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September 3

San Marino Founded as the World’s Oldest Republic (301 A.D.)


On September 3, 301 A.D., according to most sources, San Marino formed as the world’s first sovereign republic.

According to tradition, Christian stonemason Marinus, of Rab, a Romany colony, fled Rome to the nearby mountainous region of Monte Titano. There, Marinus built a small church and attracted a number of followers. Because of the area’s relatively inaccessible location, it was an ideal spot to create a separate government outside of Rome’s authority.

Legend has it that on this day, September 3, 310 A.D., San Marino became the world’s first sovereign republic and has remained so to the present.

The country is a landlocked enclave completely surrounded by Italy located in the Apennine Mountains. The country remained nearly untouched for centuries due to its location, poverty, and neutrality.

In 1600, San Marino enacted its own constitution – the world’s oldest known constitution. In 1631, the Papacy formally recognized San Marino as an independent republic.

Today, San Marino is only 24 square miles and is one of the smallest countries in the world. It represents one of Europe’s mini-states along with Andorra, Malta, Monaco, Liechtenstein, and the Vatican. It has only has about 30,000 inhabitants but hosts millions of tourists each year. Its economy is also comprised of agricultural products, banking industries, electronics, and manufacturing plants.

Its government is a parliamentary representative republic with executive, judiciary, and legislative branches. San Marino became a member of the Council of Europe in 1988 and of the United Nations in 1992. But it is not a member of the European Union. Still, San Marino is allowed to use the Euro through an agreement with the Council of the European Union.

Today, September 3, is celebrated as the Feast Day of San Marino’s founder, Marinus of Rab. And San Marino continues to be the world’s oldest known republic.