History of San Marino

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The history of San Marino is both very European and typical for the Italian peninsula, and yet helps explain its unusual characterictics as the sole remaining Italian city-state.

Contents 1 Origins 2 During the feudal era 3 Unification of Italy 4 World War II 5 Post-War Period and Modern Times 6 See also 7 Sources and external Links

[edit] Origins

San Marino, the world's fifth-smallest state, also claims to be the world's oldest republic. According to tradition, San Marino was founded in AD 301 (alternative version about A.D. 350 ) when a Christian stonemason named Marinus the Dalmatian, later venerated as Saint Marinus, after whom the country is named, fled from the Dalmatian island of Arbe to escape the persecutions under Diocletian, and settled in Monte Titano to ply his stonecutting and spread Christianity. Marinus hid on the peak of Mount Titano (the highest of San Marino's seven hills) and founded a small community following Christian beliefs. The owner of the land, Felicissima, a sympathetic lady of Rimini, bequeathed it to the little Christian community of mountaineers, recommending to them to remain always united.

It is certain that the region had been inhabited since prehistoric times, although evidence of existence on Mount Titano dates back only to the Middle Ages. That evidence comes a monk named Eugippio, which reports in several documents gone back to 511 that another monk lived here. In memory of the stonecutter, the land was renamed "Land of San Marino," and was finally changed to its present-day name, "Republic of San Marino."

Later papers from the 9th century give a report on a well organized, opened and proud community: the writings report moreover that the close bishop, already at the time, was ruling this territory.

In the Lombard age, San Marino was a fief of the dukes of Spoleto, but the free commune dates to the tenth century. In the tenth century the abbots of the monastery were under the civil government, but they soon freed themselves and formed a free commune.

The original government structure was composed of a self-governed assembly known as the Arengo, which consisted of the heads of each family (as in the original Roman Senate, the Patres). In 1243, the positions of Captains Regent (Capitani Reggenti) were established to be the joint heads of state. The state's earliest statutes date back to 1263. The Holy See confirmed the ancient independence of San Marino in 1291.

Because San Marino decided not to engage in any war, it remained fairly peaceful. But to prevent other nations from attacks, it was seen neccessary to construct the Three Towers of San Marino. For more information on the subject, see that article.

[edit] During the feudal era

In quick succession the lords of Montefeltro, the Malatesta of Rimini, and the lords of Urbino attempted to conquer the little town, but without success. The land area of San Marino consisted only of Mount Titano until 1463, at which time the republic entered into an alliance against Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta, Lord of Rimini, who was later defeated. As a result, Pope Pius II gave San Marino some castles and the towns of Fiorentino, Montegiardino and Serravalle. Later that year, the town of Faetano joined the republic on its own accord. Since then, the size of San Marino has remained unchanged.

San Marino adopted its written constitution on October 8, 1600. Still, at that time San Marino was to face many potential threats: a treaty of protection was signed in 1602 with the Roman Catholic Church, which came into force in 1631.

San Marino has been occupied by foreign militaries three times in its history, each for only a short period of time. Two of these periods were in the feudal era. In 1503, Cesare Borgia occupied the republic until his death several months later. On October 17, 1739, Cardinal Giulio Alberoni, legate (papal governor) of Ravenna, who in 1739, aiding certain rebels, possibly contrary to the orders of Pope Clement XII, used military force to occupy the country, imposed a new constitution, and endeavored to force the Sanmarinesi to submit to the government of the Pontifical States. However, civil disobedience was used to protest this, and clandestine notes sent to the Pope to obtain justice were answered by papal recognition of San Marino's rights, which restored them to independence.

[edit] Unification of Italy

The state was recognized by Napoleon by the Treaty of Tolentino, in 1797 and by the Congress of Vienna in 1815. San Marino never became a part of the Kingdom of Naples. In 1825 and 1853 new attempts to submit it to the Papal States failed, and its wish to be left out in Garibaldi's Italian unification in the mid-nineteenth century was granted, since it had offered a safe refuge to numerous supporters of unification before.

After the unification of the kingdom of Italy a treaty of 1862 confirmed San Marino's independence. It was revised in 1872.

[edit] World War II

The last occupation of the country was during 1944. San Marino was officially neutral in World War II. However, German forces used the country to retreat through, and they were followed by Allied forces. The Allied armies only remained in occupation for as long as militarily necessary, which turned out to be only a few weeks,although it killed 60 people. After the war, San Marino became the first country in the world to be ruled by a communist party (the San Marinese Communist Party, in coalition with the San Marinese Socialist Party) through democratic elections. The coalition lasted from 1945 to 1957.

[edit] Post-War Period and Modern Times

San Marino is the only surviving Italian city-state. Like Andorra, Liechtenstein and Monaco, it appears an anachronism, a reminder of the times when Europe — particularly Germany, Italy and the Pyrenees — was made up of tiny political units, sometimes extending no further than a cannon could fire from a city’s walls. Apart from the Vatican City (whose development followed a different course), it is the only one which is completely surrounded by a single other country in Europe. Various treaties of friendship have been signed with Italy since the latter’s unification, but San Marino proudly asserts its independence where possible.

Women accepted the voting rights in 1960. Having joined the Council of Europe as a full member in 1988, San Marino held the rotating chair of the organisation during the first half of 1990.

San Marino became a member of the United Nations in 1992. In 2002 it signed a treaty with the OECD, agreeing to greater transparency in banking and taxation matters to help to combat tax evasion.

[edit] See also

• Maps of San Marino

[edit] Sources and external Links

This article incorporates text from the public-domain Catholic Encyclopedia of 1913. [1]

• History of San Marino: Primary Documents