Coordinates: 38°40′N 28°04′W / 38.66°N 28.07°W / 38.66; -28.07

New Switzerland

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New Switzerland
Nay Schwaiz (Hunsrik)
Principality of New Switzerland
Motto
Zwei Sprachen, ein Volk
(English: "Two peoples, one people")
Anthem: "Far Horizons"
Sovereign stateEbenthal
Settlement2 February 2011
Inc. Roschfallen28 January 2014
Inc. Ebenthal13 August 2014
Autonomous status1 January 2023
Official languagesHunsrik
Demonym(s)Neo-Swiss
GovernmentDevolved absolute monarchy
• Prince
Antônio I
LegislatureNone
Rule by decree
National representation
2 MPs (of 15)
Area
• Total
0.6 km2 (0.23 sq mi)
Highest elevation
0,846 m (2,776 ft)
Lowest elevation0 m (0 ft)
Population
• Census
16
GDP (PPP)2023 estimate
• Total
To be calculated
• Per capita
To be calculated
CurrencyKupfermark (𝕮)
Time zoneUTC−03:00
 • Summer (DST)
UTC−02:00
Date formatdd/mm/yyyy (AD)
Driving sideright
Calling code+55
Internet TLD.eb
Usual abbreviationNS
Websiteazores.gov.pt

New Switzerland, officialy Principality of New Switzerland (Hunsirk: Prinzpaat Nay Schwaiz, Portuguese: Principado da Nova Suíça) is one of the two special autonomous regions of Ebenthal. The principality is encrusted in the montainous region of the Brazilian State of Rio de Janeiro, entirely surrounded by the former Swiss colony and town of Nova Friburgo. With an area of 0.6 km² and a population of 16 permanent residents, New Switzerland is the country's fourth most populated administrative division. Previously bilingual, the principality currently adopts only Hunsrik, a German dialect of southern Brazilian origin, as its official language, while it recognizes Portuguese and English as working languages. The region has a unique arrangement within Ebenthal, being the administrative division with the most autonomy, governed through an hereditary absolute monarchy by the House of Scherer-Arrais which dominates the politics of the principality. New Switzerland is represented in the House of Councillors by two democratically elected councillors. Historically, the principality has been a steady conservative stronghold, represented in the national parliament almost exclusively by members of the Conservative Party and its successor, the National Party.

New Switzerland's history predates its micronational existence, with the region serving as a route for Amerindians from the interior to reach the Atlantic coast. The region remained largely uninhabited, with the exception of a few outposts, until the early 19th century, when immigrants Swiss, German and Austrians established a colony at the invitation of the King John I of Brazil, accompanying the arrival in Brazil of the Archduchess Maria Leopoldina of Austria. In the first decade of the 21st century, the territories that would form New Switzerland were settled by the Santos, Scherer-Arrais and Beato families. In early 2014, when Arthur van der Bruyn founded the Kingdom of Roschfallen, he merged his stepfather's lands into Magé with the of the Beato family in Petrópolis and with those of the Scherer-Arrais family in Nova Friburgo, establishing the Department of Gros Morne. Later that year, in the midst of a serious political conflict, Arthur Beato, 1st Duke of Gallar, followed by Antônio Scherer-Arrais, proclaimed independence of their lands in relation to Roschfallen. For two days, Beato ruled his lands under the name Most Serene Republic of Gallar until his acclamation as King of Ebenthal. Subsequently, his and Scherer-Arrais' estates were merged to form the Principality of New Switzerland within the Kingdom of Ebenthal. Eventually, in 2013, the Beato family's properties in Petrópolis were sold and the principality was reduced to a few enclaves in Nova Friburgo.[1]

On February 5, 2022 the Neo-Swiss monarchy was abolished through the Unitary Act generating a constitutional crisis that became known as the 2022 Neo-Swiss crisis, in which the Neo-Swiss government refused to obey the force of law of the act, keeping its reigning prince on the throne and threatening independence.[2] Ten days later, the Neo-Swiss monarchy was formally restored by the central government, but pressure for greater autonomy and secessionist nationalism remained strong sources of pressure. The crisis was definitively resolved only with the granting of greater autonomy to the principality and its change of status from province to special autonomous region.

New Switzerland is the wealthiest and most developed Ebenthaler administatrive division, with its entire population belonging to the upper-middle class. The principality's economy derives mainly from knowledge-based economy, services and tourism. It is home to the Princely Neo-Swiss Academy of Social Sciences and the principality is the largest national producer of scientific research in the field of social sciences, in addition to being the lowest carbon emitter among Ebenthal's administrative divisions.

Etymology

The name of the principality, "New Switzerland", originates from its history of colonization. The region was colonized throughout the 19th century by Germanic immigrants, especially of Swiss origin, due to similarities with the lower and less icy regions of Switzerland. During the colonization process, the Brazilian municipality of Nova Fribrugo, in which the principality is enclaved, and which received its name in reference to the Swiss canton of Fribourg, became known as "The Brazilian Switzerland" and is sometimes also referred to as "New Switzerland".

References

  1. Ministry of Information. New Switzerland and the Katarinensisch. Published on 22 October 2017. Retrieved on 25 December 2020.
  2. The Altenburg Express. Aditional Act No. 1-2022: The Unitary Reform. Retrieved on 14 June 2022. Published on 28 February 2022.