Republic of Cospaia: Difference between revisions

Cospaia Republic
*Repubblica di Cospaia*
Cospaia Republic Repubblica di Cospaia
1440–1826
	Flag Coat of arms
	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
• Partitioned	May 25 1826
Area
	3.3 km2 (1.3 sq mi)
Currency	Ducal
Preceded by	Succeeded by
	Papal States
Grand Duchy of Tuscany
Papal States

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Revision as of 04:49, 19 July 2014

Cospaia was a small republic in Italy, located in northern Umbria, independent from 1440 to 1826.

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 deteriorated into a mere smugglers' 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

The Republic of Cospaia was almost completely anarchist 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, thus making crime rampant, though records are scarce. 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.

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

This Italian history article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

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 |image_map   = Carta repubblica di cospaia.jpg
 |image_map_caption = Location of Cospaia
+|capital          = Cospaia
-|
-|capital          =
 |largest_city     =
 |national_motto   = ''Perpetua et firma libertas''
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 |common_languages = [[Italian language|Italian]]
 |religion         = Roman Catholic
-|currency         =
+|currency         = Ducal
+|population  = around 400
-|
 |<!--- Titles and names of the first and last leaders and their deputies --->
 |leader1      =
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 ==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 deteriorated into a mere smugglers' state which, in 1826, was divided between [[Grand Duchy of Tuscany|Tuscany]] and the [[Papal States]].
+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 deteriorated into a mere smugglers' haven which, in 1826, was divided between [[Grand Duchy of Tuscany|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]].
+[[File:Cospaia.jpg|thumb|]]
+==Government==
+The Republic of Cospaia was almost completely [[anarchist]] 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, thus making crime rampant, though records are scarce. 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==