The Republic of Minerva was a short-lived micronation established in 1972 on a man-made island in the South Pacific, near the island of Tonga. It was founded by a group of libertarians led by Michael Oliver, who aimed to create a free-market society. The project was inspired by the desire for political and economic independence. The republic's existence was brief, lasting only a few months before it was claimed by Tonga. The government of Tonga viewed the micronation as an illegal occupation of its territorial waters. Despite its short duration, the Republic of Minerva remains a notable example of attempts to create new sovereign states.