Today is Liberation Day, a public holiday in San Marino. Its full title is the “Anniversary of the Liberation of the Republic from Alberonian occupation (1740) and the Feast of St. Agata, patron saint, along with San Marino”.
San Marino has been invaded only a few times. The first incursion came in 1503 when Cesare Borgia, known as Valentino, invaded. His plans to rule were thwarted by his death in 1507, restoring San Marino to its independent status.
Over 200 years later, it was time for an Italian cardinal called Giulio Alberoni to step up to the plate and try to subjugate San Marino. Trying to expand the Papal State’s power base in the region, Alberoni (at the ripe old age of 75) invaded San Marino on October 17th 1739.
Unhappy with the aggressive way he was ruling the country and the whole invasion thing, the people of San Marino protested against Alberoni’s occupation and appealed to the Vatican. Messages were sent to obtain justice from Pope Clemente XII. The Pope recognized the rights of San Marino and on February 5th 1740, he restored the country’s independence.
I prefer the square ones.
I saw that Marianne Faithfull died a few days ago. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8EykQaZ8CU
