Antonio Onofri (1759 – 26 February 1825) was a politician and diplomat of the
Republic of San Marino
San Marino (, ), officially the Republic of San Marino ( it, Repubblica di San Marino; ), also known as the Most Serene Republic of San Marino ( it, Serenissima Repubblica di San Marino, links=no), is the fifth-smallest country in the world an ...
, a key figure in the country's political scene in the late 18th century and early 19th century. His "prudence and patriotism" during this challenging period in the Republic's history earned him a statue in the Public Council Hall and the recognition as "the Father of his country".
Early life
Onofri came from an old family that had a great influence on the fate of the Republic for centuries. He received a thorough education in philosophy and law. In 1787 he was appointed as secretary of state, and in 1789 he was elected a member of the
Grand and General Council
The Grand and General Council ( it, Consiglio Grande e Generale) is the parliament of San Marino. The council has 60 members elected for a five-year term.
History
From the fifth century San Marino was ruled by an assembly composed by all t ...
. During his long career, he also served as
Captain Regent
The Captains Regent (Italian: ''Capitani reggenti'') are the two heads of state of the Republic of San Marino. They are elected every six months by the Grand and General Council, the country's legislative body. Normally the Regents are chosen ...
seven times.
Career
Onofri's accomplishments are linked in particular to foreign policy, whose skillful creation led to the recognition of San Marino by other European countries. In 1797 , when
Napoleon Bonaparte
Napoleon Bonaparte ; it, Napoleone Bonaparte, ; co, Napulione Buonaparte. (born Napoleone Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French military commander and political leader who ...
was camped at nearby
Pesaro
Pesaro () is a city and ''comune'' in the Italian region of Marche, capital of the Province of Pesaro e Urbino, on the Adriatic Sea. According to the 2011 census, its population was 95,011, making it the second most populous city in the Marche, ...
during the
Italian campaign of the
French Revolutionary Wars
The French Revolutionary Wars (french: Guerres de la Révolution française) were a series of sweeping military conflicts lasting from 1792 until 1802 and resulting from the French Revolution. They pitted French First Republic, France against Ki ...
, a proposal to enlarge the territory of San Marino offered by the general's envoy
Gaspard Monge
Gaspard Monge, Comte de Péluse (9 May 1746 – 28 July 1818) was a French mathematician, commonly presented as the inventor of descriptive geometry, (the mathematical basis of) technical drawing, and the father of differential geometry. Durin ...
was graciously rejected by Onofri as Captain Regent on behalf of the Republic. However, he accepted 15,000 quintals of wheat and the promise of four pieces of artillery, the latter of which seems never to have been delivered. Onofri insisted that it was San Marino's experience that their greatest safeguard was not coveting their neighbours' territory. This prudent decision (justified by Onofri thus: "wars end, but neighbours remain") is believed to have saved the Republic from reprisals upon the later defeat of Napoleon.
In 1798 he signed a treaty on trade and friendly relations with the
Roman Republic
The Roman Republic ( la, Res publica Romana ) was a form of government of Rome and the era of the classical Roman civilization when it was run through public representation of the Roman people. Beginning with the overthrow of the Roman Kin ...
, and several months later also with the
Cisalpine Republic
The Cisalpine Republic ( it, Repubblica Cisalpina) was a sister republic of France in Northern Italy that existed from 1797 to 1799, with a second version until 1802.
Creation
After the Battle of Lodi in May 1796, Napoleon Bonaparte organized t ...
. A similar agreement was also reached with the
Italian Republic
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...
, which took the place of the two previously mentioned, in June 1802. On May 26, 1805, again as Captain Regent, he attended the coronation of Napoleon Bonaparte as the
King of Italy
King of Italy ( it, links=no, Re d'Italia; la, links=no, Rex Italiae) was the title given to the ruler of the Kingdom of Italy after the fall of the Western Roman Empire. The first to take the title was Odoacer, a barbarian military leader, ...
in Milan, where he received an "amiable audience" with the now-Emperor of France.
After the
Congress of Vienna
The Congress of Vienna (, ) of 1814–1815 was a series of international diplomatic meetings to discuss and agree upon a possible new layout of the European political and constitutional order after the downfall of the French Emperor Napoleon B ...
, Onofri helped establish good relations with
Louis XVIII
Louis XVIII (Louis Stanislas Xavier; 17 November 1755 – 16 September 1824), known as the Desired (), was King of France from 1814 to 1824, except for a brief interruption during the Hundred Days in 1815. He spent twenty-three years in ...
,
Charles X
Charles X (born Charles Philippe, Count of Artois; 9 October 1757 – 6 November 1836) was King of France from 16 September 1824 until 2 August 1830. An uncle of the uncrowned Louis XVII and younger brother to reigning kings Louis XVI and Loui ...
and
Louis Philippe
Louis Philippe (6 October 1773 – 26 August 1850) was King of the French from 1830 to 1848, and the penultimate monarch of France.
As Louis Philippe, Duke of Chartres, he distinguished himself commanding troops during the Revolutionary War ...
, as well as negotiating the country's way into the favour of
Pope Leo XII
Pope Leo XII ( it, Leone XII; born Annibale Francesco Clemente Melchiorre Girolamo Nicola della Genga (; 2 August 1760 – 10 February 1829), was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 28 September 1823 to his death ...
, who after an audience with Onofri wrote a letter to the Captains Regent, "assuring them of his friendship and renewing the ancient conventions with them".
Legacy
In 2005, the 180th anniversary of Onofri's death was marked by a special commemorative silver €5 coin.
"Silver 5 euro coins - San Marino - coin series - Collector Coin Database"
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References
* "Historia małych krajów Europy - Andora, Liechtenstein, Luksemburg, Malta, Monako, San Marino" - praca zbiorowa pod redakcją Józefa Łaptosa, Ossolineum, Wrocław 2002
{{DEFAULTSORT:Onofri, Antonio
Captains Regent of San Marino
Members of the Grand and General Council
19th-century Italian people
1759 births
1825 deaths