About The Circle of Belmoor
The Incorporeal Principality of the Circle of Belmoor is a micronation founded in 2020. Based around shared values and community care rather than a land claim, Belmoor exists to promote equality and community to its citizens.
The Writ of Belmoor was signed on September 5, 2020. This national holiday is now known as Circlemas. On June 30, 2024, the Belmooran national anthem was released, and subsequently was proclaimed as a new national holiday, known as Cantus.
Belmoor's head of state is the Princept, who chairs the ruling council and oversees the dual electorates. The Princept also administrates the award of several recognitions and honors, such as the Peerage of the Principality, the Nobility, the Beloveds of Belmoor, and the knightly Order of the Circle.
All citizenship in the Circle of Belmoor is dual citizenship in conjunction with the citizenship of the physical macronations in which its citizens reside. The Circle of Belmoor exists in supplement to, and not in replacement of, the physical nations in which citizens reside.
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What is a Micronation?
A micronation is a self-proclaimed nation, usually not recognized by more established countries or international organizations like the UN. It's usually run by its founder and a small group of other dedicated, like-minded people, who shape the foundation and future of their nation however they wish.
Why do Micronations exist?
Ask a group of micronationalists why they founded their countries, and you'll get answers as diverse and wide-ranging as you can imagine. Many micronationalists set out to explore or answer the question of what makes a nation. For some, it's an academic exercise in civics, political science, or government. For others, it's a way to reclaim childlike whimsy, an art project, an avenue for environmental activism, or an inside joke.
Is there a legal basis for micronations?
When looking at the legal basis for micronations, most micronationalists will point you in the direction of the 1933 Montevideo Convention on Rights and Duties of States, which lays out the requirements for a nation to claim statehood. This is often referred to as the declarative theory of statehood. The convention gives four things all nations should have: a permanent population, a defined territory, government, and the capacity to enter into relations with other states. Let's take a closer look at these:
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A permanent population. Essentially, a state needs citizens to exist. Most micronational founders count themselves and their families as their nations' first citizens, and many offer ways for others to become citizens too.
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A defined territory. A state has to exist in a place. Many, but not all, micronations incorporate a land claim: a physical area over which the nation claims sovereignty. This claim can be as small as a single room in a building, or as large as an entire planet. Some micronations' claims are less concrete, such as digital territory, portions of the cosmos, or simply taking residence in the hearts and minds of their citizens.
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Government. A state needs to be able to run itself. Micronational governments come in all shapes and sizes; however, since most micronations are very small, often their governments consist of one or two people who serve in several offices at once.
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Capacity to enter into relations with other states. A nation needs to be able to interact with other nations. For micronations, this can happen formally through treaties and documents of mutual recognition; it can also happen informally through online communities or in-person events like Micro Euro Summit or MicroCon.
How many micronations are there?
It's not really possible to definitively determine how many micronations there are in the world, since new ones pop up every day and some micronations aren't active. With that said, there are hundreds of known micronations located around the world. Micronational populations can vary from a single person to several thousand, with some micronations having more citizens than the Vatican or Lichtenstein. In many cases, micronational citizens don't reside in the nation's claimed territory.
Are you sovereign citizens? Are you scammers?
No to both. We're very different from sovereign citizens, who claim not to be subject to the laws of the nation where they reside. The vast majority of micronations comply with all laws and regulations of the larger nations where they are located. We do want to warn newcomers, though: there is a small but notable amount of micronational scammers and people who create micronations or claim membership in a micronation because they think that will shield them from the consequences of illegal activity. Reputable micronations will call out scammers if they show up. And, in general, be wary of anyone claiming immunity from other nations' laws because of a micronation.
What do micronations do?
Micronations often create their own laws, currencies, flags, coats of arms, and systems of governance. Some micronations additionally grant titles, honors, and orders of knighthood. Typically, they do lack the resources to function as a fully independent state, but they have vibrant cultures and communities which attract anyone who's intrigued by alternative forms of governance.
I want to start a micronation. How do I do that?
I'd recommend starting really simple. First, figure out what I call your Montevideo Essentials: your territory, population, government, and where you want to fit into the larger micronational community. From there, pick out a name for your nation and try your hand at designing a flag. Research other micronations to see how they've developed, and reach out to a few other micronations to make friends. The micronational community is super welcoming, and we'd be happy to chat about the process!