The Grand Duchy of Barre was created in 1964 in Chicago, Illinois. It is a virtual medieval monarchy peopled by a single King and many princes, knights, counts, princesses, lords, prime ministers and several other esteemed and privileged individuals. All citizens are issued a numbered citizenship card without which they may not enter the country. Many of these citizens were from Kelly High School and later the University of Illinois. GDBers need not renounce their US citizenship as they are allowed dual citizenship while in good standing.
It's name arose from a Peter Sellers movie "The Mouse That Roared" which took place in the fictional Grand Duchy of Fenwick. The last part of our country was named after a musical guitar fingering technique.
At its peak in about 1970, it numbered well over 100 citizens in the United States, Canada and New Zealand. For a time, the GDB published a monthly newspaper, the "BarreBituate". A Senior Council consisting of about 5 ruling members made the bigger decisions on citizenship and meetings, which in real countries are sometimes known by the more quaint term "parties".
A revolt among certain heretical elements of the citizenry led to the short lived establishment of an offshoot group "Rho Lambda Rho". This group was tried and convicted under a military tribunal established by the Senior Council. The members of this group have long since seen the error of their ways and their virtual country is no longer under Senior Council Occupation.
About 15 citizens still get together from time to time, most often in Chicago and Las Vegas.