Empire of Atlantium

Empire of Atlantium Imperium Atlantium Micronation
Flag Imperial State Signum
Motto: E Tenebris Lux Out of Darkness, Light
Anthem: Auroran Hymn by Camille Saint Saens
Status	Current
Capital	Concordia
Official languages	English and Latin
Demonym	Atlantian
Organizational structure	Democratic Constitutional Monarchy
• Emperor	George II (George Francis Cruickshank) 1981-
Establishment
• Declared	27 November 1981
Area claimed
• Total	0.76 km2 (0.29 sq mi)
Membership	almost 3,000 (2015)
Purported currency	Imperial solidus (value pegged to the US$)

The Empire of Atlantium is a micronation and secular, pluralist progressive lobby group based in New South Wales, Australia.

Micronations: The Lonely Planet Guide to Home-Made Nations describes Atlantium as "a refreshing antidote to the reactionary self-aggrandisement of so many micronations", and "an extremely sophisticated nation-state experiment, as well as an entirely serious claimant to legitimate statehood". The book's entry on Atlantium notes its espousal of "progressive, liberal policies" and characterizes it as a "secular humanist utopia".

Among the causes Atlantium supports are the right to unrestricted international freedom of movement, the right to abortion, the right to assisted suicide and decimal calendar reform.

It has almost 3,000 "citizens", most of whom signed up online from over 100 countries and have never been to Atlantium.

Atlantium was established in 1981 by three Sydney teenagers – George Francis Cruickshank, Geoffrey John Duggan and Claire Marie Coulter (née Duggan). The three claimed a 10 square metres (110 sq ft) Provisional Territory in the southern suburb of Narwee as Atlantium's first capital, and declared Cruickshank to be Sovereign Head of State, with the title "Emperor George II". Geoffrey Duggan (1982–1986) was elected as prime minister. Damian Scott (1986–1988), and Kevin Fanucchi (1988–1990) also served as prime ministers, but by 1990, when the original group members had graduated from university and moved to different locations, the group ceased to be active.

In 1999 Cruickshank purchased an apartment in the inner Sydney suburb of Potts Point, and soon after revived Atlantium, launching a website, which was instrumental in attracting new members. The 61 square metres (660 sq ft) apartment, known as the Imperium Proper, became the second capital of Atlantium. Concordia became the third capital of Atlantium on 12 January 2008, when the rural 0.76 square kilometres (0.29 sq mi) Province of Aurora, approximately 350 kilometres (220 mi) southwest of Sydney, was created. The Atlantium website describes Aurora as Atlantium's "global administrative capital, ceremonial focal point and spiritual homeland".