History of Corsica

Corsica. The island that started the eMoped story, and it’s our turn to tell the story of Corsica.

First, a little geography. Corsica (French “Corse”) is the fourth largest island in the Mediterranean and one of 18 regions in France. Nevertheless, Corsica has a special status — the Territorial Community of Corsica (Collectivité territoriale de Corse). Ajaccio is considered the main city.

Now let’s get down to history. The first mention of the island begins in the 5th millennium BC, where local hunter-gatherers lived, and the culture was formed under the influence of Sardinia. In the period from the 6th to the 5th century BC, battles were often fought for Corsica, and in 238 BC. it was taken over by the Romans. Corsica flourished under the rule of emperors and numbered 33 walled cities.

When the era of the Vandals and Byzantium passed, medieval Corsica by the decision of the pontiff was annexed to Pisa. Churches, chapels, monasteries were built on the island, new villages were formed. The island also attracts Genoa, which takes it into their hands at the end of the 13th century. to establish themselves as rulers, the Genoese build majestic fortresses on the sea: Calvi, Bonifacio, Bastia, Saint-Florent, Porto-Vecchio, Ajaccio, etc., seek to take possession of the island. In 1567 the Genoese authorities gave Corsica a special status, and peace reigned on the island for a century and a half. Fortresses become noisy ports, gardens are green, and fields are cultivated all around.

In the XVIII century. Corsica, under the influence of the great Corsican leader Pascal Paoli, begins to strive for independence. Here they minted their coins, a local printing house appeared, a university was opened. Nevertheless, the young state was not capable of collecting taxes, ruling courts, or maintaining an army. Genoa turns to France, offering to rule the island with her.

In 1769 Napoleon was born in Ajaccio. After the revolution, the fate of Corsica merged with the fate of France. Corsicans are actively involved in the life of the state. The villages were gradually emptied due to the problems of population migration and due to losses during the last war, in which many of the natives of the island left their lives. But the Corsicans still cherish their own culture and rich heritage.

A new wave of independence for Corsica began in the 1970s. After the arrival of de Gaulle’s dictatorship, many people on the island died in the course of ethnic clashes between the Corsican and Sicilian mafias. Also during this period, there were protests between the indigenous people and the French government. This led to an armed nationalist struggle against the French government. Since then, Corsican nationalism has become a feature of the island’s politics, with calls for greater autonomy and protection of Corsican culture and the Corsican language, or even full independence.

Here is such an interesting and varied history of the small island of Corsica, which you can even go around on an eMoped to explore and delve even more at that time.