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Show Wor'-"-. Oldest Republics. So fnr as practical considerations go Switzerland Is the oldest' of surviving republics. Two puny republics, however, how-ever, long antedate the Helvetic confederation con-federation and In strict accuracy one of these two must be the oldest republic re-public of all now In existence. One of them Is the republic of San Marino In Italy, on Mount Tltano, the oldest Btate In Europe and one of the smallest small-est In tho world. Tho other Is tho republic re-public of Andorra In the Pyrenees, made Independent by Charlemagne. No fixed date can bo nsstgned to either of these, both are mediaeval relics, and San Marino may bo Identified even before tbe middle ages began.' |