Corsica

[Cory]

The Colonna were Counts of Corsica in the Xth century and their title was given by the Pope. Are the Colonna today still pretending a little connected with Corsica?
In 1736 there was a Kingdom of Corsica and the King was the German aristocrat Theodor von Neudoff.
At the end if the XVIIIth century the Corsican national hero Pasquale Paoli tried to establish an independent state with the help of the English.
Today the Corsican people try to protect its identity and to get a larger autonomy (some want independence). Rediscovering its royalist tradition ("opposed to the "republican values" underlined by French authorities) would certainly help.

 

[MAfan]

Corsica has been ruled by the Republic of Genova from the 13th century until 1755.
From 1755 to 1769 Corsica was an independent republic.
In 1769 Corsica was annexed to France and still it is part of the the French Republic.

In the past eight centuries Corsica has been a "Kingdom" twice: from March to November 1736 under Theodor von Neuhoff and from 1794 to 1796 under King George III of Great Britain.
This means less than three years of monarchy in eight centuries of history.

It's hard to talk about a "royalist tradition" with regards to Corsica.

 

[Cory]

Corsica has been ruled by the Republic of Genova from the 13th century until 1755.
From 1755 to 1769 Corsica was an independent republic.
In 1769 Corsica was annexed to France and still it is part of the the French Republic.

In the past eight centuries Corsica has been a "Kingdom" twice: from March to November 1736 under Theodor von Neuhoff and from 1794 to 1796 under King George III of Great Britain.
This means less than three years of monarchy in eight centuries of history.

It's hard to talk about a "royalist tradition" with regards to Corsica.

We should not forget the Colonnas as Counts of Corsica before the Genoa Republic rule.
When Corsica was taken by the French France was a Monarchy not a republic.

 

[Countessmeout]

Reality is even with the Colonnas, Corsica has never had its own monarchy. The Counts were in place for a short period because of the Pope. Corsica has been passed around from hand to hand for centuries from everything from the Roman empire, to the visgoths, to any number of Italian states. And is now French. What monarchist movement would they claim? The French monarchy? One of the Italian monarchies? The British? If Corsica was going to claim anything, it would be independence as a republic IMO. For a country with no self identified monarchy ever, and very short stints of foreign monarchial control (about 36 years of French monarchy before revolution and during the restoration), to have a monarchist movement seems highly unlikely.

 

[Cory]

Reality is even with the Colonnas, Corsica has never had its own monarchy. The Counts were in place for a short period because of the Pope. Corsica has been passed around from hand to hand for centuries from everything from the Roman empire, to the visgoths, to any number of Italian states. And is now French. What monarchist movement would they claim? The French monarchy? One of the Italian monarchies? The British? If Corsica was going to claim anything, it would be independence as a republic IMO. For a country with no self identified monarchy ever, and very short stints of foreign monarchial control (about 36 years of French monarchy before revolution and during the restoration), to have a monarchist movement seems highly unlikely.

Certainly the Corsicans do not seem impressed of the " republican values" presented by the French establishment.

 

[MAfan]

We should not forget the Colonnas as Counts of Corsica before the Genoa Republic rule.
When Corsica was taken by the French France was a Monarchy not a republic.

I didn't forget it at all; still it doesn't change the point of my previous post.
Let's take in consideration a larger period of time, as you prefer: from the 9th century till now, the Colonna Counts of Corsica have "ruled" over the Island for some decades in the 9th century, so about 1100 and more years ago. Then it was ruled by the Republics of Pisa and Genova until it became and independent republic in 1755 and later it was occuped by France; in the meantime for a few months in 1736 Corsica was nominally a monarchy under Neuhoff.
In conclusion, in the past 1200 years of history Cosica has been ruled by three "monarchies" for about 100 years in total. Again, IMO it's very hard to talk about a “royalist tradition”.
It's like claiming that the Republic of San Marino, the oldest republic existing, established in the 4th century, has a “royalist tradition” because previously (more than 1700 years ago) it was ruled by the Roman Emperors...

Anyway, if discovering the “royalist tradition” should be a way to affirm and support the claims of a larger authonomy or independence from France, it is quite a nonsense to base part of this “royalist tradition” on the fact that France was a monarchy at the time of the annexation of Corsica in 1769.

 

[Cory]

I didn't forget it at all; still it doesn't change the point of my previous post.
Let's take in consideration a larger period of time, as you prefer: from the 9th century till now, the Colonna Counts of Corsica have "ruled" over the Island for some decades in the 9th century, so about 1100 and more years ago. Then it was ruled by the Republics of Pisa and Genova until it became and independent republic in 1755 and later it was occuped by France; in the meantime for a few months in 1736 Corsica was nominally a monarchy under Neuhoff.
In conclusion, in the past 1200 years of history Cosica has been ruled by three "monarchies" for about 100 years in total. Again, IMO it's very hard to talk about a “royalist tradition”.
It's like claiming that the Republic of San Marino, the oldest republic existing, established in the 4th century, has a “royalist tradition” because previously (more than 1700 years ago) it was ruled by the Roman Emperors...

Anyway, if discovering the “royalist tradition” should be a way to affirm and support the claims of a larger authonomy or independence from France, it is quite a nonsense to base part of this “royalist tradition” on the fact that France was a monarchy at the time of the annexation of Corsica in 1769.

I am sure the Corsicans will try to be as different as they can from the French.

 

[MAfan]

Honestly, I have very serious doubts that the wish to differentiate from the (republican) French can represent a motive enough for inventing a monarchy from scratch.

 

[Cory]

Honestly, I have very serious doubts that the wish to differentiate from the (republican) French can represent a motive enough for inventing a monarchy from scratch.

It is difficult to know how the aspirations of the Corsican people will be fulfilled.

 

[Cory]

While the Buonaparte family supported France,Pasquale Paoli (national hero of Corsica) refused to fight against the Kingdom of Sardinia and wanted to protect his country with the help of the English:

https://www.corsematin.com/article/culture-et-loisirs/bonaparte-paoli-et-lexpedition-de-sardaigne