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Geography |
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Capital |
San Marino (pop. 4,482). |
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Area |
61.2 sq. km.; about one-third the size of Washington, DC. |
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Terrain |
Rugged mountains. |
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Climate |
Mediterranean; mild to cool winters; warm, sunny summers. |
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People |
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Nationality |
Noun and adjective--Sammarinese. |
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Population |
(September 2006): 30,002. |
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Groups |
Sammarinese, Italian. |
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Religions |
Roman Catholic. |
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Languages |
Italian. |
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The population of San Marino is comprised of native Sammarinese and
Italian citizens. Crop farming, sheep farming, and the working of
stone from the quarries formed the early backbone of San Marino's
economy. It has no mineral resources, and today most of the land is
cultivated or covered by woods. |
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Government &
History |
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Official Name |
Republic of San Marino |
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Government |
Independent republic. |
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Independence |
Constitution: October 8, 1600, electoral law of 1926 and manuscript
of rights (1974) serve some of the functions of the Constitution.
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According to tradition, San Marino was founded in AD 301 when a
Christian stonemason named Marinus the Dalmatian fled to the island
of Arbe to escape the anti-Christian Roman Emperor Diocletian.
Marinus hid on the peak of Mount Titano and founded a small
community of people following their Christian beliefs. It is certain
that the area had been inhabited since prehistoric times, although
evidence of existence on Mount Titano only dates back to the Middle
Ages. 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."
The original government structure was composed of a self-governed
assembly known as the Arengo, which consisted of the heads of each
family. In 1243, the positions of Captains Regent (Capitani Reggenti)
were established to be the joint heads of state.
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 Piccolomini gave San Marino 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 has been occupied by foreign militaries twice in its
history, both for only short periods of time. In 1503, Cesare
Borgia, known as Valentino, occupied the republic until his death
several months later. In 1739, Cardinal Alberoni used military force
to occupy the country. Civil disobedience was used to protest his
occupation, and clandestine notes sent to the Pope to obtain justice
were answered by the Pope's recognition of San Marino's rights and
restoration of San Marino's independence.
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