San Marino is home to the world’s oldest surviving republic. According to tradition, the microstate was founded on 3 September 301 CE by Marinus, a Christian stonemason from the Roman colony of Arba. It is completely surrounded by Italy in the Apennine Mountains.
San Marino’s political history developed through medieval institutions and the survival of its independent government. Its constitution is not contained in one modern document; instead, its system rests on a collection of legal texts and customs dating from different periods. The country is governed by two Captains Regent, elected for six-month terms.
San Marino remained independent through major changes in the Italian peninsula and was formally recognized by Napoleon in 1797. It is one of the world’s smallest countries by area and population. The phrase “oldest republic” refers to continuous survival as an independent sovereign republic, based on the traditional foundation date.