Grand Duchy of Avram
The Grand Duchy of Avram is a micronation founded in the early 1980s by Tasmanian John Charlton Rudge,[1] who styles himself the "Grand Duke of Avram".
Grand Duchy of Avram | |
|---|---|
 Coat of Arms
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| Status | Current |
| Location | Non-territorial |
| Official languages | English |
| Organizational structure | Absolute monarchy |
• Grand Duke | John Charlton Rudge |
| Establishment | |
• Declared | 1980s |
| Membership | < 5 |
| Purported currency | Avram (banknotes) and Ducal (coinage) |
The public manifestation of the Duchy was The Royal Bank of Avram which at one time operated from retail premises owned by The Grand Duke of Avram in George Town, Tasmania, and which still issues its own banknotes and coinage and platinum 1 ounce coins. This enterprise was later relocated to Strahan, on Tasmania's west coast. Customers were required to exchange Australian currency for the Avram equivalents in order to obtain the currency. The Bank still operates today.[2]
The unlicensed nature of the Avram Bank roused the ire of the Australian government, who promptly confiscated Avram's entire currency reserves and initiated proceedings against him in the Australian Federal Court system. Eventually, after a total of six court cases, costing the federal government some A$22 million, the courts ruled that The Grand Duke of Avram had not engaged in any illegal activity, and ordered the return of all the confiscated property, however some disappeared in Federal Custody and later appeared on the market. He was permitted to resume his banking practices unhindered. He has issued several sets of coins and banknotes in the name of the Royal Bank of Avram since the 1980s (the most recent of which are dated 2008) and has asserted to a number of media representatives that the bank operates from a number of unspecified sites inside and outside of Tasmania.
Rudge was elected as a member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly, representing the Liberal Party in the seat of Lyons. He served a single term and held the position of Shadow Minister for Construction. Rudge later served as a councillor and Deputy Mayor of the municipal council of Sorell under his legal name as agreed by Justice Pierre Slicer in one of his decisions.
Rudge claims dozens of "noble" and "religious" titles (among them "Earl of Enoch" and "Cardinal Archbishop of The Royal See"), which he asserts are of ancient origin. He also claims to be the grand master of a handful of ancient orders of chivalry, and to travel on an Australian passport that lists his various titles including an Australian "Official" passport.
The Duchy of Avram has never claimed territory in the manner of other Australian micronations such as the Hutt River Province.
See also
References
- "His Grace the Most Noble the Duke of Avram". The Parliament of Tasmania. 24 November 2005. Retrieved 2 April 2008.
- The Grand Duchy of Avram
Further reading
- "If at first you don't secede..." by Mark Dapin, The Sydney Morning Herald - Good Weekend, 12 February 2005, pp 47–50
- "Unusual World Coins", by Colin R Bruce, Krause Publications, 2005, ISBN 0-87349-793-7, p21
- Diplomatically Challenged Coins
- Tasmanian Parliamentary website entry listing the Duke's name as "John Charlton His Grace the Most Noble the Duke of Avram".
- Heather Low Choy (9 February 2007). "Seceders set up Sandy Bay rule". The Mercury. Archived from the original on 12 February 2007. Retrieved 13 May 2007.
- Australian Coin Review, December-Jan 2000-2001 "The Grand Duke and the Royal Bank of Avram"
