A TINY TYRANNY

‘Micronation’ in Nevada with a population of 33 and a tongue-in-cheek ‘dictator’ celebrates 40 years since it was founded

Molossia (pronounced moe-LAAHSS-eeyah) is just 11.3 acres in Nevada

Sam Webb

Published: 17:35, 5 Jul 2017
Updated: 17:41, 5 Jul 2017

A DICTATOR who set up his own tiny nation inside the American state of Nevada is celebrating 40 years in power.

His Excellency Kevin Baugh, leader of the sovereign nation of Molossia, set up the tiny tyrannical territory with a friend in 1977 and the nation has since gone from strength to strength.

President Kevin Baugh proudly surveys the Republic of MolossiaCredit: Rex Features

The nation started off as a kooky idea between two boyhood palsCredit: Rex Features

The nation proudly boasts its own rail systemCredit: Rex Features

Molossia (pronounced moe-LAAHSS-eeyah) is just 11.3 acres and a mainly expat population of 33 - plus a couple of dogs - but boasts its own navy, space programme, railroad, postal service, bank, currency, tourist attractions, measurement system, holidays, online movie theatre, online radio station, and even its own time zone.

President Baugh, who personally leads tours of the fledgling nation, decided to form the country with his high school friend James Spielman in 1977 after seeing the Cold War satire film The Mouse That Roared.

Baugh became the Prime Minister and Spielman the King of the nation, then called the Grand Republic of Vuldstein, which had its own constitution and laws.

However, Spielman abdicated and Baugh took the reins of the country, surrounded by Dayton County, Nevada, in a bloodless coup.

The 54-year-old prankster told MailOnline: "I love being dictator; it is fantastic.

"At one point, six months ago, we had seven humans and five dogs and it was kind of crowded but we worked it all out."

Molossia is a soveriegn nation, President Baugh insists, surrounded by the USACredit: Rex Features

The micronation has its own post officeCredit: Rex Features

Like every great nation seeking to display its might, Molossia has a space programmeCredit: Rex Features

Molossia has its own currency, which bears the president's headCredit: Rex Features

The nation boasts a handful of permanent residents, a few of them dogsCredit: Rex Features

Visitors to the micronation can get their postcards stampedCredit: Rex Features

President Baugh, a benevolent dictator, guards the border with the USCredit: Rex Features

The population usually hovers around six - if the kids aren't at school in the USCredit: Rex Features

Like any half-decent dictatorship, visitors are bombarded with propagandaCredit: Rex Features

The country changed its name from the Grand Republic of VuldsteinCredit: Rex Features

Visitors need their passports approved and stamped just to gain entryCredit: Rex Features

The nation is not recognised by the US or international bodiesCredit: Rex Features

A badge bearing the glorious profile of Molossia's leader and founding fatherCredit: Rex Features

A bottle of Molossian water. Baugh admits the nation is heavily dependent on importsCredit: Rex Features

One of Molossia's many landmarks, which dot the small siteCredit: Getty Images

The benevolent authorities regularly allow visitors to launch foot-operated foam 'stomp rockets' into the airCredit: Rex Features

However, he refuses to award citizenship to the cat as he "can't be trusted".

Molossia is a micronation, an entity that claims to be an independent nation or state but is not recognised by world governments or major international organisations and are often set up for a bit of fun.