Corsica's history
The history of Corsica is very extensive. Its geographical situation has always been an important stake.
That is the reason why, in the course of centuries, different powers have tried to conquer it.
In order to show that the Corsican way of being finds it origins in the past, we must make a summary of Corsica's history.
Finally, you will discover the history of two major symbols of Corsica.
Title : "A Brief Chronology"
Source : Corse Web website
Internet Adress: http://www.corsica.net/corsica/uk/discov/hist/index.htm
Source analysis :
This document comes from a French website. That's why, there are sometimes a few mistakes. Despite everything, the "Brief Chronology" which is proposed is very interesting for a lot of reasons. However, we can underline several points which can explain the origin of "Corsican spirit".
| Keywords / Lexicon
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| relentlessly = implacablement |
shelters = abris |
| drystone = pierre seche |
flint = silex |
| obsidian = obsidienne ( pierre
magmatique ) |
The Méthods = les décors |
| storage of scarce resources
= stockage des ressources rares |
commercial syndicate = comptoir
commercial |
| to covet = convoiter |
to seize = s'emparer de |
| respite = répit |
garrison town = ville de garnison |
| the Holy See = le Saint Siege |
feudal = feodal |
| a bargaining counter = une monnaie
d'echange |
to entrust something to somebody
= confier quelque chose à quelqu'un |
| truce = trêve |
a plot = un complot |
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| to endow = doter |
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| a yoke = un carcan |
jolts = soubresauts |
| dwellers = habitants |
to stir up = ranimer |
| flimsy = fragile, peu solide |
to grant = faire cession de,
ceder |
| a decree = un décret |
strengthen = consolider |
| bond = lien |
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Summary :
Iberians, people of Liguria, Phoenicians, Phocaeans, Etruscans, Carthaginians, people of Syracuse, Romans, Vandals, Ostrogoths, Byzantines, Lombards, Saracens (Moors), Greeks, people from Pisa and the Genoese : the author of this document calls them rightly a flooding of invaders. Moreover, England helped by Sardinia but also Spain allied with France have tried to control Corsica. The author underlines that the contribution of these different and succesive civilizations is remarkable: "Democratic processes, artistic and technical achievments [...]. Mineral extraction and fishing industries" are some of the progresses owed to these people.
During The Treaty of Versailles in 1768 Genoa granted Corsica to France. But, The Isle of Beauty was only considered as " an integral part of the French Empire" by the Decree of the 30th of November 1789. Despite the fact that Pascal Paoli has created an Anglo-Corsican kingdom during two years (1794-1796), Corsica and Corsicans have become deeply french.
Ibères, ligures, phéniciens, phocéens, étrusques, carthaginois, syracusains, romains, vandales, ostrogoths, byzantins, lombards, sarrasins (maures), grecs, pisans et génois : l'auteur de ce document les appelle à raison une inondation d'envahisseurs. De plus, l'Angleterre aidée par la Sardaigne mais aussi l'Espagne alliée à la France ont essayé de contrôler la Corse. L'auteur souligne que les apports de ces différentes et successives civilisations est remarquable tant au niveau démocratique ou artistique que technique […] ou encore concernant l'exploitation des ressources du sous-sol ou la commercialisation du produit de la pêche. Ce sont quelques uns des progrès apportés par ces populations.
Lors du Traité de Versailles Gènes cède la Corse à la France. Cependant, l'île de beauté a seulement été considérée comme partie intégrante de l'Empire français que à compter du Décret du 30 Novembre 1789. Malgré le fait que Pascal Paoli ait créé un royaume corso-anglais pendant deux ans (1794-1796), la Corse et les corses sont devenus profondément français.
Title: "Corsica: History"
Source: encyclopédia.com website
Internet Adress: http://www.encyclopedia.com/html/section/Corsica_History.asp
Source analysis :
This document give us more details about Corsica's history since the cession of Corsica to France by Genoa.
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Keywords / Lexicon :
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Genoese rule = le gouvernement génois
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harsh = dur
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unrest = malaise
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agrarian = agraire
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a right-wind coup = un renversement politique
à droite
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separatist movements = mouvements indépendantistes
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assassination = assassinat
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to blur = brouiller, troubler
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constitutional amendments = amendements constitutionnels
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to hold = tenir
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voters = electeurs
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narrowly = de peu
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to defeat = faire echouer
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Like in the first document, there is a brief summary of the different invasions of Corsica. We learn that the "Genoese rule was harsh and unpopular". That is why Pascale Paoli, who was to be called "U Babbu di a Nazione" (the father of the Nation) led a rebellion against Genoa. Several revolts broke out. As a consequence, Genoa granted Corsica, which enjoyed independence for 14 years (Document 1), to France in 1768. So, Napoleon Bonaparte was born in 1769 with French nationality.
The first french région to be free at the end of the World War II (1943), Corsica needed a program of economic development in order to stop an exodus of the population .
It's important to highlight that since1768, the island has seen separatist movements. But in 2003, Corsican voters have rejected a proposal of autonomy.
Résumé :
Comme dans le premier document, nous est proposé un bref résumé des differentes invasions de la Corse. Nous apprenons que le gouvernement génois etait dur et impopulaire. C'est pour ces raisons que Pascal Paoli, qui sera plus tard appelé "U Babbu di a Nazione" (le père de la Nation) dirigea la rebellion contre Génes. Plusieurs révoltes éclaterent. Cela poussa Génes a céder la Corse, qui sera indépendante pendant 14 ans (voir le document 1), à la France en 1768. Ainsi, Napoleon Bonaparte est né en 1769 avec la nationalité française.
Premiére région française libérée à la fin de la Deuxieme Guerre Mondiale (1943), la Corse eut besoin d'un programme de developpement economique afin de stopper un exode de la population.
Il est necessaire de souligner que depuis 1768 des mouvements independantistes sont apparus. Cependant en 2003, les electeurs corses ont rejeté une proposition d'autonomie.
On a historical scale, Corsica has been a part of France for a short time. However the population is deeply French. Corsicans have proved their feeling at belonging to France. Indeed, the greater autonomy proposed by the Raffarin government has been perceived as an advance towards the independance of Corsica and a victory for nationalists. But for the majority of the Corsicans, the independance is not the solution to the economic and politicals problems of Corsica.
He is the corsican who everybody knows. Napoleon, one of the greatest military leaders in history, was born in Ajaccio in 1769, one year after the cession of Corsica to France by Genoa.
The next document is a biography of Napoleon Bonaparte. Then the fourth document of this chapter will explain us the origin of the Corsican flag , the Moor's Head.
Title: "Napoleon Bonaparte "
Source: BBC website
Internet Adress: http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/bonaparte_napoleon.shtml
Source analysis :
This document which is about Napoleon Bonaparte has been found on the BBC website. That is understandable by the importance of his rules in French history and in European history.
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Keywords / Lexicon :
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Corporal = Caporal
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to quell = reprimer
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uprising =soulevement
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truce = treve
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to set one's sights on = avoir des vues sur
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fleet = flotte
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to stage = monter, organiser
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to alter = changer
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within the year = avant la fin de l'année,
dans l'année
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to claim Kingship of Italy = revendiquer le
royaume d'Italie
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to enrage = rendre furieux
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Napoleon's relatives and loyalist = les parents
et fidèles de Napoleon
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childless marriage = mariage stérile
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heir = héritier
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costly defeats = défaites couteuses
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to march on Paris = marcher sur Paris
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to reinstate = retablir
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to surrender = se rendre (se constituer prisonnier)
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leniency = indulgence
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Napoleon Bonaparte was born on the 15th on August 1769, in Ajaccio. He was educated at the Royal School of Brienne and at the military school of Paris. A fine military strategist, his career was rapid. Indeed, he was already Brigadier in 1793. His popularity grew with his victory during the Italian campaign. He was in Egypt in order to cut the road to India facing Great Britain when he learnt about the government crisis and decided to return to France. After the coup d'état of the "18th Brumaire" (9th November 1799) he became first Consul, with Sieyes and Ducos. His progression was rapid again. Indeed, in 1802 the Constitution of France was altered and Napoleon was apointed Consul for life. In 1804 he had himself proclaimed emperor of the French. In 1810, at the zenith of his power, he divorced and remarried in order to have an heir. Napoleon II was born in 1811. But Napoleon's power declined. After the catastrophe of the invasion of Russia in 1812 and the defeat of Paris in 1814, Napoleon abdicated to Elba, a little island near Corsica. He was to return during the "100 Days" but the battle of Waterloo ended his brief reign. So, he was exiled to St Helena where he was to die on 5 May 1821 under suspicious circumstances.
Résumé :
Napoleon Bonaparte est né en 1769, le 15 Aout, à Ajaccio. Il fût scolarisé au College Royal de Brienne et à l'ecole militaire de Paris. Fin stratége militaire, sa carriére fût fulgurante. En effet, il est déjà general de brigade en 1793. Sa popularité a grandit grace à ses victoires lors de la campagne italienne. Il était en Egypte afin de couper la route des Indes à la Grande-Bretagne quand il apprit que le gouvernement était en crise et décida de rentrer en France. Après le coup d'état du 18 Brumaire (9 Novembre 1799) il devint Premier Consul avec Sieyes et Ducos. Sa progression fût là encore rapide. En effet, en 1802 la Constitution française est modifiée et Napoleon peut alors devenir consul à vie. En 1804 il s'autoproclame Empereur des français. En 1810, à l'apogée de son pouvoir, il divorce et se remarie afin d'avoir un héritier. Napoleon II est né en 1811. Mais les pouvoirs de Napoleon déclinent. Après le revers de l'invasion de la Russie en1812 et la défaite à Paris en 1814, Napoleon abdique et part en exil sur l'ile d'Elbe proche de la Corse.Il sera de retour pendant les "100 Jours" but the battle of Waterloo mis fin à son court régne. Il fût alors éxilé à Sainte Héléne où il mourut le 5 Mai 1821 dans des circonstances suspectes.
When Letizia Bonaparte gave birth to her second son, she couldn't imagine that he would become one of the most important historical figures of France. If Napoleon Bonaparte was a great man in his day, we can still witness the importance of his action nowadays. The Prefects, the Bank of France, the "Lycée" (Secondary School) with the Baccalaureat (Law of May 1802), the Legion of Honour (1802) and the Civil Code, all these measures were taken by Napoleon Bonaparte ! Corsicans are proud of the fact that this great man was a Corsican ! But one of his greatest merits was to bestow on Corsican people the feeling and the certainty of belonging to France. That's why after more than 17 centuries of instability, Corsicans have definitively chosen to be French.
Internet website document 4:
Title : "The Moor's head... A Symbol"
Source: Corse Web website
Internet Adress: http://www.corsica.net/corsica/uk/discov/hist/maure.htm
Extract from the book "Trois études sur Paoli" by Pierre Antonetti (La Marge Edition).
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Keywords / Lexicon :
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pendants = pendantifs
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forehead = front
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treatises on Heraldry = traités héraldiques
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a seal = un sceau
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to surround = entourer
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so prestigious as sham = aussi prestigieux
qu'emprunté
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a ceremonial dress = une tenue d'apparat
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a shield = un écu
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a crown = une couronne
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a blindfold = un bandeau
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a sham king = un roi d'opérette
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the armies of Corsica = les armes de Corse
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the standard = l'étendard
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the removal = la suppression
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to strike currencies = frapper de la monnaie
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beads = grains
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the torch of philosophy = le flambeau de la
philosophie
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The general was in habit to say = le general
avait coutume de dire
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a motto = une devise
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historical parable = parabole historique
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Summary :
We learn in this document that the emblem of the Moor's Head was not born in Corsica. It appeared for the first time on a seal of the Aragonese King Pierre III, well-known as Pierre Le Grand. Even if some Corsican chiefs adopted a standard with a Moor's Head, it was not the official flag of Corsica. The "sham king" Theodore de Neuhoff, who reigned during only six months, chose the flag with the Moor's Head as the official flag of Corsica for the first time. Pascal Paoli at first chose the standard with the image of the Virgin Mary, protector of Corsica, before he returned to the flag with the Moor's Head. Since that time it has been the official emblem of Corsica. On this flag, the Moor's Head figures turned toward the left with a blindfold on its forehead, tied behind the nape of the neck.
Ce document nous apprends que l'embleme de la tête de Maure n'est pas né en Corse. Il est apparu pour la premiére fois sur un sceau du roi aragonais Pierre III plus connu sous le nom de Pierre Le Grand. Même si quelques chefs corses utilisèrent un étendard avec une tête de Maure, il ne s'agissait pas du drapeau officiel de la Corse. Le roi d'opérette Théodore de Neuhoff, qui régna pendant 6 mois, choisit le drapeau à la tête de Maure comme drapeau officiel pour la premiere fois. Pascal Paoli choisit, dans un premier temps, l'étendard arborant la Vierge Marie, la protectrice de la Corse, avant de revenir au drapeau avec la tête de Maure. Depuis lors, c'est l'emblème officiel de la Corse. Sur ce drapeau la tête de Maure est tournée vers la gauche avec un bandeau sur le front, noué derrière la nuque.
Conclusion :
The Moor's Head on the official flag of Corsica was not born in Corsica. It is the same thing for the "Dio vi salvi Regina" the corsican Hymn which is a Latin prayer. It shows that Corsicans are open to the world. Napoleon Bonaparte has made a great contribution in getting Corsica known even if the geographical situation of this island has also played an important role. Furthermore, Corsica is well known all over the world because Corsicans have often emigrated. In order to conclude this brief chapter about the history of Corsica, we must underline the fact that Corsican have definitively chosen their country : they are French.
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