Republic of Independent Guyana
The Republic of Independent Guyana (French: La République de la Guyane indépendante) commonly referred to by the name of the capital Counani (rendered "Cunani" in Portuguese by the Brazilians), was a short-lived independent state in South America.
Characteristics
Counani was created on 23 July 1886 in the area that was disputed by France (as part of French Guiana) and Brazil in the late nineteenth century.[1]
The state was founded by French settlers and existed from 1886 to 1891. The territory of the former state of Counani is now located in the Brazilian state of Amapá.
Free State of Counani (1904–1912)
Some years after, in 1904 a French named Adolphe Brezet self-proclaimed himself "Président de l'État libre de Counani".
This "special" State had a constitution, a flag and issued some stamps. It was never recognized by Brazil or France, but the South African Boer Republics opened diplomatic relations with Brezet (who had fought for them previously) during the Boer wars.
Claimants of Head of State
All claimants of head of state of Counani were Frenchmen and were never legal heads of state:
- Jules Gros (1809-1891) - a French journalist who laid claim as head of state from 1886 to 1891; head was Secretary of the Société de géographie in 1883[2]
- Adolphe Brezet 1901-1904 [3]
Notes
- ↑ Map of disputed areas between France and Brazil
- ↑ http://listverse.com/2015/06/06/10-private-adventurers-and-the-nations-they-forged/
- ↑ http://listverse.com/2015/06/06/10-private-adventurers-and-the-nations-they-forged/
Sources
- (French) L'État libre de Counani ou l'expression d'une Guyane indépendante.
- (French) An account of the two Republics of Counani and some of its postage stamps
- (French) "Annales d'hygiène et de médecine coloniale, Tome quatrième" (1901), about the sanitary situation in Counani, pp. 121 to 128 : p. 121, p. 122, p. 123, p. 124, p. 125, p. 126, p. 127, p. 128.
- (English) http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/br_cunan.html