numerous nations and continues to increase its prestige. The constitution was replaced with one similar but including an amendment clause that was left out of the previous version. Also, the Grand Natopian Senate was officially reorganized into the Legislative Frenzy with the Grand Chancellor as the parliamentary president.

The Rebounding Age ~ January 2005 - April 2005 ~ An Act of the Frenzy reduced the population by half in order to encourage participation. The intended effect failed, and Natopia lost half of her citizens. The Chancellor Decrees the creation of a national park system and Sylvan Springs is the first area to come under imperial protection. An expedition led by Nathan Shepard displays the artifacts of the Natopia's ancient history as a city in the clouds. Amendments to the constitution make the Grand Chancellory an elected position, as opposed to it being for life, as it always has been in Natopia. Macon and Hazelwood have been reduced from Regions to Colonies due to inactivity. Towards the end of April, Robert Davis returned to Natopian activity and as an indirect result, massive reforms are taking place, a total government re-evaluation in in the works. Natopia is also taking part in the Shireroth-Natopia-Antica Recwar League.

Peak and Void ~ May 2005 - July 2005 ~ Throughout May Natopia continues rising in activity and gaining international clout. It joins Attera and Antica in SPEAR, a powerful alliance seeking to restore a balance of power to the micro-world. A decline in activity and citizens in Lavalon and Faronia, and a general lack of activity in New Germany, cause the three states to unite with Natopia under the Venerable Union of Aligned States, ceding diplomacy and citizenship authority to Natopia's control. The end of May and begining of June see Natopia at its zenith. Once Grand Chancellor Shepard departs on his vacation, activity takes a dive. Prime Minister Chowdhury also takes a leave and activity drops to nothing. Two citizens leave, one of them the beloved Robert Davis. The middle of June until the begining of July mark the Void, a total lack of activity, save a few posts from foreign dignitaries seeking diplomacy. Upon his return, the Grand Chancellor declares the entire period as a void, and it was an unfortunate mixture of circumstances and it should not foretell doom of the new VUAS, its members, or Natopia itself. July 15 is the first Election Day for Grand Chancellor, and Nathan Shepard has begun a campaign emphasizing his achievements in Natopia and how he will get Natopia out of the slump its in.

The Natopian Transition ~ July 23, 2005 ~ While the Grand Chancellor was away at Camp Woodland Hills the Lavalonian Supreme Court struck down the VUAS treaty. The Grand Chancellor and Prime Minister Chowdhury decided not to pursue any relations with Lavalon and resigned from their offices and citizenships. Natopia withdrew from the long-held Treaty of Friendship with Lavalon, and after almost a year of entwined history, the two nations went their seperate ways. With Lavalon went the citizens Natopia had gained through VUAS. A severe shortage of citizens prompted the Grand Chancellor to draft a new constitution, one that would change the Republic into a Kingdom. The new Royal Constitution was ratified within days of its proposal and gave the republican government a "royal makeover." Basic government functions remained the same. Grand Chancellor Nathan Shepard became His Sovereign Majesty, Nathan I. However, after Natopia began to settle into its new Kingdom, and vastly reduced population, citizens Lord Joel and Sherry Lochhaas take interest in the Royal Frenzy and become Nobles, allowing Natopia to regain some activity. With all current citizens "offline Natopians" there is hope that Natopia will return to the fun and carefree earlier days that spawned the Free Juice and Bagel Party.

The Age of Wackiness ~ August - October 2005 ~ On October 16, King Nathan abdicates and decrees a constitutional amendment, changing Natopia into the Sovereign Natopian Empire, with an emperor elected by the Knight of the Black Hole. On October 21st, the Knights of the Black Hole elect Baron Nathan of Ziegeland as the Sovereign Natopian Empire. Throughout this time, Natopia "degrades into the ridiculous" with a 3-week long game of freeze tag in the Pub, a law to commemorate it and other odd peculiarities in the nation. Natopia officializes its recognition of the Republic of Antica and breaks relations with the Dinarchy of Antica.