The Foundation of the Republic of San Marino: A Story Between Myth and Reality

The shadow of a millennial history stands out on the profile of Mount Titano, that of the Republic of San Marino, which carries the privilege of defining itself as “the oldest Republic in the world“. A narrative that has its roots in the distant 301 AD, a date that, like an ancient cloak, envelops the Sammarinese identity with an aura of eternity. But what really lies behind this golden number that marks the beginning of Sammarinese freedom?

The legend of Marino: between faith and stone

The story of the foundation of the Republic of San Marino is inextricably linked to the figure of Marino, the stonemason from the island of Arbe in Dalmatia. According to tradition, he arrived in Rimini to escape the persecutions against Christians and found refuge on the steep heights of Mount Titano, where he founded a small community based on Christian principles and freedom.

On his deathbed, legend has it, he uttered the words that would become the spiritual foundation of Sammarinese independence: “Relinquo vos liberos ab utroque homine” (I leave you free from both men, referring to the pope and the emperor). Words that, like a chisel on stone, have carved the destiny of this land, on the pediment of the Basilica.

301 AD: a date written with the ink of time

It is precisely around this date – 301 AD – that the major historical controversies are concentrated. Digging into the folds of official documentation, a surprising fact emerges: in the original legend of Saint Marino there is no precise reference to the year 301. Tradition has it that September 3rd is the day of the Saint’s death, not the foundation of the Republic.

The first documented mention of San Marino as a territorial entity dates back, in reality, to the 8th century, when the name appears in a deed of donation attributed to Pepin the Short. Before this, Mount Titano was only referred to as “Mons Titas,” with no reference to any structured community.

When tradition becomes official

The path of this date towards officiality has something surprising. Ancient historians such as Delfico, Valli, and Fattori never mention 301 as the year of foundation. Some even place Marino’s life in the second half of the 4th century, having him die around 366 AD.

It is only at the beginning of the 20th century that 301 begins to take root in the Sammarinese collective consciousness. In 1901, the “16 centuries of Sammarinese freedom” were celebrated, but it was during the fascist era that the date assumed the official status it still holds today.

With a decree of 1941, the government established that: “For the purposes of the previous article, the date of the foundation of the Republic is fixed at September 3, 301“. Since then, all official Sammarinese documents bear the mention d.F.R. (from the Foundation of the Republic).

Perpetual freedom: an idea older than the date

What is truly ancient in San Marino is not a date, but an idea: that of “perpetual freedom“. Already in the Valle Anastasio roll of 1296, Sammarinese people declared themselves “free by custom for centuries”. In 1400, the jurist Marino Calcigni spoke of a “holy freedom” that had lasted for about 1200 years. The statutes of 1491 defined this freedom as “perpetual” for the first time, a concept that has crossed the centuries.

The value of a founding myth

Modern historical research places the birth of current Sammarinese institutions around the middle of the 13th century, in the middle of the communal era. A venerable age of about 800 years, which still makes San Marino the oldest existing state in the world.

But 301, with its aura of legend, continues to shine like the polar star of Sammarinese identity. On Mount Titano, history intertwines with myth, and myth becomes the foundation of a collective identity that has withstood the storms of history.

Like the ancient walls that protect the historic center of the Republic, this date – however questionable on a strictly historical level – represents a symbolic fortification, a bulwark of Sammarinese identity that has been able to withstand the test of time.

The true strength of a small Republic

The strength of the Republic of San Marino does not lie so much in the antiquity of its foundation, but in the extraordinary ability to preserve its independence through the centuries. Like a lighthouse on the top of Mount Titano, this small community has illuminated history with the example of its resilience.

If you want to deepen your knowledge of Sammarinese history, we recommend visiting the Museum of the Republic of San Marino, where you can immerse yourself in a journey through the centuries of this fascinating reality.

Whether 301 is a historically accurate date or not, it remains a powerful symbol of continuity for the ancient Republic of Mount Titano, a number that, like the three towers that stand on the mountain, continues to watch over the identity of this extraordinary State.

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