O R I G I N S
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 from a monk named Eugippio, who reports in several documents going 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 report a well organized, open 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 comune 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 comune.
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 attacking, it was seen as necessary to construct the Three Towers of San Marino. For more information on the subject, see that article.
