User:Yzed/Oñatiko Ilone
Lordship of Ione Heerschap Ione (Dutch) Oñatiko Ilone (Ionian) | |
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 Flag
 Coat of arms
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| Motto: Reginae Txiki, Amets Handak Small Country, Big Aspirations | |
| Anthem: Plains of Ione | |
 Location of Ione in Europe | |
| Map of Ione Map of Ione | |
| Capital | None (city state) |
| Official languages | Dutch, English, Ionian |
| Ethnic groups (2024) | 100% Ionian |
| Demonym(s) | Ionian Ionese |
| Government | Unitary elective absolute monarchy |
• Lord | Shady Morsi |
| Legislature | Advisory Council |
| Establishment | |
• Concept | 2018 |
| Population | |
• 2025 estimate | 1 |
Ione, officially known as the Lordship of Ione, is a new cultural project and self-proclaimed independent nation-state, commonly referred to as a micronation by external observers. It lays claim to territory in Europe and is governed as an absolute monarchy. Ione is considered the smallest nation in the world and is entirely surrounded by the Netherlands on all sides.
The territory of Ione was originally gifted to Shady Morsi in 2017 as part of a garden development project by the local landowners, effectively making it private land under Morsi's ownership. Realizing the unique status of the land, Morsi declared the independence of Ione in 2025, establishing it as the spiritual successor to Morsi’s first micronation, Shadyvinkenstein., Ione’s capital and administrative center, draws inspiration from historic and modern city-states such as San Marino, Singapore, Vatican City, and Monaco. Ione's mainland is characterized by a natural landscape dominated by shrubs, grasses, herbs, and geophytes, contributing to its distinct ecological identity. As a developing micronation, Ione scores 1.6 on Dresner's System of Classification, categorizing it as a "7th World" micronation. It stands out among other micronations by maintaining 100% control over its claimed territory, a rarity in the micronational community.
Ione is not a secessionist entity but is considered a remnant of feudalism in the Endegeest area. It acknowledges King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands as its suzerain while maintaining its distinct cultural and administrative identity.
Despite its small size, Ione aspires to foster a unique cultural identity, blending historical traditions with contemporary governance concepts. The Lordship promotes ecological preservation, sustainable development, and a spirit of micronationalism, distinguishing itself as a sovereign entity in the growing world of independent microstates.
Government
Ione is governed as an absolute monarchy, where the Lord of Ione serves as the supreme ruler and the embodiment of the state. The Lord holds complete authority over the territory, with no formal separation of powers or constitutional limitations. Despite its absolute nature, the succession process functions as a de facto elective monarchy, as the reigning Lord appoints their successor. This system ensures continuity while granting each Lord the power to shape the future leadership of Ione.
Ione is designated as a lordship due to its government's formal recognition of King Willem-Alexander as its suzerain, acknowledging a form of symbolic allegiance to the Dutch monarchy. This status also serves as a historical tribute to the lords who once ruled Endegeest, connecting Ione's identity to the region's feudal past. While maintaining its own governance, Ione embraces this nod to tradition, blending modern micronational aspirations with historical continuity.
Admainstrative Divisions
Due its small size. Ione has no functional subdivisions. However the nation is divided into 2 boroughs. The boroughs have no administrival value whatsoever and serves rather as designations for areas and regions
Foreign Relations
The foreign relations of Ione emphasize peace, diplomacy, and pacifism, aligning with its identity as a small and peaceful city-state. It actively promotes international collaboration despite its limited territorial size.
Ione adheres to three out of the four criteria of the Montevideo Convention, fulfilling the requirements of a defined territory, a permanent population, and a functioning government. However, its capacity to engage in full diplomatic relations remains limited. While Ione maintains consular-level relations with the Netherlands, the Dutch government does not formally recognize Ione
Geography
The territory, with a size of just 2 square meters, is extremely small, making it one of the smallest nations in the world. It is entirely surrounded by the Netherlands, with its only distinguishing feature being a memorial known as the Ione Stone, which serves as a symbolic border marker. Additionally, in the northern part of the country, a small fence acts as a physical border demarcation. Due to its minuscule size, the territory lacks infrastructure, permanent residents, and governmental institutions, functioning more as a symbolic or micronational entity rather than a conventional state.