| According to tradition,
San Marino was founded in AD 301 by a Christian stonecutter, Marinus, who
sought refuge on Mount Titano from religious persecution. The commune that
developed maintained its sovereignty, despite repeated incursions by neighboring
rulers of Rimini, and in 1291 Pope Nicholas IV recognized San Marino's independence.
The governing laws of the republic were promulgated during the Middle Ages.
San Marino has had a treaty of friendship (revised several times) with Italy
since 1862. From 1945 to 1957 the republic was ruled by a coalition of Communists
and Socialists. In 1957 the Christian Democratic Party, aided by Communist
dissidents, took control of the government. In 1978 a coalition led by Communists
again came to power. The 1983 election left control in leftist hands, but
in July 1986 a new Christian Democrat-Communist coalition was formed. In
March 1992 the Christian Democrats formed a coalition government with the
Socialists, a status which continued after the May 1993 general election.
San Marino became a member of the United Nations in 1992. |