HISTORY OF MORESNETThe Principality of Moresnet was founded in 1887, the principal aim of the foundation of this new nation being to grant a homeland to speakers of the new international language, Esperanto, explained in Ludwig Zamenhof's
Unua Libro. The territory itself was created by Esperantists who, through astonishing amounts of pressure and lobbying of international governments, essentially forced the world to cave (please ignore the rumour currently circulating around the world, which states that said international organisations agreed to Moresnet's creation to "shut those bloody Esperantists up").
The organisation of the new country was a rather fuzzy issue at first. It was intended that Moresnet be a kingdom, in the style of most European nations of the time, which was the will of most other countries, who did not wish to have Moresnet viewed as a revolutionary haven for Europeans fed up with the old system.
Sovereign Moresnet, 1887-1905As it turned out, the issue of Moresnet's government could not be solved that easily without consulting the people of Moresnet, which European colonial leaders were reluctant to do. The actual ruler of the state at the time was one Henri-Louis Moreau, a troublesome character who was often said to have been "kicked upstairs" by European leaders, in order to prevent him interfering in their own affairs. He proved to be no more competent in running Moresnet, although action by the populace was discouraged by constant talk by the major powers of "an imminent solution to Moresnet's leadership issue". This solution never came, and when Moreau passed away in 1905, Moresnet's sovereignity was immediately under threat.
NB - The country's name at the time was simply Moresnet. "Sovereign Moresnet" is a term adopted by historians to distinguish this period in the country's history.
Principality of Moresnet, 1905-1915The diplomatic issue was resolved in 1905, when European ambassadors agreed that Moresnet would be a principality. They saw this as being able to keep the population of Moresnet under control, and in return, granted diplomatic recognition to Moresnet. Very little royal blood actually existed in Moresnet at the time, and there was certainly no ascribed royal household, so an elite of Moresnet's nobility was appointed Prince Carlo I of Moresnet. He was a benevolent ruler, and gained significant support from the Moresnetian population, however, on March 19, 1915, a bomb was dropped on Moresnet's Royal Palace, shocking the nation (which was neutral at the time). Prince Carlo was killed instantly.
Ottoman Moresnet, 1915-1920The Principality continued in name only for four years, under Carlo's son, Marko I of Moresnet. He could only run a government in exile, as the weakened nation was occupied by the Ottoman Empire and ran as a protectorate. At the Treaty of Sevres, the Ottoman Empire was forced to give up control of Moresnet.
Moresnet Soviet Socialist Republic, 1920-1922Moresnet Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic, 1922-1941In 1920, Moresnet was attacked by the Russian SFSR, and dragged unwillingly into the Russian Civil War. There was no heavy fighting - or, indeed, resistance - within Moresnet, as the people generally allowed themselves to be influenced by the sheer amount of pro-Bolshevik propaganda prevalent at the time. It became a SSR within Russia, and when the Soviet Union was formed in 1922, became an ASSR within the Union. Reaction to this was surprisingly warm in Moresnet itself, and the people remained generally pro-Soviet until 1931, when the USSR began to implement restrictions on the use of Esperanto, culminating in 1938 when Esperanto was banned in the whole nation. Anti-Soviet sentiment grew from then on, and it is rumoured that there was going to be open revolt. However, there never was a chance for this to happen.
Reichskommissariat Moresnet, 1941-44During Operation Barbarossa, Hitler invaded Moresnet. There was limited resistance (which was quickly crushed), although at the time, many believed that Nazi Germany was a better alternative to the Soviet Union. As it turned out, the period was a disasterous time for the nation, with many Moresnetian citizens being massacred in the concentration camps.
Republic of Moresnet, 1944-61After being liberated by the Allies in 1944, the Soviet Union tried to make claims on Moresnet, but Moresnet's strategic location meant that the Allies weren't quite prepared to give it away so easily. With the Soviets being forced to make concessions, Moresnet found itself on the side of the West in the Cold War, and more importantly for the people, the Esperantist green flag flew over the nation, and for the first time, there was democracy. President Rejmio DELUENZO steered the nation away from its pro-West line in 1954, opening the way for Moresnet to be truly neutral. After sixty-three years, Moresnet could finally be what Ludwig Zamenhof intended Esperantujo to be.
Democratic Republic of Moresnet, 1961-2005Unfortunately, this ideal lasted a mere seven years. Newly-elected president Felikso ĈURIANO, of the Moresnetian Progress Party, used emergency powers provided in the Constitution to seize dictatorial power, disband all other parties, and plunge Moresnet into chaos. By 1975, the economy was in absolute ruin. Ĉuriano ruled as an absolute leader, and all who opposed his rule were jailed or, more commonly, executed. He recieved somewhat strong backing from the USSR, despite not being a Communist, for his harsh anti-US stance, and this helped him to maintain his iron hold on power. However, when the Soviet Union collapsed, Ĉuriano encountered increasing resistance from his own people, and his grip on power started to wane. He never lost his power by the time he died in 2003, although had he stayed alive as little as an extra year, experts agree that he would have been forced out of office.
Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of Moresnet, 2004-6The remnants of Ĉuriano's government tried desperately to cling to power, plunging the nation into a brutal civil war. Rebels hoisted the red flag of socialism over the capital of Kelmis, defaced with the green star of Esperantists. With absolutely no popular support, the remnants of the "Democratic Republic" crumbled in late 2005, whereas the Provisional Government remained in place, in order to ensure the nation was strong and stable before moving back to democracy.
People's Republic of Moresnet, 2006-presentFinally, on July 8, 2006, the Central Committee of the Provisional Government voted to dissolve itself, paving the way for the establishment of workers' soviets across Moresnet. This went surprisingly smoothly, and the People's Republic was formed the following day, promising to give all power to the people of Moresnet.