State Medievalism The Republic of San Marino and the medievalist narrative from the 18th century to today

Subject

The present research project aims to deepen and aggregate knowledge regarding the use of medievalist narrative for the construction of the institutional and cultural identity of the Serenissima Republic of San Marino. The main aim of the research will be to identify, classify and argue the elements that have made the European microstate a synonym of 'Middle Ages', not so much when they actually derive from a legacy of the medieval age, but rather when they are the fruit of the elaboration of a 'narration' constructed a posteriori on the Middle Ages. The medieval sources, historiography and above all 'medievalism' concerning the Republic, from the 2008th to the XNUMXst century, are therefore identified and compared, in order to identify what was (and still is to a large extent) its specific 'regime of historicity'. Starting from the XNUMXth century, the foundations of the phenomenon of identity construction and conservation of community memory were laid; This is a very long process which in XNUMX allowed the historic centre of San Marino and Mount Titano to be included in the list of UNESCO heritage sites due to their specific nature as a place which has idealised its medieval origins through a global process of re-medievalisation.

Learning outcomes

With the above premises, the research project sets as its main objective a global survey of the phenomenon of medievalism in San Marino, sifting through its aspects in the system, in the institutional bodies, in the figurative and performing arts, in architecture, in literature, in school teaching, in mass communication, in contemporary reenactments, etc., with the aim of providing an organic framework that can allow us to historicize the invention of the medieval myth in San Marino. Only by way of example and not exhaustively, we intend to analyze the system of the Republic, with the various traditional insistences and the motivations that have moved this maintenance, and the institutional instruments that still today fulfill their original functions such as the instances of Arengo, the Council of LX, the Captains Regent, including the Ceremonial, and the most ancient bodies such as the Council of XII and the Government Mayors; particular attention will be given to the medieval figurative culture from the 18th century to today, analyzing it in all its manifestations including the collection of art objects belonging to the Most Excellent Chamber, bringing out precise references to some typical iconographies of the figurative panorama of San Marino such as that of the Captains Regent, starting from the fresco painted by Retrorsi in the Council Hall of Palazzo Pubblico, or of the capital in the hands of Saint Marino, to also consider the construction of the coat of arms and the coats of arms of the administrative divisions; emphasis will be placed on the figure of Pietro Tonnini and his figurative repertoire for the homeland, philately, to continue with the most recent pop culture products such as cinematography, comics, advertising and contemporary gaming culture (board games, role-playing games and video games); the main traditional celebrations, popular medieval-themed festivals and events that have contributed to the medieval story of the Republic of San Marino such as the various presences of the Serenissima in National and International Exhibitions.

Status of works

The research will conclude with the publication of a volume in the “Quaderni” series of the Sammarinese Centre for Historical Studies.