This article was approved as a good article on 20 March 2023

Petoria

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Petoria
2000–2000
Flag of Petoria
Flag
Location on Petoria in black, surrounded by Quahog, Rhode Island. To the west, is 33 Spooner Street, later annexed.
Location on Petoria in black, surrounded by Quahog, Rhode Island. To the west, is 33 Spooner Street, later annexed.
Capital31 Spooner St., Quahog, RI
Common languagesEnglish
Demonym(s)Petorian
GovernmentDictatorship
President 
• 2000-2000
Peter Griffin
Head of Defense and President of Poopie 
• 2000-2000
Stewie Griffin
Historical eraModern Age
• Established
2000
• Operation Desert Clam
2000
• Disestablished
2000
Population
• 2000, 31 Spooner Street
6
• 2000, 33 Spooner Street
3
• 2000, Total
9
Preceded by
Succeeded by
United States
United States

Petoria was a fictional micronation from the animated television sitcom Family Guy, premiering on American commercial broadcast company Fox Broadcast Company.[1] The protagonist, Peter Griffin, establishes his home, 31 Spooner Street, as his own country in the fictional town of Quahog, Rhode Island, after learning that his property could not be located on any town maps.

Episode plot

In season 2, episode 18, entitled, E. Peterbus Unum, Peter Griffin learns that his neighbors have gotten a tax refund and spent it with gifts for themselves.[2] Many of Peter's friends obtain various goods with their tax refund, but Peter wants to purchase a swimming pool. However, he gets audited by the IRS and is denied a tax refund. His plans to build a backyard pool on his own are further derailed when he accidentally cuts a power line during construction and a man from the power company reveals that the town's zoning laws prohibit building a pool. When a request for a zoning permit leads to town mayor Adam West, he reveals that Peter’s house is not even part of the United States. Upon learning this information, Peter Griffin declares the micronation of Petoria.

Invasion of 33 Spooner street

After establishing Petoria, President Peter Griffin invaded his next door neighbor, Joe Swanson, to annex his swimming pool. He incorporates the property into Petoria, adding three new citizens, Swanson, his wife, and his son. He justified this invasion under the Geneva Convention, specifically Article IV, Paragraph III, fourth word, which stated, "the".[3]

Operation Desert Clam

The United States responded swiftly to the illegal invasion, militarizing the border between Petoria and Quahog, Rhode Island, sanctioning the nation, and cutting utilities to the property. These actions reflect de facto recognition of Petoria by the United States. After the firing of two missiles and a gunshot by United States forces, Peter Griffin signed a ceasefire and dissolved the nation.

Influenced micronations

Multiple micronations were established after inspiration from the episode, including the Kingdom of the Saugeen, which was formerly called the Second Republic of Petoria, and Ausverian Volksrepublik.[4]

The Kaiserreich of New Prussia was inspired partially by the episode and the nation of Petoria.

References

  1. Family Guy | Watch Sundays at 9:30/8:30c on FOX, Fox Broadcast Company. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  2. "Family Guy" E. Peterbus Unum (TV Episode 2000) - IMDb, IMDB. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  3. ICRC. "Convention (IV) relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War. Geneva, 12 August 1949". Retrieved 30 January 2023. "Persons protected by the Convention are those who at a given moment and in any manner whatsoever, find themselves, in case of a conflict or occupation, in the hands of persons a Party to the conflict or Occupying Power of which they are not nationals."
  4. Fredrick M. explains why Ausveria was founded., Discord. Retrieved 2021-3-20.