Lighthouse City State
| Lighthouse City State | |||
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| Motto: None | |||
| Anthem: None | |||
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| Map versions | 3.5.0 - 8.0.0 (6.6.3 - 6.6.5 as the first Lighthouse City State) | ||
| Capital | Lighthouse | ||
| Largest city | Lighthouse | ||
| Official language(s) | English | ||
| Official religion(s) | |||
| Demonym | Lighthouser, Pharosian | ||
| - Adjective | Lighthousen, Pharosi | ||
| Government | Corporate | ||
| - Keeper of the Light | Orion Ilios | ||
| - Cmdr. of the Light Brigade | Orion Ilios | ||
| - Legislature | Board of Assembled Captains | ||
| Establishment | June 2001 | ||
| Area | NA | ||
| Population | Unknown | ||
| Active population | 3 | ||
| Currency | None | ||
| Calendar | |||
| Time zone(s) | |||
| Mains electricity | |||
| Driving side | |||
| Track gauge | |||
| National website | None | ||
| National forum | [1] | ||
| National animal | Larus marinus | ||
| National food | Fish | ||
| National drink | Rum | ||
| National tree | Palm | ||
| Abbreviation | LCS | ||
Lighthouse, officially the Lighthouse City State is a nation occupying the westernmost island of the Skerry Isles. It is bordered by Kaikias to the south. The city state controls the western half of the island, which is locally known as Pharos.
The Lighthouse is one of the oldest structures on Micras and has been in semi-continual existence since the earliest days of the Micronational Cartography Society. It has been built and destroyed several times, the source of at least one major war, and finally moved to its present location. Originally established as a condominium between the United Baronies of Treesia and the Republic of Baracao, it has long been a catalyst of conflict between those two states, and later between Treesia and the Kingdom of Babkha. Its founding as a condominium allowed the city state to become a fusion of several large micronational cultures; combined with an attractive laissez-faire style government, this allowed Lighthouse to prosper and become an economic haven, albeit temporarily.
History
While Tymaria was collapsing into civil war, the foundation of Lighthouse was seen as a diplomatic achievement when Treesia and Baracao agreed to form the original condominium.
Government and politics
The Lighthouse City State is governed along city-centered lines with a capitalist/corporate operating style. An executive council known as the Boarding House of Assembled Captains governs the entire state. The Board is composed of the four Captain Generals (one each for Lighthouse, the Coast of Wrecks, Smuggler's Cove, and Plum Colony). The Keeper of the Light, who also serves as Captain General of the Lighthouse, serves as chair of the board, which is the highest office of state.
Generally, the government is exceptionally laissez-faire in its approach to administering the island. Colonial Captains are given the freedom to develop their respective regions, while the Keeper of the Light is present to ensure laws are adhered to. The military is represented at the board by the Keeper of the Light, to whom the Commander of the Light Brigade reports.
Foreign relations and military
Foreign policies
The city state generally exercises armed neutrality, but nonetheless actively seeks diplomatic relations with other micronations. In order to provide for the free flow of goods and encourage trade, Lighthouse does not try to involve itself in sticky diplomatic alliances. Given its small size, it is not a formidable military power in any sense; although it is fully capable of defending itself from attack, offensive operations are taxing on the military, economy, and entire state. Thus it is prudent to invest in maintaining neutrality in order to promote economic prosperity. Like Switzerland, Lighthouse provides an economic haven for bankers, businesses, corporations, and private investors. It is a matter of importance to maintain a high quality of service to these people, and as such the state admits neutrality is the best option to accomplish this.
Presently, Lighthouse is seeking to officialize diplomatic relations with Shireroth, Antica, and Nelaga. Envoys are presently en route to Babkha and Alexandria.
The Light Brigade
The military wing of Lighthouse is known as the Light Brigade. Several platoons of Marines are responsible for the defense of the island, while most of the military's remaining resources are heavily invested in the navy. A tiny air force exists, mostly comprised of rotary craft, and attached to the navy.
Culture
The initial fusion of Treesian and Baracaoan cultures created a unique setting for the foundation of Lighthouse. Treesia held a traditionally conservative English-oriented culture, while Baracao was a markedly revolutionary Hispanic state. This stark polarity was destined to clash, and indeed it did. While the Treesian population dominated the demographics, Baracaoan politics greatly influenced the conservative mindset of the community. Thus it came to pass that the original population, which was monarchial conservatives, came to embrace economic freedom and corporate wealth. The early practice of privateering exercised by most Lighthousers also lent support to the growth of economic and corporate dominance.
After the collapse of Baracao, Lighthouse experienced a large influx of Babkhans, which further altered the demographics of the island. With the inclusion of Babkha and Treesia into the Grand Commonwealth, the free flow of these cultures was given unlimited movement and mixing. The close proximity of Pharos to Eura meant that it was easier for Babkhans to move to the island than Treesians, and this eventually led to conflict with Treesia as the island edged further away from its parent state.
Today, while still an English-speaking nation dominated by English customs, Lighthouse is an extremely diverse state with a wide ranging population from all walks of Micran life.
Economy
Captaincies
The Captaincies constitute the administrative divisions of the city state into governable components. Each Captaincy is governed by a Captain General, who in turn sits on the Board of Assembled Captains. As the Lighthouse retains special status as capital and epicenter of the city state and its culture, the administrator therein also receives the special title of Keeper of the Light, which is also the position of rank comprising both Head of State and Head of Government.
Lighthouse
The Coast of Wrecks
This area was originally settled by whalers from Treesia and a small number of Shirerithians. Due to the rocky shoals that line this area of Pharos, the area was susceptible to a great number of shipwrecks that often washed up on the shore. Thus the area first came to be called Wraecofa, a contraction of Wreck Coast, and then later and formally as the Coast of Wrecks. The most notable wreck still in existence is the HMS Brigantine, which was sunk in extremely shallow water and therefore remained mostly above the waves. The ship was patched and moored in place, and fishermen built a pier connecting it to the shore, using it as a wharf for incoming ships. The Brigantine grew and more docks and piers were added to the structure, sending up warehouses and other buildings around the old ship until it was surrounded by a coastal village. As a result the HMS Brigantine became the official capital of the Coast of Wrecks and the island's most famous shipwreck. It still stands in the center of Brigantia as both town hall and administrative center of the captaincy.
Smuggler's Cove
Smuggler's Cove was founded by Babkhan pirates privateering on ships sailing between Apollonia and the Skerry Islands.
