San Marino - The World's Oldest Republic

The tiny nation of San Marino claims to be the world's oldest republic. They say it was established in the year 301 CE by a Christian stone nation named Marinus who built a monastery on a mountain. Since then the story goes San Marino has expanded to include the area around the mountain until its borders ended up in the current state over a thousand years later in 1463. The princely family is still out there doing everything they can to increase their political power, no matter the cost.