Republic of Cospaia
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Cospaia Republic Repubblica di Cospaia | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1440–1826 | |||||||||||
 Flag
 Coat of arms
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| Motto: Perpetua et firma libertas | |||||||||||
| Location of Cospaia Location of Cospaia | |||||||||||
| Status | Microstate | ||||||||||
| Capital | Cospaia | ||||||||||
| Common languages | Italian | ||||||||||
| Religion | Roman Catholic | ||||||||||
| Government | Republic | ||||||||||
| Historical era | Early Modern | ||||||||||
• Established | 1440 | ||||||||||
| May 25 1826 | |||||||||||
| Area | |||||||||||
| 3.3 km2 (1.3 sq mi) | |||||||||||
| Currency | Ducal | ||||||||||
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The Republic of Cospaia was a small state in Italy, located in northern Umbria, independent from 1440 to 1826. It was located in what is now the hamlet (frazione) of Cospaia in the comune of San Giustino in the Province of Perugia.
History
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.
Government
The Republic of Cospaia did not have a formal government or official legal system. 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
References
- 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
Media related to Cospaia at Wikimedia Commons
- La storia ritrovata: La Repubblica di Cospaia Template:It
- Cospaia: storia della repubblica più piccola al mondo Template:It
- Flag of Cospaia Republic
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