Editing Sammarinese Armed Forces (section)

=== The Crossbow Corps ===
Although once at the heart of San Marino's army, the Crossbow Corps is now an entirely ceremonial force of about 70 volunteer soldiers.<ref name="Quoted here">{{cite web |url=http://www.sanmarinosite.com/eng/balestrieri.html |title=CROSSBOWMEN |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160315223117/http://www.sanmarinosite.com/en/history/crossbowmen/ |archive-date=15 March 2016}}</ref> The Crossbow Corps has a continuous history from its first mention in the national statutes of 1295. Described by the Government as "The oldest military formation in the Republic, nominated in the statutes of 1295",<ref name="Quoted here"/> its uniform is medieval in design, and although it is a statutory military unit, it has no actual military function today.<ref name="Quoted here"/> By the mid-twentieth century, the Crossbow Corps had become largely defunct, save for parading on state holidays; but in 1956 the practice of training its members in crossbow shooting was revived, and a 'Crossbow Federation' was formed to encourage competition in this art, so that the unit (although still entirely ceremonial in nature) now again has a very active existence.<ref>The Federation maintains a website, which may be [http://www.federazionebalestrieri.sm viewed here].</ref>