The Corsica is an island located in the middle of the the Western Mediterranean - at 200 kilometers of Nice at only one ten kilometers of the Sardinia at 50 kilometers of the isle of Elba (Toscane), then with 80 kilometers of the Tuscan coasts. The island a long time occupied a strategic position on the sea routes. It is also a “ mountain in the sea ” with a North-South edge central over all its length what is at the origin of difficulties of communication. These various aspects contributed to explain its specificity and its originality. With its 8.778 km ², it is the fourth island of the Mediterranean, behind the Sicily, the Sardinia and Cyprus.
Prehistory
See also: Prehistory of Corsica
Regarded a time as the first indices of human presence in Corsica, accumulations of wood of the site of Macinaggio in the east of the Corsica Cape are interpreted today like natural accumulations. The paleolithic occupation of Corsica still is thus not attested, even if it remains possible.
Mesolithic era (- 9000 -6000) and Neolithic era (- 5700 -2000)
The traces of the first human occupations date from thousand-year-old IXe before the Christian era. The presence of several human groups is attested with the thousand-year-old Vii-Life, in north as in the south of the island. They are groups of hunters-gatherers and certainly fishermen, being nourished inter alia Rabbit-rat (endemic Pika of the kind Prolagus ) and also of shells. To this time several sites were gone back and in particular that from the Araguinna Sennola , close to Bonifacio. This site, whose excavations started in 1966, revealed a female skeleton going back to -6500. Succeed this first settlement, which one supposes today that they were above all simple episodical frequentations groups coming from the Italian littoral, a true colonization of the island, with the arrival of Neolithic communities agropastorales. The arrival of these village populations begins towards 5700 before J. - C.D. Binder and J. Guilaine point out in their report/ratio Radiocarbone and process of the neolithisation in the central and Western Mediterranean that “ in the Tyrrhenian zone (Corsica Sardinia, , Latium, Toscane, Ligurie), the first Neolithic horizons in first half of the thousand-year-old Life generally show structured ceramic styles of the Cardial and Impressa ”. The dating with the Carbon-14 indeed gave of 5750 to 5350 av. J. - C., is contemporary dates of the other Italian sites in the Mediterranean. This “old Neolithic era cardial” was identified in various places as with Saint-Florent, Vizzavona or Filitosa. The Neolithic first in Corsica belongs to the ceramic field crop of type Cardial or Impressa (Gabriel Camps, 1988). This first Neolithic era is diffused through all the island and has characteristics very close to the facies Tuscan Southerner, called of Pienza. Gabriel Camps concludes: It is thus with close Tuscany that Corsica presents the greatest resemblances , he insists on primacy of the relations between Tuscany and Corsica . This primacy of the relations goes back without any doubt already to the Mesolithic era and explains the last discoveries which make it possible to conclude over this period, on the first settlement of Corsica: as of the Neolithic era the Corsicans would be a Italic population of language, coming from the continent, which would have spoken a language close to the spoken languages in Toscane and Ligurie (sub-group known as Tyrrhenian). This alternative would have been then successively influenced by the Sardinia with regard to Corsica of the South, by Italy of the Osques and the Ombriens (Indo-Europeans) for all Corsica but especially south-west and by the Celtes for all the island but especially septentrional Corsica. The old speeches in Corsica, before the Roman occupation, thus had pools tosco-Ligurian, and then were deeply romanisés. They constitute with nothing any more but the one distance Substrat with the Corsican modern which is inconstestablement a dialect of Tuscan archaïsant like the Gallurais. The widespread interjection Ajo! is undoubtedly a remainder.
From -5000 the settlement of the island intensifies with the arrival of migrants probably Ligures come by Cabotage by the Archipel Tuscan. As of the thousand-year-old Life, these new Neolithic groups bring with them cereals and the pets (the dog, sheep, the caprine ones and suidés), practice grubbing; what will lead to the extinction of part of endemic fauna. Many exchanges exist between Corsica and Sardinia. They relate to the supply of the Corsican Neolithic eras obsidian and Sardinian flints, rocks used to make many tools. Continental influences are also detectable. In thousand-year-old IVe the lithic production and Céramique of the island fit in the current Chasséen Neolithic era of the Mediterranean west. At the end of thousand-year-old IVe, a metallurgy of the local Cuivre appears on the site of Terrina. One can say that at that time exists a true insular company organized in villages having between them a network of exchanges and where the island maintains the constant commercial relationship with its neighbors.
The vestiges left by prehistory do of it moreover one of the privileged places of Europe for the study of this period, and the island represents also the greatest concentration of inscribed menhirs and menhirs of all Mediterranean.
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manufacturers of megaliths
Proto-history
The island is undoubtedly known Phénicien S, to which it would owe its name of Kyrnos . Phéniciens propagate in their wake agriculture: the Vine and the Wine, the olive-tree and the Oil, the Corn and the Bread; their organization of the Quoted and the writing. They work and trade in the ancient world the mines of Cuivre, of Plomb, tin, money and Fer.Phéniciens are regarded as among the best navigators of the ancient world of this time. It is above all the tradesmen, not colonists, they are installed only between ground and sea, on small islands, in protected splits, the back-country of which they cultivate what is necessary for the food of their counters and the filling of their warehouses for the supply of their ships. Malta, the islands Pelagie, Utique and Motya in Sicily, Tharros and Nora in the south-east of Sardinia is as many stages on their road. It is hardly possible that they did not approach the Corsican shores, even if it does not remain no trace of their passage on the island. The Etruscan coastal cities and its ports, like Pyrgi or Populonia, are as many counters for them and, to preserve positive ratios with the country of the Tyrréniens, undoubtedly judge preferable to leave them the prerogative of the trade with the isle of Elba and Corsica from which they find the products on the markets of Étrurie.
The Étrusques undertake really the exploitation of Corsica. They indeed tacitly shared the domination of the Western Mediterranean with the Carthaginians ( to see Carthage ) to control the trade of it. To the Carthaginians return the Sardinia, North Africa and the south of Spain, with the Etruscans the Gallic Corsica and littoral.
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the Tyrrhenian world
The same text also makes allusion to a history of Sardinian and Corsican piracy in the Tyrrhenian surface, and this during the first iron age. The votive boat appears in Sardinian bronzes and seems rather popular in these islands of the Western Mediterranean. The commercial exchanges between Étrurie, Sardinia and Corsica seem to have been particularly intense at this period. On this backdrop come to fit Phéniciens, probable mediators, and drawing the strings from the commercial relations of the area.
The latrocinium (the Piraterie) which is reported by the old sources, is only the other facet maritime trade, and seems to mark the relations of two entities which on the one hand clash and of other make trade: on the one hand legendary Corsican occupation of Populonia, and other relative Etruscan domination along the Eastern coast of Corsica at the time history.
The written sources, mainly Greek, are often contradictory and, while recomposing some the puzzle of scattered bits that they form, one manages to locate Corsica and his history in the Mediterranean world and particularly his place and his role in the Western Mediterranean, but one knows only relatively little thing about the life of his population. It is more thanks to the archaeological excavations carried out in the island that one can have a more precise idea of it.
Antiquity
The Phéniciens, come from Tyr, trade with Corsica, but do not stop there.The Greek of Phocée, driven out Minor Asia by the Persian , essaiment in the Western Mediterranean and base a news Phocée (Marseilles), then, towards 565 av. J. - C. Alalia , on the Corsican Eastern coast. The Greek colonists contrast with the local population. They build a city into hard, introduce the Vigne, the olive-tree and the Blé, teach the writing, exploit the layer of money, Fer and Plomb, while the autochtones are folded up on the heights, the maquis and the forest to live Agriculture there, harvest of the Miel and especially of the breeding (Chèvre). However, the trade exists between the two.
After the invasion of the isle of Elba, the Etruscan , come from Tuscan, is combined with the Carthaginois, heirs to the Phéniciens and Masters of the North-African shores and the Sardinia. In 535 av. J. - C., their fleets face that of Phocéens to broad of Alalia. After this battle, the population of the counter becomes largely cosmopolitan, and the three people cohabit there.
However, in 453 av. J. - C., the Syracusains unload on the island and drive out the Etruscans. They arrange a port in a gulf of the south of the Eastern plain: Port Syracusain (Porto-Vecchio). Later, towards 280 av. J. - C., the Carthaginians, return to take the place of Syracusains. Only Masters of the island and its more big city, Alalia, they decimate Corsica by destroying many fruit trees and of edible plants and by prohibiting any agriculture.
The Roman epoch
At the time of the First Punic War, Rome conquers Alalia and drives out the Carthaginois. The confrontations begin in -259 with the unloading from the Roman troops from the consul Lucius Cornelius Scipio N. On the littoral and in the valleys, colonization is fertile. Rome respects the local customs (gods, tribes, etc). In -221, Corsica is joined together with the Sardinia in the Roman province of Corsican-Sardinia. Later, Auguste sets it up in imperial province, its Procurateur living in Alalia, become Aleria . As a colony of settlement, Corsican grounds are given to the veterans of the army (in particular in Mariana, close to Bastia). Roman conquest, Corsica keeps his Latin language, some roads and bridges, of the thermal spas (e.g. Orezza and Speloncato), of the ports and the cities. Corsica exports Granite, Minerais, Huile of Olive, Miel, Liege, etc Corsican, capable Certains to acquire the citizenship, emigrate sometimes to be useful in the Roman administrations or the army. It is a calm province which christianizes at the first centuries after J. - C., not without martyrdoms (Sainte Excessively pious woman at the end of the 3rd century, Sainte Julie towards 450, Sainte Restitude, etc)
the Middle Ages
The fall of Rome, the surge of the people “Barbares” on the Europe does not save Corsica. The Vandales are the first to arrive, since the south of the Spain, while passing by the the Maghreb, the Sicily and the Sardinia. They are at the origin only of massacres, terror, fires, famine. The Corsicans take refuge in the mountains to escape to them. The Vandals bring back also Africa the Malaria or Paludisme.The Vandals are driven out, in 533, by the Byzantine whose civils servant live of plunder, corruption and fraud. Then the Ostrogoths venture in the island. Finally the Lombards, come from the the Alps, occupy the island only three decades but manage to codify the local use of the “debt of blood”, future “vendetta”.
When Charlemagne becomes King of Lombards, in 774, it confirms part of the donation of Quierzy that his/her father had made to the pope Etienne II. Corsica enters then the obedience of the the Holy See, without real and immediate effect for the successor of this one, Adrien Ier.
As from the 8th century, the Buckwheats of Spain and North Africa (Berber Moors, or Arab) multiply the attacks on the Corsican coasts and put the ports at bag, cutting the island of the continent lasting nearly three centuries without really wanting to invade it. The population moves back again in the mountains and fact call to the Pape, supposed owner of the island. It is the Marche of Toscane, delegated by the pope, who comes to his help. According to certain historians, the blazon and the flag with the Tête of Moor would draw their origin from this time.
These fights could be at the origin of the Féodalité and the Noblesse in Corsica. Indeed, displacements of population due to the invasions (emigration, fold in the heights) partition the Corsicans in the high valleys. The Église officializes these “piève S” (pievi), regroupings of population more or less isolated from/to each other, and, towards the year millet the seigniories are constituted under the authority of the pope: insular management is delegated to a Count (the first according to the tradition is Ugo Colonna, at the origin of the Corsican nobility), which names local judges. The lords draw up small castles or keeps, ensure peace and justice, takes a royalty (accattu). The vassal are especially related to their Suzerain by bonds of friendship and of relationship (clienti) even if the feudal pyramid tends to be essential. Certain counts assume the rights and preferences of the Carolingian counts, like Arrigu Bel Messere, installed in its “palate” of Poghju-di-Venacu. The disappearance of this last marks the crumbling of the feudal capacity.
The time Pisane and Génoise
Because of the disorders which Corsica knows, to the 11th century, the Pape grants to the bishop Pisa the nomination of the Corsican bishop S and Pisans begin two centuries of domination on the island. Under the government of the Judge S and Lord S pisans, constructions are built (churches, bridges, etc). But, Pisa loses pontifical protection and of the internal competitions weaken it. Genoa enters then in conflict against its old ally the fight against the Sarrasins. In 1284, with the naval battle of Meloria, the fleet pisane is destroyed. Several campaigns of Genoa (1289 - 1290) rejoin the feudal ones to him, whereas Pisans give up Corsica. The truce signed by Pisa in July 1299 grants the total domination of the island by Genoa. This one becomes génoise for six centuries, in spite of the the Holy See, which tries in 1297 to entrust the direction of Corsica to the house of Aragon (Royaume of Sardinia and Corsica). Génois must however defend their new conquest vis-a-vis the threats of the Sarrasins (the turns which girdles the island are built later to this end), of the Aragoneses, installed in Sardinia, of the French, for which Corsica is an outpost against the Spain. But Genoa bases its conquest on its banking power.Genoa divides the island into ten Province S, themselves divided into piève S (the sixty-six pièves taken again feudal system). Génois build (urbanization: Bastia becomes seat of Gouverneur, bridges, roads, etc), develops the orchards, imports of Corsica Vin S, Huile S, wood, Huître S, Poix, but imposes Corsica heavily and secures the quasi-exclusiveness in the trade with the island. The language and certain uses (religious in particular) Corsican are largely influenced by the occupant.
In 1297, the pope Boniface VIII tries to reaffirm its authority on Corsica and the Sardinia by investing Jacques II there, king of Aragon, and in 1305, the pope Clément V renews this attempt. The Aragoneses attack only Sardinia pisane, initially. Génois, fearing to see invaded Corsica, is combined in Pisans to fight against the Aragoneses in Sardinia. But soon, Jacques II gives up his rights on Corsica in exchange of peace in Sardinia, and settles there. However, in 1346, the troops of the king d' Aragon Pierre IV unload towards Bonifacio, and a war bursts between Génois and the Aragoneses and their allies Vénitiens. Genoa leaves victorious the conflict but must then face the rise of the power of the Corsican nobility.
The competition between feudal Corsican, the clans génois and the pope Eugene IV concludes in 1453 by the session from the government from the island at a bank, the Office of Saint Georges. The Office builds news towers on the littoral as well as strengthened cities: Ajaccio (1492), Porto-Vecchio (1539).
In 1553, the Corsicans, carried out by Sampiero Corso, combined with the French and the Turks, start a revolution which takes Genoa by surprise. Bastia falls in a few hours, Corte goes without fighting, Saint-Florent and Ajaccio opens their door with the revolutionists. Bonifacio and Calvi, populated Ligure faithful to Génois, resist safe from their Citadelle. The first falls, the second is never conquered. The admiral génois Andrea Doria counter-attack with a armada vis-a-vis the French, who dismantled Corsica after the victory and the withdrawal of their allies Turkish. The French general Of Thermal baths sees the cities falling in turn: Bastia holds eight days, Saint-Florent resists three months. Sampiero recovers Corte and Vescovato. The War of Corsica enlise in war of attrition: Thermal baths and Sampiero are drawn aside by France with the profit of the general Giordanno Orsini. The moral one of the revolted Corsicans is maintained by a continuation guerillas, in spite of reprisals until the Trêve of Vaucelles (February 5th 1556), when Henri II of France returns to Genoa certain fortified towns. Génois take again possession of the very whole island only with the Traité of Cateau-Cambrésis (April 3rd 1559).
The Office of Saint Georges, who takes again the command of Corsica, imposes series of measure considered to be dictatorial. The revolt of the Corsican people sets out again at the time of the unloading of Sampiero, helped by Catherine de Médicis, with the gulf of Valinco (June 12th 1564). The insurrectionists reconquer the interior of the island, leaving the coastal towns to Génois. In spite of the reinforcements sent quickly, Genoa does not inflict any decisive defeat with Sampiero. Villages are destroyed, burned Cervione, but Corte goes to the insurrectionists. The Republic must call upon the Spaniards to take again certain places (1566), while the reinforcements sent by France to Sampiero prove to be ineffective. After number of treasons and desertions in the risen rows, Sampiero is killed close to Cauro (ambush of Eccica-Suarella, January 17th 1567). His/her 18 year old son continues the fight only two years before exiling himself in France (April 1st 1569).
The République of Genoa exploits the Royaume of Corsica like a colony, realizing rights to pay with the Office of Georges Saint. The administration is reorganized around democratic parishes, a crisis devastates the economy, Calvi and Bonifacio profits from franknesses and of exemption for their fidelity with the Ligurians, the governor of the colony founds a corrupted legal system. The Statuts (December 1571) guarantee a minimum of justice and the Syndicat defends, for a time, the autochtones. The maquis becomes the refuge of condemned by contumacy, but the insecurity is reduced by a royalty on the wearing of weapons. The taxes as the trade are iniquitous and Génois reserves monopolies. After 1638, a new economic policy is then founded: plantation of trees and vines, increase in livestock, etc but no Corsica can reach the property. The Corsican shepherds are driven out little by little plains, the autochtones thunder. In 1729, bursts the War of Independence.
Corsican wars of independence
Riots of 1729
The spontaneous riots of 1729 burst following the incident of Bustanico, namely the taking away of the taxes by the governor in spite of the decision of Genoa to stop their lifting. They crystallize on the refusal of the tax, but the fundamental causes are multiple: tax pressure in general, size and Gabelle considered to be excessive for the economic context of crisis; but also, abuses the tax collectors génois towards the Corsicans; and finally, the insecurity exacerbated by the Food shortage, which had with isolated gangsters or daring bands. This third reason involves the request for re-establishment of the wearing of weapons, in a traditional concern in Corsica to ensure oneself his own security and to be made its own justice. Genoa interprets this claim like a refusal to pay the tax of two seini .The first riots start in November 1729, in the area of the Bozio. The rebellion extends thereafter to the Castagniccia, the Casinca, then the Niolo. Saint-Florent and Algajola then is attacked, Bastia put at bag in February 1730, and in December of this same year, at the time of consults of Saint-Pancrate, Corsica elects his generals: Luigi Giafferi, Andrea Ceccaldi and the abbot Raffaelli. Genoa then calls upon the troops of the emperor Charles VI. This imperial intervention of 1731 is pushed back first once but a few weeks later, powerful reinforcements come to end from the rebels. In June 1733, Genoa grants to the Corsican people certain concessions guaranteed by the Emperor, but considered to be insufficient in the island. The rebellion takes again a few months later, under the command this time of Hyacinthe Paoli, the father of Pascal.
Theodore de Neuhoff
See also: Theodore de Neuhoff
April 15th 1736, Theodore de Neuhoff, chosen by Corsican partisans, is elected king and promulgate laws which make it popular. However he does not manage to be binding monarchies génoise, to Frenchwoman, to British. Depity at the end of 7 months, it sets out again on the continent. It will try a return in 1738 then in 1743, with the British, without success.
French interventions
In 1737, by the Convention of Versailles, the France is committed intervening in Corsica if Genoa makes the request of it.At the time of the first intervention, of 1738 with 1741, the French troops , then allied in Genoa, unload in Corsica, where they are overcome with Borgo the December 13rd 1739. Four months later, the French government sends on the island of the reinforcements ordered by the marquis de Maillebois, which obtains the rendering of insurgent the in July 1740. The departure in exile of the chiefs of this rebellion follows, in particular Giafferi and Hyacinthe Paoli, which takes along with him his/her son, Pascal.
In 1745, a coalition anglo - austro - Sardinian, opposed to the French, the Spanish and the Génois in the war of succession of Austria seizes Bastia, with the assistance of Rivarola, then chief of a Corsican faction. The second French intervention of 1746 made it possible Genoa to take again the city, thanks to a discord between the chiefs Rivarola, Gaffori and Matra. In 1748, Bastia is consequently tackled coalition, is supported by the islanders, but besieging them must withdraw itself with the peace of Aachen.
Starting from 1748, the island is managed, for the account of Genoa, by the marquis de Cursay. In October 1752, the Corsican patriots reject the payments suggested by Cursay and adopt a new system of government under the command of Gaffori. Cursay is returned in December of the same year. One year later, Gaffori is assassinated. It is then established a regency chaired by Clémente Paoli, which points out Pascal Paoli in Corsica. The July 14th 1755, this last is elected general-in-chief of Corsica with consults Couvent Saint-Anthony of Casabianca of Orezza. In November, its constitution is adopted by a Consulte Corte: it envisages the separation of the capacities and the vote of the women. Regarded as the first democratic constitution of the Modern times, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Voltaire, James Boswell and of many thinkers of the Lumières the merits present some.
Pascal Paoli, general of Corsica
In 1757, the Matra, supported by Genoa, Colonna de Bozzi, combined France, raises a revolt. Pascal Paoli, then elected general of the Nation , crushes them. He creates a navy which allows him to subject the Corsica Cape in 1761 and to seize Capraia in 1767, but however fails in his attempt to take by storm the génoises coastal towns.In 1756, the French sign the Traité of Compiegne which grants to Genoa subsidies and troops to occupy Ajaccio, Calvi and Saint-Florent until March 1759. In 1758, Pascal Paoli founds Island-Russet-red the. Four years later, it makes adopt the flag with the Tête of Moor and creates a currency. The August 6th 1764 is signed the second Traité of Compiegne. The French troops are then committed holding garrison in the three already occupied cities like with Bastia and Algajola during four years. In 1765, Corte becomes the capital of Corsica, and a university is created there.
Although Pascal Paoli continues to correspond with the duke of Choiseul in the hope to ensure the independence of Corsica, the May 5th 1768, by the treated of Versailles, Genoa yields to the France sovereignty on the island.
Royal pacification
In July 1768, following the treated of Versailles, the France repurchases with Genoa its rights on the island. In fact, at the beginning it sagit only of one delegation, France is charged to manage Corsica during ten years and to pacify it. Genoa being in the incapacity to refund in France its expenses, the island became at the end of ten years, property of France.The French troops occupy the Corsica Cape quickly, and a month later, the marquis de Chauvelin unloads with many troops under his command. The French are overcome with Borgo in October. But, in spring 1769, the count de Vaux unloads with 24.000 men and beats the patriots the May 8th with Ponte Novu.
Pascal Paoli leaves Corsica on June 13rd, 1769. Napoleon Bonaparte is born one month later (on August 15th, 1769. In 1774, the nationalists revolt, but are repressed in the Niolo. It is the beginning of long series of amnesties (1776), from which Paoli, then with London, refuses to profit.
Corsica is controlled by Marbeuf and becomes country of States . The States of Corsica, assembled and composed of 23 deputies of each of the three orders, chosen by indirect election, meet eight times between 1770 and 1785. The assembly has only one advisory role: any decision depends on the Commissaire S of the king, the Intendant and the Commander-in-chief. The administration entrusts few stations to the Corsicans safe in the levels subordinates of the magistrature. The administration of common remains however with the hands of the autochtones. The order of the nobility is created, of the titles are granted to more than 80 families (among whom the Bonaparte). The noble ones do not profit from feudal privileges, but can obtain various advantages: ground concessions, places of officers in regiments formed for the Corsicans, purses for their children in jails of the continent.
The attempts at agricultural and industrial development are not very effective. The direct taxes, perceived as of 1778 in kind, weigh especially on the poor. The first roads are built (of Bastia to Saint-Florent, and of Bastia to Corte) and the Terrier plan is implemented. The censuses show a continuous increase in population. In 1789, whereas the Révolution bursts in France, the National Assembly, encouraged by a letter of a patriotic committee of Bastia, issues that the Corsica is from now on integral part of French monarchy. The exiled Corsicans are then authorized to return to France. The January 15th 1790, Corsica becomes a department with Bastia like chief town and seat of single évêché.
The Revolution and the Kingdom Anglo-Corsican
In July 1790, the French revolutionists authorize the return of Pascal Paoli on the insular territory. In September, he is elected commander-in-chief of the Corsican National guards, then president of the general advice of the department. In June 1791, a religious riot bursts with Bastia, after the deposition of the bishop which refuses to lend oath to the civil Constitution of the clergy. Paoli represses it and, in 1792, transfers the chief town to Corte, thus attracting itself the hostility of the Corsican Jacobins, of which Christophe Saliceti and the brothers Bonaparte.The 1793, the Convention decides to send three police chiefs (of which Saliceti) in Corsica to supervise the control of Pascal Paoli. The same month, this last is held for person in charge of the failure of a forwarding against the Sardinia in which Napoleon Bonaparte took part. The April 2nd, the Convention issues its arrest, like that of Charles André Pozzo di Borgo: Lucien Bonaparte shows them Despotisme. Vis-a-vis the threats of Paolistes, the police chiefs in Corsica since the April 5th, however hesitate to carry out the order. At the end of May, a Consulte with Corte condemns the French government and proclaims Paoli Père of the Fatherland . Its partisans assert themselves on Ajaccio and ransack the Bonaparte house. With the support of Napoleon Bonaparte, the police chiefs try to attack Ajaccio by the sea, which shows a failure.
In July, the Convention puts Paoli and Pozzo di Borgo out the law, whereas the Paolienne militia holds the republican troops locked up with Calvi, Saint-Florent and Bastia. Paoli seeks support near the Britanniques which send Sir Gilbert Elliot, accompanied military advisers, in January 1794. Soon, of the British forces besiege and occupy Saint-Florent (February), Bastia (April-May), and Calvi (June-August). The patriots and the deputies, brought together in Consults with Corte the June 10th 1794, proclaim the Royaume Anglo-Corsican , promulgates his Constitution and raise Paoli with the row of Babbu di has Patria ( Père of the Fatherland ).
However, Sir Gilbert is indicated Vice-roi, with the dissatisfaction with Paoli. This last will raise a riot in then 1795 directed against Sir Gilbert and Pozzo di Borgo. But he is recalled in Great Britain where he exiles the October 13rd 1795. In April 1796, of the riots caused by the Republican party burst, Sir Gilbert receives the order to evacuate Corsica. Troops of the Napoleonean army of Italy occupy the island without meeting thereafter opposition.
First Empire
Into 1796, Corsica is divided into two departments, Golo and Liamone, whose organization is entrusted to Christophe Saliceti. In 1798, the clergy starts the Révolte of Crocetta in the north of the island. In December, a Corsican coalition exiled, royalist, Paolistes and pro-British, cause a rising with the Fiumorbo with the support of the Sardinia and the Russia. Repressions are severe.In 1801, Napoleon suspends the Constitution in Corsica. It sends to it Miot de Melito like general administrator . This one will set up tax concessions, the Arrêtés Miot . Then, the general Morand control surface the island with a hardness. The imperial Décret set up in 1810 allows new fiscal relief. Then the island is joined together in only one department, with Ajaccio for the chief town. The Morand general is then replaced by the general César Berthier, brother of the future Louis-Alexandre Berthier, marshal.
The exile of Napoleon to the isle of Elba will cause rejoicings in Ajaccio. Bastia will then accommodate British troops ordered by the Général Montrésor. In March and April 1815, of the agents of Napoleon sent of the isle of Elba succeed in being essential in Corsica. During the Hundred Days, the island is managed until Waterloo by the Duc of Padoue. In February 1816, takes place a last rising Bonapartiste, the war of Fiumorbo , carried out by the Commander Poli. In spite of their importance and their resolution, and after a savage resistance, the partisans of Napoleon, however unconquered, but assured of the amnesty general, leave Corsica.
Contemporary time
First World War
The Corsicans show enthusiasm during the mobilization. Among the few 40.000 mobilized, one counts many volunteers. Corsica is the only French department to mobilize fathers cash six children. The island is private of labor. Patriotism does not weaken in spite of the return of the first wounded ones (September 1914) on board the Numidia . Among the Corsican combatants of the the Marne, Verdun and other fatal battles, illustrated themselves: the 173e regiment of line, the general Grossetti and the aviators Jean Casale and Marius Ambrogi. In 1918, the torpedoing of the Balkan , in August, with broad of Calvi, results in the death of more than 500 people.The irregular arrival of the boats involves serious problems of supply: the bread, sugar, oil are rationed. The shortage is worsened by the lodging of 2.000 German prisoners of war, confined in the convents and penitentiaries, then used like labor in the campaigns. Moreover, Corsica becomes a ground of asylum for the refugees (4 000 Serbes and Syriens). To provide for the needs for the population, the grounds given up with the waste land are given in culture according to the traditional practices. In September 1918, the Spanish Influenza devastation certain villages and obliges the Préfet to take measures to limit the epidemic (leaded coffin, major burial).
The Armistice is accommodated in the joy and the anxiety of the return of the casualties. Subscriptions make it possible to raise monuments in the honor of the 15.000 died in the least villages. In 1933, the Borne of the Crowned Earth is inaugurated with Ajaccio. However, in addition to the human losses, the massive departures or the refusal of the war veterans to return to the country mark the vitality of the island, which accentuates the economic decline.
Second world war
The November 30th 1938, the fascistic Italy claims to annex Nice, the Savoy and the Corsica . Famous and pathetic the oath of Bastia of the December 4th 1938, pronounced by Jean Baptiste Ferracci in front of 20.000 people answers him by reaffirming the attachment of Corsica to the France and the rejection of the Irrédentisme mussolinien: “ vis-a-vis the world, of all our heart, on our glories, our tombs, on our cradles, us swearwords of living and dying French. ” Dice the shortly after the committees antifascists are created with Ajaccio and Bastia. In Paris the Corsican students ravel with the cries of Corsica against Fascism! , With dead Mussolini! . After the defeat and the armistice of the June 22nd 1940, Corsica is attached to the free Zone until in 1942. The authority of the Régime of Vichy is set up and propaganda irredentist develops. Two networks of resistance try to be organized:- the Front National created by Henri Shirt and Arthur Giovonni, near to the Communist party;
- the Corsica network R2, in connection with the free French of the General De Gaulle and directed by Fred Scamaroni. This last establishes the first contacts with London as of 1941. In its attempt at unification of the movements, it is captured, tortured and commits suicide on March 19th 1943.
Following the American unloading in North Africa, the Germany occupies the November 11th 1942 the free Zone, breaking the armistice of 1940. The same day, the Italian troops occupy Corsica, at a rate of 85.000 soldiers for 220.000 inhabitants. In June 1943, will join 12000 Germans to it. An occupant for two inhabitants, into the least village, requisition houses and part of the supply. The November 14th, the Préfet points out French sovereignty and qualifies the troops of operation of troops of occupation.
The active counter-propaganda (leaflets on Roneo, clandestine newspapers) gives the support of the population, which makes it possible certain patriots to hide in the maquis. As from spring 1943, resistance is helped since Algiers by the free France: armament is conveyed by parachuting and the missions of the Sous-marin Casabianca . Attacks and knacks against the Italians generate arrests and executions (in particular Jules Mondoloni, Jean Nicoli, etc).
The September 3rd, an armistice, made public the 8, is signed between the Italy and the Anglo-American ones. The Germans are reinforced with Bastia to ensure the evacuation towards Italy of their troops of Sardinia, by going up Corsica of Bonifacio in Bastia. The September 8th 1943, the Corsicans are raised. The commander Colonna of Istria sends an ultimatum to the general Magli ordering the Italian troops of occupation in Corsica, summoning it to choose his camp This last, after some hesitations, will definitively choose the camp of allied from the 11. The Committee of release occupies the prefecture of Ajaccio and constrained the prefect of Vichy to sign the rallying of Corsica to the Free France. In Bastia, the Italians open fire against German planes and ships. The 9, resistant Corsican, supported by Italian divisions Cremona and Friuli , neutralize the fascistic elements. From the 11, the general Giraud sends of his own boss of the battalions of shock ordered by Gambiez increased reinforcement resting on several thousands of goumiers and Moroccan riflemen. He informs of it the CFLN which is reserved on this initiative, fearing the coring of the island by the Communists of the movement Front National. The Giraud general will pay his support with the insurrection of the loss of the Co-presidency of CFLN. September 14th, the new Corsican prefect named by the CFLN, Charles Luizet, arrives on the island. The 17, the general Henry Martin meets the Italian general Magli in Corte in order to coordinate the movements of the allied and Italian troops. The 21, Giraud arrives to Corsica. Sartène is definitively released the 22. The 23, the shock troops and the patriots reach Porto-Vecchio. The Moroccan troops will play a determining role by taking the collar of San Stefano on September 30th then the collar of Teghime on October 3rd. They join then the patriots to badger the German troops along the Eastern plain. These last destroy road bridges and railroad to protect their retirement and, in the night of the 3 with the October 4th, evacuate Bastia. At 5 o'clock in the morning, the captain Then enters Bastia, with the head of the 73e goum of the 6th tabor. The October 5th, Corsica is the fourth French department released (after those of ALGER-ORAN-CONSTANTINE), and this by the action of the Corsican patriots, Italian and the elements of the Army of Africa, without intervention of the Anglo-American ones, which, at the same time, unload in Italy. Corsica will receive the visit of the general de Gaulle on October 8th. The island becomes a base for the continuation of the operations in Italy then for the Débarquement in Provence (August 1944).
The War of Algeria
Starting from 1957, 15.000 to 20.000 repatriates come from North Africa settled in Corsica, that is to say approximately 9% of the indigenous population. The majority of them were former Corsicans. Parties to work in the colonies, they returned on their island. The event of Aleria are in particular related to the presence Pied-Noir.
Events of Aleria
The August 21st 1975, a few tens of men occupy the farm of a pied-noir wine grower of Aleria. They form the Corsica Regionalistic Action (ARC), under the direction of Edmond Simeoni, and intend to denounce an accounting scandal. Michel Poniatowski, Minister of Interior Department, then alone representing government (summer period!) send 1.200 gendarmes, CRS, the helicopters and even of the armoured cars to dislodge them. Two gendarmes are killed in the shooting. In order to avoid a more important drama, Dr. Edmond Simeoni, leader of the ARC goes the August 22nd. The other militants succeed in escaping. During the night, violent ones confrontations burst in Bastia. The city under state of curfew and is then occupied by the armoured tanks and the member of the anti-riot polices. The ARC is dissolved the August 27th. This crisis marks the starting point of the hardening of the modern Nationalisme Corsican.
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