Senarica is a village in the

Abruzzo Abruzzo (, , ; nap, label=Neapolitan language, Abruzzese Neapolitan, Abbrùzze , ''Abbrìzze'' or ''Abbrèzze'' ; nap, label=Sabino dialect, Aquilano, Abbrùzzu; #History, historically Abruzzi) is a Regions of Italy, region of Southern Italy wi ...

region of central Italy. With a population of fewer than 300 people, Senarica was an independent republic for about four centuries until the end of the eighteenth century. It was the smallest state to maintain an independent status for that long, although now it is a ''

frazione A ''frazione'' (plural: ) is a type of subdivision of a ''comune'' (municipality) in Italy, often a small village or hamlet outside the main town. Most ''frazioni'' were created during the Fascist era (1922–1943) as a way to consolidate territ ...

'' of the ''

comune The (; plural: ) is a local administrative division of Italy, roughly equivalent to a township or municipality. It is the third-level administrative division of Italy, after regions ('' regioni'') and provinces (''province''). The can also ...

'' of

Crognaleto Crognaleto is a ''comune'' and city of slightly less than 2,000 people in the Province of Teramo, central Italy. Crognaleto sits at an elevation of and has its communal administrative offices in the ''frazione'' (outlying area) of Nerito. The c ...

Geography

It lies west of

Teramo Teramo (; nap, label= Abruzzese, Tèreme ) is a city and ''comune'' in the Italian region of Abruzzo, the capital of the province of Teramo. The city, from Rome, is situated between the highest mountains of the Apennines (Gran Sasso d'Italia) ...

city, in the

province of Teramo The Province of Teramo ( it, provincia di Teramo; Abruzzese: ') is a province in the Abruzzo region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Teramo. The province has an area of , a population of 313,029 (2012), and is subdivided into 47 comunes ( i ...

History

Senàrica and the neighbouring village

Poggio Umbricchio Poggio Umbricchio is a frazione of Crognaleto in the Province of Teramo in the Abruzzo region of Italy. See also *Senarica Senarica is a village in the Abruzzo region of central Italy. With a population of fewer than 300 people, Senarica was ...

became independent in circa 1343, when Queen

Joanna I of Naples Joanna I, also known as Johanna I ( it, Giovanna I; December 1325 – 27 July 1382), was Queen of Naples, and Countess of Provence and Forcalquier from 1343 to 1382; she was also Princess of Achaea from 1373 to 1381. Joanna was the eldest daug ...

granted the area independence because of the inhabitants' fierce opposition against the enemy troops of

Milan Milan ( , , Lombard: ; it, Milano ) is a city in northern Italy, capital of Lombardy, and the second-most populous city proper in Italy after Rome. The city proper has a population of about 1.4 million, while its metropolitan city h ...

under Lord

Luchino I Visconti Luchino Visconti (also spelled Lucchino, 1287 or 1292 – January 24, 1349) was rulers of Milan, lord of Milan from 1339 to 1349. He was also a condottiero, and lord of Pavia. Biography Ruler of Pavia from 1315, five years later he was ''podestà ...

's relative Ambrogio Visconti. Impressed by the splendor of the dogal

Republic of Venice The Republic of Venice ( vec, Repùblega de Venèsia) or Venetian Republic ( vec, Repùblega Vèneta, links=no), traditionally known as La Serenissima ( en, Most Serene Republic of Venice, italics=yes; vec, Serenìsima Repùblega de Venèsia, ...

, Senàrica rulers adopted a similar republican government, with an elected

doge A doge ( , ; plural dogi or doges) was an elected lord and head of state in several Italian city-states, notably Venice and Genoa, during the medieval and renaissance periods. Such states are referred to as " crowned republics". Etymology The ...

as head of state. The king of Naples Ferdinand IV did not believe in the existence of the independent republic and sent some officials to Senàrica for investigation. Driven by Prime Minister Bernardo Tanucci, he ordered its annexation in 1797.Guglielmo Magnifico p. 307 Its coat of arms was a black shield with a silver lion (as the symbol of the state) fetching a snake of the same colour. These arms appeared on a gold

gonfalon The gonfalon, gonfanon, gonfalone (from the early Italian language, Italian ''confalone'') is a type of heraldic flag or banner, often pointed, swallow-tailed, or with several streamers, and suspended from a crossbar in an identical manner to t ...

and on the seal as well. In the village's cathedral is still visible a reproduction of the lion, which in this particular image is topped by a crown.

Notes and references

Notes

References

*
Senarica page
at Flags of the World *Aldo Ziggotio, an article published on the Italian bulletin ''Armi Antiche'', 1987

External links

* *
Senarica official website
* {{authority control Frazioni of the Province of Teramo Italian states States and territories established in 1343 States and territories disestablished in the 18th century Former republics Micronations in Italy