27 BC: Gaius Octavianus becomes sole ruler of Rome and as Augustus the first emperor.
395: After the death of emperor Theodosius I, the Roman Empire is partitioned in the (Eastern) Roman Empire and the (Western) Roman Empire. The region becomes part of the Western part of the Empire.
751: The Lombards defeat and destroy the Byzantine Exarchate of Ravenna, which brings the community of San Marino, said to exist since 301, under the rule of the Lombards.
1243: San Marino is recognized by the Papal States as an independent state. San Marino is governed by a self-governed assembly. the Arengo, which consisted of the heads of each family. It gets captains regent as joint heads of state elected for six months by the parliament.
1631: The independence is confirmed by the → Papacy.
17th century: The Arengo creates the Grand and General Council to rule the country. The Council itself refuses for centuries to convene the Arengo, passing a law introducing the co-option of his members, so to become fully independent.
1906: The Arengo is after three centuries summoned to meet and abolishes the system of co-option of councillors for life. It elects a new council to set out the conditions for general elections later in the year. These elections are held by universal male suffrage. All members are elected as formal non-partisans.
