Corsica: Difference between revisions
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==History== | ==History== | ||
The '''history of Corsica''' goes back to antiquity, and was known to Herodotus, who described Phoenician habitation in the 6th century BCE. Etruscans and Carthaginians expelled the Ionian Greeks, and remained until the Romans arrived during the Punic Wars in 237 BCE. Vandals occupied it in 430 CE, followed by the Byzantine Empire a century later. | |||
Raided by various Germanic and other groups for two centuries, it was conquered in 774 by Charlemagne under the Holy Roman Empire, which fought for control against the Saracens. After a period of feudal anarchy, the island was transferred to the papacy, then to city states Pisa and Genoa, which retained control over it for five centuries, until the establishment of the Corsican Republic in 1755. The French gained control in the 1768 Treaty of Versailles. Corsica was briefly independent as a Kingdom in union with Great Britain after the French Revolution in 1789, with a viceroy and elected Parliament, but returned to French rule in 1796. | |||
Corsica strongly supported the allies in World War I, caring for wounded, and housing POWs. The poilus fought loyally and suffered great casualties. A recession after the war prompted a mass exodus to southern France. Wealthy Corsicans became colonizers in Algeria and Indochina. | |||
After the Fall of France in 1940, Corsica was part of the southern ''zone libre'' of the Vichy regime. Fascist leader Benito Mussolini agitated for Italian control, supported by Corsican irredentists. In 1942, Italy occupied Corsica with a huge force. German forces took over in 1943 after the Allied armistice with Italy. The Germans faced opposition from the French Resistance, retreating and evacuating the island by October 1943. Corsica then became an Allied air base, supporting the Mediterranean Theater in 1944, and the invasion of southern France in August 1944. Since the war, Corsica has developed a thriving tourism industry, and has been known for its independence movements, sometimes violent. | |||
The island of Corsica was originally governed by the [[Roman Republic]] and the [[Roman Empire]] during antiquity and then by [[Genoa]] during the Middle and Early Modern ages. However, Corsicans eventually rebelled to Genoese rule and the rights to the rebel-ridden island were sold to France in 1768. [[Napoleon Bonaparte]] was born in the Corsican town of Ajaccio only a few weeks after this had come to pass.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Unity]]'' – [[Database: Napoleon Bonaparte]]</ref> {{wiki|Carlo Buonaparte}}, Napoleon's father, had at first supported the nationalist leader, {{wiki|Pasquale Paoli}}. Bonaparte eventually switched his allegiance after Paoli was forced to flee Corsica.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed Unity: Abstergo Entertainment – Employee Handbook]]'' – [[Historic Personage Sheets]]</ref> | The island of Corsica was originally governed by the [[Roman Republic]] and the [[Roman Empire]] during antiquity and then by [[Genoa]] during the Middle and Early Modern ages. However, Corsicans eventually rebelled to Genoese rule and the rights to the rebel-ridden island were sold to France in 1768. [[Napoleon Bonaparte]] was born in the Corsican town of Ajaccio only a few weeks after this had come to pass.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Unity]]'' – [[Database: Napoleon Bonaparte]]</ref> {{wiki|Carlo Buonaparte}}, Napoleon's father, had at first supported the nationalist leader, {{wiki|Pasquale Paoli}}. Bonaparte eventually switched his allegiance after Paoli was forced to flee Corsica.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed Unity: Abstergo Entertainment – Employee Handbook]]'' – [[Historic Personage Sheets]]</ref> | ||
Revision as of 15:19, 11 June 2025
Corsica is a large island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is part of France, and lies southeast of its mainland, west of Italy and just north of Sardinia.
History
The history of Corsica goes back to antiquity, and was known to Herodotus, who described Phoenician habitation in the 6th century BCE. Etruscans and Carthaginians expelled the Ionian Greeks, and remained until the Romans arrived during the Punic Wars in 237 BCE. Vandals occupied it in 430 CE, followed by the Byzantine Empire a century later.
Raided by various Germanic and other groups for two centuries, it was conquered in 774 by Charlemagne under the Holy Roman Empire, which fought for control against the Saracens. After a period of feudal anarchy, the island was transferred to the papacy, then to city states Pisa and Genoa, which retained control over it for five centuries, until the establishment of the Corsican Republic in 1755. The French gained control in the 1768 Treaty of Versailles. Corsica was briefly independent as a Kingdom in union with Great Britain after the French Revolution in 1789, with a viceroy and elected Parliament, but returned to French rule in 1796.
Corsica strongly supported the allies in World War I, caring for wounded, and housing POWs. The poilus fought loyally and suffered great casualties. A recession after the war prompted a mass exodus to southern France. Wealthy Corsicans became colonizers in Algeria and Indochina.
After the Fall of France in 1940, Corsica was part of the southern zone libre of the Vichy regime. Fascist leader Benito Mussolini agitated for Italian control, supported by Corsican irredentists. In 1942, Italy occupied Corsica with a huge force. German forces took over in 1943 after the Allied armistice with Italy. The Germans faced opposition from the French Resistance, retreating and evacuating the island by October 1943. Corsica then became an Allied air base, supporting the Mediterranean Theater in 1944, and the invasion of southern France in August 1944. Since the war, Corsica has developed a thriving tourism industry, and has been known for its independence movements, sometimes violent.
The island of Corsica was originally governed by the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire during antiquity and then by Genoa during the Middle and Early Modern ages. However, Corsicans eventually rebelled to Genoese rule and the rights to the rebel-ridden island were sold to France in 1768. Napoleon Bonaparte was born in the Corsican town of Ajaccio only a few weeks after this had come to pass.[1] Carlo Buonaparte, Napoleon's father, had at first supported the nationalist leader, Pasquale Paoli. Bonaparte eventually switched his allegiance after Paoli was forced to flee Corsica.[2]
In 1753, Haytham Kenway had come to Corsica to retrieve Lucio, an associate of the Assassins.[3]
During the French Revolution in 1793, Le Patriote reported on Napoleon of Corsica, expressing high expectations for him.[4]
Appearances
- Assassin's Creed: Forsaken (first appearance)
- Assassin's Creed Unity: Abstergo Entertainment – Employee Handbook (mentioned only)
- Assassin's Creed: Unity (mentioned in Database entry only)
- Echoes of History (mentioned only)