How Old Is San Marino? World's Oldest Surviving Republic

San Marino traces its founding to 301 CE, when Saint Marinus, a Christian stonemason from the island of Rab (modern Croatia), fled Diocletian's persecution and established a monastic community on Mount Titano.

Key milestones:

• 301: Traditional founding date.
• 885: First documentary evidence (Placito Feretrano).
• 1243: First Captains Regent (dual heads of state) elected—continuously since.
• 1600: Constitution (Statutes) codified.
• 1815: Congress of Vienna recognized sovereignty.

It has never been conquered or annexed (Napoleon respected it; Garibaldi honored it). Population ~33,000; 61 km². UNESCO World Heritage (2008).