Jonas Lauwiner, a 31-year-old Swiss-Moroccan former IT project manager, has declared himself the symbolic King of Switzerland and Emperor of the Lauwiner Empire. His self-proclaimed titles include Grand Master of the Order of Merit, Admiral of the Empire Fleet, and Field Marshal of the Empire Legion. In photographs on his official website, he poses in a fake military uniform reminiscent of romantic comedies set in fictional European principalities.
The Birth of an Empire
Lauwiner's empire is built on approximately 150 plots of land scattered across nine of Switzerland's 26 cantons. These include building parcels, roads, forests, and agricultural land. The idea began on his 20th birthday when he received a small agricultural meadow in Leuk from his father. This sparked a mission to exploit Article 658 of the Swiss Civil Code, which allows ownerless land to be appropriated for a few hundred francs in processing fees.
He systematically acquired such parcels, describing his growing portfolio as the foundation of his 'land empire.' In 2019, he crowned himself king at Nydegg Church in Bern, attended by the Empire Royal Guards and presided over by the 'First Bishop of the Empire,' Peter Kalbermatten.
Royal Palace and Finances
The royal 'palace' is an old paint factory in Oberburg, near Burgdorf, acquired in 2021 for a 500-franc registration fee. Lauwiner poses there with his legion and its sole armored car, which the Bernese traffic department refuses to license. He charges maintenance fees for roads and sells some for profit. He also charges utility companies for planning permission on his land, calling the empire a full-time job.
Political and Public Reception
In November 2024, 689 voters elected Lauwiner to Burgdorf's city council. His ballot name was 'Konig Jonas Lauwiner,' and his occupation listed as 'unternehmer' (entrepreneur). While some communities bristle at toll charges on roads he owns, others appreciate the joke. He has issued his own currency, a half-sovereign Imperial Vellar coin, and maintains an army, the Empire Legion, which claims Morocco as a main operating ground.
Family Background
Lauwiner's father, Thomas Lauwiner, is Swiss from Valais; his mother, Habiba El-Rhaib, is Moroccan from Khouribga and competed as a gymnast at the 1983 World University Games. Jonas holds dual citizenship and insists his royal title is purely symbolic, valuing Swiss democracy.
