The History of New Richmond
DISCLAMER: This page is currently incomplete; therefore, some information may be outdated or inaccurate.
Austenasian sovereignty (August 2013 - February 2020)
New Richmond's first flag, in use from 16 August 2013 to 3 March 2017.
New Richmond's history begins on 16 August 2013 with the establishment of the Dominion of New Richmond as a crown dependency of the Empire of Austenasia, a British micronation which operates on the principles of Roman-style imperial monarchy and semi-democracy. The Dominion was governed independently of the central imperial government by a Governing Commissioner appointed by the Austenasian Emperor and Autocrat. New Richmond was notable for being the first ever Austenasian crown dependency to enact its own constitution and establish a local democratic assembly - the Dominion Assembly, consisting of the Governing Commissioner's Lord Lieutenant and the directly-democratic House of Burgesses.
On 6 September 2014, the Dominion of New Richmond expanded to include the formerly-Ashukov city of Saint Josephsburg. The next day, the Parliament of the Empire of Austenasia voted to fully incorporate New Richmond into the Empire as the Town of New Richmond, becoming (alongside Shineshore) the first non-British and first North American town and the foundation of the Duchy of New Virginia. New Richmond would continue to expand in terms of both population and landmass, growing to become the largest populated administrative division in the Empire. During its time in the Empire, New Richmond would serve as the home of the Austenasian Prime Minister's Office for almost five years and would produce three Consuls and two members of Parliament. On 9 January 2017, New Richmond was elevated (alongside the imperial capital of Wrythe) to city-status, becoming the City of New Richmond.
The New Virginian independence movement (July 2019 - February 2020)
New Richmond's second flag, in use from 3 March 2017 to 2 August 2021.
The City of New Richmond continued to serve as a leading administrative center within the Empire; however, signs of division between the New Richmonders and the Empire which ruled them began to form in the summer of 2019. The left-wing Imperial Party, which was overwhelmingly popular in New Richmond and the other New Virginian towns, proposed legislation which would have legalized same-sex civil unions across the Empire. In a move most New Virginians (and thereby New Richmonders) decried as undemocratic, the Austenasian Emperor and Autocrat refused to allow the legislation to be enacted. Following this, the leaders of New Richmond, Augusta (now known as Friedecksburg Borough in New Richmond City) and Terentia began planning the secession of their municipalities as an independent republic.
New Richmond in the Commonwealth of New Virginia (February 2020 - August 2021)
Flag of the Commonwealth of New Virginia
Their plan came to fruition on 11 February 2020 with the formation of the Commonwealth of New Virginia. New Virginia was established under the framework of a multi-party liberal democracy with a parliamentary model of governance. New Richmond emerged as the de facto capital city of the new Commonwealth and the city would serve as the home of the Office of the President, with New Richmonder politician and leader of the independence movement Brooklyn Hewitt being elected the Commonwealth's first President. The town of Augusta was merged back into the City of New Richmond and the areas now known as Sandra's Isle Territory and Nubes Peaks Military District were established under the Commonwealth's banner.
The New Virginian July Socialist Revolution (July - August 2021)
Propaganda released by the 29th of July Movement at the outset of the July Socialist Revolution.
As time progressed and the political life of the new Commonwealth developed, a growing number of New Richmonders became unsatisfied with what was perceived as a continuation of the shortcomings of imperial rule, in addition to new issues. Reactionary right-wing ideologies began to take hold within the Commonwealth through the National Party, and the function of the government was frequently impeded by partisan squabbles and deadlock. On the 29th of July 2021 - a day now commemorated in the Republic as Revolution Day - Brooklyn Hewitt was joined by New Virginian founder and former Prime Minister Elizabeth Lewis, former Prime Minister Sophia Albina, and burgess Leon Montan in the establishment of the 29th of July Movement. The Movement sought to end the old constitutional order, expel right-wing individuals and movements from the country, and establish a socialist republic of councils guided by a party of the working class. At the onset of the revolution, members of the Movement raided the House of Burgesses and the closed chambers of the Senate, calling for the suspension of Parliament and all power being handed to the Movement. Eventually, President Brooklyn Hewitt assumed emergency powers, publicly declared her support for the revolutionaries, and proclaimed the establishment of the Revolutionary Committee for the Salvation of the Commonwealth as the new provisional government. The revolutionaries held control of the Commonwealth for four days; following backlash from citizens loyal to the old government and internal disputes among the Revolutionary Committee, Hewitt declared an end to emergency powers and the provisional government, reinstated the old government, and resigned the Presidency on the 1st of August 2021. While some remember these events as the July coup attempt, they are remembered by New Richmonders as the New Virginian July Socialist Revolution.
Proclamation of the New Richmond Republic (August 2021)
Flag of the New Richmond Republic from the 2nd to the 3rd of August 2021, also known as the Secession Flag.
Following the reinstatement of the old government, regions wherein the Revolution was overwhelmingly popular began to secede from the Commonwealth - first the Autonomous Region of Shoreline, then the Nordalian lands, and finally New Richmond and the surrounding territories. On the 2nd of August 2021, Mother of the RevolutionBrooklyn Hewitt delivered a brief proclamation to the New Virginian people regarding the secession: "on behalf of the people of New Richmond, I hereby announce the secession of the City of New Richmond, the territories of Sandra’s Isle and Nubes Peaks, and the autonomous region of New Reinhardt to form the sovereign and independent New Richmond Republic. At the behest of my fellow New Richmonders, I have assumed the office of Provisional President until a permanent political order may be established."
Upon the secession of the new Republic, Mother Hewitt joined alongside other New Richmonder revolutionaries and former politicians K. Riley Hewitt (the former burgess of New Richmond City), G.P. (a revolutionary and participant in the Parliament raid), and Savannah Collins (the mayor of New Richmond City) to establish the Blair Mountain League as the spiritual successor of the 29th of July Movement and a party of the working class to guide the New Richmonder state. Brooklyn Hewitt also called the first and only session of the Provisional People's Government wherein it cemented the role of the Blair Mountain League as the leading force of the New Richmonder revolution and society, enacted temporary national symbols, and ordered the Provisional President to propose a draft for a constitutional document.
Upon the secession of the new Republic, Mother Hewitt joined alongside other New Richmonder revolutionaries and former politicians K. Riley Hewitt (the former burgess of New Richmond City), G.P. (a revolutionary and participant in the Parliament raid), and Savannah Collins (the mayor of New Richmond City) to establish the Blair Mountain League as the spiritual successor of the 29th of July Movement and a party of the working class to guide the New Richmonder state. Brooklyn Hewitt also called the first and only session of the Provisional People's Government wherein it cemented the role of the Blair Mountain League as the leading force of the New Richmonder revolution and society, enacted temporary national symbols, and ordered the Provisional President to propose a draft for a constitutional document.