About Republic of San Marino

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San Marino is the smallest independent state in Europe after the Holy See and Monaco and it is the only surviving Italian city-state. San Marino is not a quirk of history, but the magnificent result of the centuries-long efforts of free community. A small isolate community on the top of a mountain conceived the idea of liberty and defended it with every means against all comers until it received world recognition. New York March 2nd 1992, San Marino joins the United Nations Organization widely acclaimed by its members.

San Marino is a nation among nations despite its small, very small size: 60 square km, 30,000 inhabitants. It’s a republic with a parliament of 60 members, The Great and General Council and 2 heads of state, the Captains Regent who remain in office for 6 months. Until 1300 San Marino was a feudal possession of the bishop of Montefeltro, whose diocese, a part of the papal state was centred at San Leo. San Marino had equal status with other small localities in the Marecchia river valley. Together they begin a struggle against the bishop to break feudal bonds and stop paying taxes. One big difference does exist however.

San Leo, Talamello and Maiolo were ruled over by feudal lords who considered the granting of tax exemptions a privilege, but San Marino on the contrary, the community claims exemption as a right. With the firmness and tenacity and determination such claims deserved. This right was bequeathed by a saint, so the people of San Marino said at a trial held in 1296.

They won’t pay because they never have. It was their saint that made them free saying “Nemini teneri” which means: not dependant on anyone. This Saint is Marinus, a stone cutter from Dalmatia, who crossed the Adriatic together with his coreligionists and fellow workers at the time when Diocletion was emperor perhaps to escape persecution. He died, so the story goes, on 3rd September 301, bequeathing to the people, the mountain and the seed of those convictions later called freedom. Over the next two centuries these conviction unite and consolidate the entire parish and bind it to the mountain. A deed dated 1243 also shows the names of the community representatives- Filippo da Sterpeto and Oddone di Scarito, the first two Consuls, today called Captains Regent. The people have given themselves a set of rules, the statutes and a structure: the commune. But they are still under the feudal authority of the bishop of San Leo. All around the rest of the world is at war of Guelfs against the Ghibellines. Rimini is in the hands of Guelfs allies of the Pope and led by the house of Malatesta. At Urbino the Montefeltro had the Ghibellines, allies of the emperor. San Marino is in the middle. Though a commune it sides with Montefeltro to be rid of the bishop. A goal achieved only a century later, when the popes goes to Avignon. First of all the bishop’s residence inside the walls is confiscated, subsequently the community refuses to acknowledge him as judge, finally his right to collect taxes is disputed. Finally in 1351 Bishop Peruzzi defeated by the Ghibellines loses San Leo too. He has no place to go. The people of San Marino offer him a home as long as he signs a document freeing them all from their feudal bonds. But San Marino is not out of danger yet. Now the threat comes from Romagna where the nephews and relations of the cardinals raise armies to attack. In 1543 from Rimini and Santarcangelo, in 1549 from Verucchio. Faced with these new perils San Marino strengthens its walls and then asks Urbino for help.

For 4 centuries San Marino has been protected by Urbino.

San Marino is little more than a municipality within the Papal State, a tiny enclave without defences, without protection. In Italy, in Europe, everywhere dukes and grand dukes, princes, marcheses, barons, kings and emperors. Oppression and absolutism are rife. In Venice a feint ray of light is beginning to shine through. The word reaches Venice that on an Appenine peak inside the Papal State, “there is a community of mountain men, who govern a republic and belong to no-one”. The writers and journalists of the time get hold of the news and anxious to strike a blow against absolutism, colour it with accounts of freedom and democracy, to the point of creating a legend of a happy land. The news comes as a shock to the world of potentates. It crosses the Alps and reaches France and Holland. From Holland it spreads to the rest of Europe together with an outlook full of realism which helps to foster interest and boost credibility. Some even decide to come over and check the story for themselves. Among them is Addison, the early 18th century English writer who really does discover the spark of ancient liberty high up on the mountain among the people, mixed with a strong religious faith. Words are spoken and written about San Marino. San Marino takes a permanent place in people’s hearts and minds. The goal is achieved. From now on it is defended by Europe and the world. This becomes clear shortly afterwards when Rome tries to suppress the community. Cardinal Alberoni at the head of the papal army uses wily stratagems and religious pressures to bring the land under the heel of the church. Paris, Madrid and Vienna intervene. San Marino regains its independence. It is the 5th February 1740, the day of Saint Agatha. Since then the joint patron saint of the Republic.

The world is ripe for revolt and the Republic of San Marino appears to have already set the fashion.

Napoleon shares the same opinion. When his armies sweep through Italy like an earthquake in 1797, he stops before San Marino to praise it as a model of republican liberty. He even makes offers of territorial expansion- a corridor to the sea. San Marino cautiously declines. Napoleon overwhelms Europe. Everywhere taking what he fancies.

He changes and subverts the political geography of the time.

All the ancient republics, Lucca, Genova, Venice are suppressed but not San Marino. San Marino is the exception. San Marino remains and it remains as a republic. Even when contrary to the ideals of the revolution, Napoleon decides to place a crown on his own head. For San Marino, Napoleon is the gentle giant. He protects the country, he spoils it with disproportionate offers of gifts. He lets it grow until it becomes a state in every sense of the word. The state that takes its place among the other nations of the world, exchanges ambassadors and signs treaties. For the very first time “Nemini teneri” enjoys the recognition of peoples and nations. Napoleon is vanquished.

The Congress of Vienna redraws the map of Italy. San Marino is not part of the debate, there is no reason why it should be. A united Italy is the goal of the liberals too, and a part of them dream of setting up a democratic republic. San Marino’s popularity amongst those liberals soars in 1849, when their hero Garibaldi, with the Austrians hot on his heel, enters San Marino with a 1,000 survivors of the Roman republic and he is immediately surrounded. There is no escape. Either unconditional surrender or a fight to the bitter end. The San Marino authorities act as mediators. They prolong negotiations and during the night allow Garibaldi, his wife Anita and the most implicated officers to slip away. Providing medical aid, food, money and safe conducts for the others. The gratitude of Garibaldi and the democratic liberals will prove decisive for San Marino along with the protection of France now ruled over by another Napoleon. In fact Cavour needs Napoleon III, Garibaldi and the liberals in order to unite the country. He can not afford to displease them. In passing by San Marino in 1860, at the head of his Piemontese troops, Cavour leaves the country alone. A treaty to the Italian authorities is sent for a recognition of sovereignty. That treaty is finally signed in 1862, after the death of Cavour, by prime minister Rattazzi, who once more needs the help of Garibaldi and Napoleon. San Marino is now an accepted and recognized political entity. Having obtained the first seal it seeks others beyond the Alps. Every treaty represents a recognition of sovereignty. After 40 years of efforts criminal extradition treaties are signed. First of all with Great Britain, then with Holland, Belgium and the U.S.A. In 1908 another step forward. Membership is granted of the International Institute of agriculture. For the first time San Marino belongs to an international organization.



During WWII San Marino remained neutral, though on the 26th of June 1944, it was bombed by the RAF which mistakenly believed it had been overrun by German forces and was being used to amass stores and ammunitions. The railway was destroyed and 63 civilians died during the operation. San Marino was a refuge for over 100000 italian civilians when the population of the state was of about 15000 people.In 1958 a law acknowledging the right to vote to the women of San Marino and in 1981Maria Lea Pedini Angelini was the first woman elected Captain Regent. In 1971 the country nominates ambassadors, it also joins The Council of Europe. It already has a place at the C.S.C.E., becomes a member of the United Nations, organization the highest assembly of all the World nations. It is stated that all member nations have equal rights irrespective of their size and geographic location. This is the most elevated example of “NEMINI TENERI” the concept of liberty conceived on the Titano by a small group of mountain folk in silent isolation, next to the chapel of a saint during the first centuries of the Christian middle ages. And then defended with every means against all, before finally obtaining the recognition of everyone.