The Republic of Minerva was a short-lived micronation established in 1972 on a reef in the South Pacific, near Fiji. It was founded by a group of libertarians led by Michael Oliver, who aimed to create a free society based on individual rights and minimal government intervention. The republic was named after the Roman goddess of wisdom and warfare. The micronation lasted only a few months before it was claimed by Tonga, which asserted sovereignty over the reef. Despite its brief existence, the Republic of Minerva is often cited in discussions about micronations and the pursuit of alternative governance models.