This page to discover Corsica

History

Occupied since the 9th century BC, Corsica has been a land coveted by the great powers since Antiquity. While the Phoenicians established trading posts there, the Phocaeans set foot on the island as early as 565 BC. Corsica was then a stopover on the way to Greece. The Phocaeans also import their culture, in particular vines, wheat and even urban infrastructure. However, they did not really penetrate inland and had to face Carthaginian incursion attempts. These manage to dislodge them from the following century.

In 259 BC, it was Rome's turn to covet Corsica. However, the population showed exceptional resistance against the Republic. It took nearly a century to pacify the island. A relatively stable and prosperous period followed.

In the 4th century, Corsica was not spared by the barbarian invasions due to the decadence of Rome. The Vandals cross the island which sinks into a difficult economic situation. In 533, Byzantium drove out the Vandals but its tutors were hardly fairer with the local population. So that the Pope is worried about the fate of the Corsicans and installs several bishoprics. In 755, Pepin the Short confirms the power of the Papacy. However, this one is incapable of preventing the incursions of the Saracens

In the 11th century, the Church decided to entrust the administration of Corsica to Pisa. But the latter is quickly thwarted by the ambitions of Genoa. For a century, the two Italian powers disputed the domination of the island, until the victory of Genoa during the battle of Maloria, on August 6, 1284.

Corsica seems subject to the games of the great powers, yet its population does not renounce its identity. Thus, if Genoa dominates the island for five hundred years, it is at the cost of endless struggles. Against the House of Aragon on the one hand, which has the preference of the Papacy. However, the latter has not completely renounced the island of beauty: the Pope had ceded the administration to Pisa but the territory is theoretically in his possession.

Inside, the Corsicans leave little rest to the Genoese, disputing the territory while forging alliances with European powers. In fact, Genoa ends up conceding the administration of the island to the powerful Office of Saint-Georges. This one will abandon it for the first time to the Duke of Milan before taking it back fifteen years later. Finally, the Office of Saint-Georges engages in an uncompromising repressive campaign to pacify the territory. We are then in 1478. After two hundred years of Genoese presence, calm seems to have returned.

But the respite will not last a century. France, in struggle with Spain for the domination of Italy, gives its support to Sampiero D'Ornano, heir of the exiles of 1478. He lands in Corsica in 1553 and proclaims the attachment of the latter to France in 1556. But, in difficulty against the Spain of Philip II, Henry II ceded Corsica to the Genoese three years later in the Treaty of Cateau-Cambrésis.

During the following centuries, Corsica did not experience any major upheavals. However, the Genovese presence is hardly accepted. Indeed, in addition to significant tax pressure, sometimes unfair justice, the local population is denied administrative positions. At the beginning of the 18th century, the economic situation became more complicated. In 1715, fearing unrest, Genoa prohibited the carrying of arms, going against a very established local tradition. In addition, to replace the taxes attached to this right, it introduces an exceptional tax. When in 1729, the governor renewed this tax in a situation of scarcity, riots broke out across the country. Initially on the sidelines, the nobility joined the people and tried to find allies in Europe. While no one responds to the Corsicans, Genoa finds an ally in Austria. The Emperor lands his troops but they are pushed back. Genoa then made concessions in 1732 in the Peace of Corte.

But this situation does not suit the Corsicans who proclaim their independence in January 1735 and set up a constitutional monarchy led by the German aristocrat Von Neuhoff. He only stayed in power for nine months while France signed a treaty of assistance with Genoa in 1738. After a first unsuccessful attempt in 1739, France crushed the separatists in 1740.

However, France ends up taking too much freedom in Corsica for the taste of the Genoese. They demanded the departure of the troops in 1752. Corsican activism then resumed with a vengeance, especially when Pascal Paoli landed in April 1755. A few months later, on July 14, 1755, he proclaimed independence.

Giving the country a republican constitution, he initiated a development program for the country in all areas: economic with the creation of a currency, territorial with the designation of Corte as the capital or even cultural with the creation of a university in this same city. Unable to dislodge the Genoese from Calvi, he built Île-Rousse in order to have a port.

Genoa is only maintained in a few strongholds and decides to entrust the administration of the island to France for a period of ten years. This is the Treaty of Versailles of 1768. The following year, royalty waged war against the separatists and defeated them at the Battle of Ponte-Novo, May 9, 1769. Genoa will never be able to repay France for expenses incurred. In 1789, in the name of the principle of self-determination of peoples, Corsica becomes French.

However, as it prepares to provide the metropolis with one of its historical figures, Napoleon Bonaparte, Corsica has some difficulty in aligning itself with the centralized model of the Jacobins. She wants to preserve her identity. Paoli, who returned to govern the island after the Revolution, seceded from the capital, drove out Bonaparte and allied himself with England. But the episode will be short-lived. From 1796, Corsica is again French.

Always reluctant to dominate, Corsica quickly found emotional ties with France, in particular thanks to admiration for Napoleon Bonaparte. Becoming a department in 1811, it remained firmly attached to Bonapartism throughout the 19th century, and even in the 20th century for Ajaccio. During the First World War, many Corsicans joined the army. During the Second World War, it was occupied by the Italians but, thanks in particular to its resistants, it became the first French department to be liberated.

After Algerian independence, Corsica welcomes many pied-noirs who contribute to modifying its economy. But the beginning of the 1970s marked a new era with the revival of the independence movements. Many attacks are perpetuated there, the most serious dating back to 1998 with the assassination of the prefect Claude Erignac. These events are notably at the origin of attempts at a political settlement of the situation, which have not always been successful. If the Process of Matignon is promulgated in 2002, the referendum of 2003 on the reform of the Corsican institutions is refused at the time of a referendum.

Policy

In 1992, the region of Corsica became the Territorial Collectivity of Corsica (CTC), since which date it has had a special political status which gives it greater political and administrative autonomy compared to other French regions.

The Assembly of Corsica is the deliberative body of the community. It is made up of 51 councilors elected for four years by direct universal suffrage, by two-round list ballot. The last elections took place on March 14 and 21, 2010.

It votes the budget and the regulatory acts falling within the competences of the community. It can also propose to the French government to modify legislative and/or regulatory provisions relating to the island.

Its president, elected from among its members for the duration of the mandate, has since 2010 been Dominique Bucchini, from the French Communist Party.

Geography

Corsica is a mountain in the sea. Its average altitude of 568 m makes it the highest of the western Mediterranean islands. Many lakes and the aspect of certain valleys testify to the past existence of glaciers. Its coasts, made up of more than a hundred islands, confront us with a vast archipelago. Its coastline has many ponds and swamps. It is 180 km long from north to south and 82 km at its widest point. Its area is 8,680 km21.

From Emmanuel Arène, Member of Parliament for Corsica, during a speech in the Chamber on the Corsican problem: "Yes, but what you did not know and what I was going to tell you is that Corsica is an island surrounded by water on all sides! ».

The eastern facade is bathed by the Tyrrhenian Sea, the north by the Ligurian Sea, and the western facade by the Mediterranean Sea.

Economy

Corsica's economy has long been dominated by agriculture and livestock, but now it is mainly made up of trade and the tourist industry (hotels, leisure). Corsica is one of the poorest French regions. After the crisis of the 1990s, Corsica is clearly doing better and is progressing on all fronts, but its situation nevertheless remains fragile. In 2003, its per capita GDP was still 11.5% lower than the average for French regions. Corsica has a very typical economy: little industry, weak agriculture and a significant weight of tourism, administration and construction.

Source : Wikipedia (In french)

When to leave?

In spring, summer or autumn, finally as soon as the weather is nice, because the weather is practically the same as on the continent... With a few degrees more.

Transport

The boat or the plane for the crossing, car or motorHome to visit!!

Sleep / Eat

Again, no worries, everything is more than correct. Everything is clean and modern, the food is also very good (but never forget to eat the speciatites!!).

Useful websites

• Le routard (In french)
• Lonelyplanet

Tourist Office

• Tourist Office