San Marino

Template:CountryInfoSan Marino, officially the Republic of San Marino, also known as the Most Serene Republic of San Marino, formerly known as Land of San Marino is an enclaved microstate located in Europe, on the Italian Peninsula. He is the oldest republic ever, being 1,723 years old as of 2024.

The country's economy is mainly based on finance, industry, services, retail, and tourism. He The country's economy is mainly based on finance, industry, services, retail, and tourism. He is one of the wealthiest countries in the world in GDP per capita, with a figure comparable to the most developed European regions. Despite this, his Human Development Index score is 44th, the lowest in Western Europe.

History

According to tradition, San Marino, the world's fifth smallest state and purportedly the oldest surviving republic, traces its origins to 301 AD. Legend has it that a Christian stonemason named Marinus, later venerated as Saint Marinus, fled persecution in the Roman Empire and settled on Mount Titano after the emperor Diocletian called for the reconstruction of Rimini's city walls. Marinus established a small community that eventually evolved into the Republic of San Marino.

Years went on, and this tiny country was doing its own thing peacefully because the other nations of the Italian Peninsula were having their fights and squabbles with each other. The other nations did not care about this tiny rock.

Later papers from the 9th century report a well-organized, open, and proud community: the writings report that the bishop ruled 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.

Originally, San Marino's government was run by a self-governing group called the Arengo, made up of family leaders similar to the ancient Roman Senate. In 1243, the roles of Captains Regent were established as the shared leaders, each serving for six months. The earliest laws of the state go back to 1263. San Marino had a strong alliance with the Pope and, together, they fought against the Malatesta family in Rimini. As a result, San Marino gained control over the regions of Fiorentino, Montegiardino, and Serraville.

In 1503, Cesare Borgia who was an illegitimate son of Pope Alexander VI occupied San Marino but was kicked out by Pope Julius II and Borgia left. Then in 1543, Fabiano di Monte San Savino, the nephew of Pope Julius III tried to invade San Marino but then lost due to heavy fog and the army retreated.

Because San Marino was tiny, he sought protection from the Pope. The Holy See confirmed the independence of San Marino in 1631. It was a big deal because in those days, having your Pope recognize your country meant that your country was legitimate. In 1739, Giulio Alberonni, the Papal Governor of Ravenna occupied San Marino but then got scolded by Pope Clement XII and left. In the 1800s, Napoleon came along and invaded Italy.

Against all odds, San Marino wasn't invaded by Napoleon nor imported into Italian states because Antonio Onofri, the Captain's Regent of San Marino was friends with Napoleon. San Marino at that time also had Republicanism, something that Napoleon was a big fan of. Napoleon offered to expand San Marino's territory but he rejected it. When Napoleon was defeated in 1815, San Marino did not get any repercussions and stayed independent according to the Congress of Vienna.

During the Italian unification, San Marino provided refuge for Garibaldi who was being chased by Austrians, the French, the Spanish, and the Portuguese. San Marino told Garibaldi that it did not wish to be incorporated into Italy. Garibaldi decided that San Marino should stay independent. Garibaldi decided to beat Southern Italy in the Expedition of the Thousand which happened between 1860 and 1861. Italy was united by Garibaldi and kept his promise to allow San Marino to be independent.