MicroCon is a biennial summit or conference of micronationalists held in every other year since April 11, 2015. The event was created by Kevin Baugh of the Republic of Molossia, and every summit since has been hosted by a different micronation. 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 the United Nations General Assembly. The largest edition, MicroCon 2019 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, had 113 attendees from 43 micronations. MicroCon 2023 was the first edition to consist of two separate events: an American summit in Joliet, Illinois, and a European summit in Ypres, Belgium.
Overview
MicroCon is a biennial convention for micronationalists held since 2015. The event was created by Kevin Baugh, President of the Republic of Molossia.[1] Micronations are political entities that claim independence and mimic acts of sovereignty as if they were a sovereign state, but lack any legal 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 achieve international 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 the micronational community.[6] A venue for exchanging ideas between micronationalists, MicroCon has been compared to a summit and dubbed the micronational equivalent of a session of the assembly of the United Nations.[7][8]
MicroCon 2015
The first edition of MicroCon commenced on April 11, 2015 at the Anaheim Central Library in Anaheim, California. The event was organised and hosted by Baugh.[9][10] Ongoings at the convention included presentations by attendees, a formal ball, and a trip to the nearby Disneyland.[11] Various tables in the public rec room at the library displayed micronational regalia.[12] Attendees were allowed to host presentations between 10–15 minutes long on their micronation or any micronational topic of their choosing; a laptop was provided and attendees hosting presentations were allowed to bring a compact disc or flash drive with their presentation material.[10] One presentation included a choreographed battle performed by the nonprofit Lamia Knights of the Kingdom of Shiloh. A keynote address by micropatriologist 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 the Unitarian Universalist Church in Anaheim.[MC 1] Sources for the number of attendees varies;[a] though Bloomberg News, citing MicroCon 2015's official website, lists 36 attendees representing 17 micronations.[12]
MicroCon 2017
MicroCon 2017 commenced between June 23–25 in Reid H. Cofer Library at Tucker, DeKalb County, Georgia, and was attended by "more than 70 delegates"[13] representing 26 micronations.[b] Hosted by Queen Anastasia von Rubenroth of the Kingdom of Ruritania, events included sightseeing in Atlanta, 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 on PowerPoint, ranging from jocular to academic in focus. Attendees dressed in full royal and military regalia: "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, 2022 and 2023
Tables at MicroCon 2023 in Europe displaying merchandise and other items from MicroWiki and Westarctica
MicroCon 2019 commenced between July 19–21 in Hamilton, Canada, and included a gala dinner and laser tag tournament. It was hosted by the United Sabovian Empire.[15][MC 3] The summit had 113 attendees representing 43 micronations, including two unaffiliated with any micronation.[MC 4] MicroCon 2022, delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, took place between 4–7 August in Las Vegas, Nevada and saw 100 attendees representing 30 micronations.[MC 5] It was hosted by the Grand Duchy of Westarctica.[MC 6]
MicroCon 2023 consisted of two separate events; the first American summit occurred between June 30–July 2 in Joliet, Illinois, and received 110 delegates from 42 micronations, 132 attendees in total.[16] The second event commenced on August 12 in Ypres, Belgium, and received 68 attendees from 25 micronations. The Royal Republic of Ladonia hosted both summits, the second alongside the Grand Duchy of Flandrensis.[17][MC 7] The conference in Joliet featured another formal gala, diplomatic reception, a questions and answers session and a micronation show and tell.[18][19]
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
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
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
