Historical traces of a corps of San Marino crossbowmen date back to the late 14th century. It was their duty to defend the walls and the independence of the community, but they also operated as a police force.
Competitions and shooting practice sessions were often organised and these events attracted large crowds of spectators.
In 1956, the decision was taken to once again start organising the ancient and statutory crossbow competition staged on 3 September, the day the Republic was founded. Documentary traces of this event date back to the 14th century. In the 17th century, the competition was regulated by statute. The idea was to revive the event as a tourist attraction and to foster an awareness among youngsters of the country's past, when the population had to fight for its freedom.
Historical costumes were designed and created in a variety of different styles and colours due to the fact that the crossbowmen, split into nine teams, had to - and still - represent the nine Townships into which the country is administratively divided. Each team dons the colours of its flag. These costumes were used until 1967, after which they were redesigned and made several times over.
On 31 July 1956, the San Marino crossbowmen made their first public appearance in the streets of the capital, climbing up to the Cesta - the second fortress - where they lined up along the access steps, at either side of the doors, between the battlements and in the inner rooms.
The nine teams consisted of five crossbowmen each, plus the flag bearer, the officer, the herald, the page, two drummers and two trumpeters - a total of 61 men.
A month later, for the feast of the Patron Saint on 3 September, the crossbowmen made their second public appearance to take part in the ancient and traditional Palio di San Marino.
In the following years, their weapons were perfected and made more powerful, and improvements were made to the organisation and performance of the historical "palio" of 3 September.
In May, 1957, the San Marino crossbowmen made their first public appearance outside San Marino when they took part in the Corteo Matildico di Quattro Castella at the Fortress of Canossa and in the crossbow competition of Gubbio.
Over the years, the crossbowmen have practised in various localities, but in 1965, their training ground became a quarry in the old-city centre, the current "Cava dei Balestrieri", officially opened on 3 September 1971.
The old-city centre was also where the Federation set up its headquarters and a museum housing mementos, costumes, trophies and various types of equipment, which opened in 1981.
The San Marino Crossbowmen's Federation, together with Gubbio, Sansepolcro, Massa Marittima, and Lucca, is a member of the Italian Crossbowmen's Federation, established on 13 February 1966, with first individual national tournament staged on 10 July of that same year at San Marino.
In 1972, the individual San Marino championship saw the light, while the team championship was established in 1976. In 1974, the Crossbowmen's Federation was legally recognised by the Council of 12. All these factors helped strengthen the Federation and make it a benchmark for San Marino society and traditions.
Besides making a name for itself at local and Italian level, the Federation was also recognised in Europe and took part in tournaments and events in Germany, Belgium, Switzerland and other countries of the world. The crossbowmen of San Marino have even shown off their skills in Brazil.
Another major milestone was achieved in 1977 when the Regency awarded the gold medal of merit to the Federation's Banner. This important honour was attributed on 5 February by the Gran Magistero di Sant'Agata because the crossbowmen, as testified to by a document of the period, had conveyed "the San Marino flag with honour at home, in Italy and in Europe, with enthusiastic folklore repercussions and achieving great success in competitions, thereby promoting San Marino with great advantage for the strengthening of its traditions, the patriotic education of its youngsters and the development of the country's tourist industry".
During the years that followed, the Federation continued to set itself and achieve new goals by extending the number of its members and its repertoire. In 1982 in fact, a group of flag-throwers was organised thanks to the cooperation and friendship offered by the skilled flag-throwers of Sansepolcro, who initiated a group of San Marino youngsters into the difficult art of flag throwing.
The Italian and International Federation of ancient games and flag sports had been created in San Marino on 22 and 23 October, 1966 during the course of an international meeting staged in the country for that purpose and attended by 15 Italian and European flag-throwing associations.
The first performance of young San Marino flag-throwers was staged that same year. As in the case of the crossbowmen, the following years saw their numbers gradually increase until they became an essential component of the picturesque show which the Crossbowmen's Federation is currently able to provide to the numerous spectators who flock to the events it organises or in which it takes part, thanks too to the contribution of musicians, nobles and other figures in costume who regularly make up its processions and strongly contribute to making the Crossbowmen's Federation performances such a great success.
In the past, the Crossbowmen's Federation also benefited from the contribution of the "Musici Antichi" group, 10/12 musicians with a repertoire of Renaissance and Baroque music, playing ancient musical instruments such as clarions, Renaissance flutes, recorders, bombards, cromornes, rankets, and percussion instruments. In view of the success encountered by this group, including in Italy and further afield, efforts are being made to recreate it.
2006 marked the 50th anniversary of the San Marino Crossbowmen's Federation. This major occurrence was celebrated by the presentation of official awards on the part of the highest San Marino authorities, the creation of new costumes to be worn by Federation members in their future performances and the issuing of a series of postage stamps. Furthermore, with the cooperation of the Fondazione San Marino Cassa di Risparmio della Repubblica di San Marino - S.U.M.S., a series of initiative were organised: a meeting of former Federation members, the issuing of a commemorative medal, the creation of a promotional DVD, the publishing of a commemorative book and, together with the Secretary of State for Tourism, Sport and Telecommunications, Transport and Economic Cooperation, a special show was staged for the occasion.
The San Marino Crossbowmen's Federation is well known and appreciated well beyond the borders of San Marino, having performed in numerous locations in Italy, the rest of Europe and the world. It has promoted San Marino's image and taken with it that message of peace and liberty so dear to the citizens of the small and ancient Republic.