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Senarica is a village and former tiny city-state republic in Italy, is now contained by the commune of Crognaleto in the Central Italian province of Teramo, west of Teramo city.

History

With a population of less 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.

Senàrica and the neighbouring village Poggio Umbricchio became independent in circa 1343, when Queen Giovanna I of Angiò granted the area independence because of the inhabitants' fierce opposition against the enemy troops of Milan under Lord Luchino Visconti's relative Ambrogio Visconti. Impressed by the splendor of the dogal Republic of Venice, Senàrica rulers adopted a similar republcan government, with an elected doge as head of state.

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 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.

Homonym

Senarica is also a family name. One member of the family is the minor Italian actor Piero Senarica.

Sources and References

Former countries in Europe | Villages in Italy

 

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the "Senarica".

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