Republic of Cospaia
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This article may be expanded with text translated from the corresponding article in Italian. (September 2013) Click [show] for important translation instructions.
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| Cospaia Republic | ||||||
| Repubblica di Cospaia | ||||||
| Microstate | ||||||
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| Motto Perpetua et firma libertas |
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Location of Cospaia
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| Capital | Cospaia | |||||
| Languages | Italian | |||||
| Religion | Roman Catholic | |||||
| Government | Republic | |||||
| Historical era | Early Modern | |||||
| • | Established | 1440 | ||||
| • | Partitioned | May 25, 1826 | ||||
| Area | 3.3 km² (1 sq mi) | |||||
| Currency | Ducal | |||||
Cospaia was a small republic in Italy, located in northern Umbria, independent from 1440 to 1826.
History[edit]
It unexpectedly gained independence in 1440 after Pope Eugene IV, embroiled in a struggle with the Council of Basel, made a sale of territory to the Republic of Florence. By error, a small strip of land went unmentioned in the sale treaty and its inhabitants promptly declared themselves independent. An early centre in Italy for tobacco production, Cospaia eventually evolved into a commerce haven which, in 1826, was divided between Tuscany and the Papal States. Each citizen was awarded a silver coin by the church to help convince them to continue farming tobacco.
Today, Cospaia is a hamlet (frazione) of the comune of San Giustino in the Province of Perugia.
Government[edit]
The Republic of Cospaia was almost completely anarchist[citation needed] in its government and criminal justice system, or lack thereof. There were no jails and there was no standing army or police force within the tiny nation. There was a council of elders and a chief's family who governed at one point. They met in the Church of Annunciation for councils.
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- Ascani, Angelo (1963). Cospaia: storia inedita della singolare Repubblica. Umbria: Città di Castello.
- Natali, Filippo (1892). La stato libero di Cospaia: nell'alta Valle del Tevere (1440-1826). Umbertide: stab. tip. Tiberino.
External links[edit]
Media related to Cospaia at Wikimedia Commons
- La storia ritrovata: La Repubblica di Cospaia (Italian)
- Cospaia: storia della repubblica più piccola al mondo (Italian)
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