San Marino Captains Regent Day: October 1
Captains Regent Day is a public holiday in San Marino.
The Investiture of the Regent Captains ceremony is rich and elaborate and has followed the same protocol for centuries. San Marino’s heads of state, the two “Regent Captains”, are invested with their powers in Piazza Liberta twice a year.
History of San Marino Captains Regent Day
The charge of Regent Captain is renewable, but three years must have passed since the end of the previous tenure. For those of you who are interested, prospective Captains must be citizens of San Marino and at least 25 years of age.
The ceremony dates back to 1243 and attests to the remarkable harmony and stability of this lilliputian state in that the institution still functions in pretty much the same way today as it did more than 750 years ago.
The practice of dual heads of government is derived directly from the customs of the Roman Republic, equivalent to the consuls of ancient Rome.
The Captains Regent (Capitani Reggenti) of San Marino are elected every six months by the country’s Grand and General Council. The pair serve as heads of state and government. Normally the Regents are chosen from opposing parties. They serve a six-month term. The investiture of the Captains Regent takes place on April 1 and October 1 every year.
San Marino Captains Regent Day Traditions, Customs and Activities
According to the governmental system of San Marino, the third-smallest country in Europe, with only Vatican City and Monaco being smaller, every six months the Great and General Council elects two captains regent to be the heads of state. The regents are chosen from opposing parties so they can keep an eye on each other. They serve a six-month term and, once this term is over, citizens have three days in which to file complaints about the previous regents’ activities. If they warrant it, judicial proceedings against the former head(s) of state can be initiated.
Other interesting posts:
- Investiture of the Regent Captains of San Marino
- San Marino’s Anniversary of the Arengo
- San Marino Day
- San Marino Remembers Saint Sylvester
- San Marino Celebrates St. Agatha Day
Other interesting posts:
