Man first set foot in Corsica at the beginning of the pre-Neolithic period. The farming pastoral tribes of the old Neolithic era (Aléria, Filitosa, Levie) succeeded the nomadic hunters (The Lady of Bonifacio" goes back to 6600 B.C. It was at the end of the Neolithic era that there was an increase in the megalithic monuments. The history of Corsica really began with the colonization of Alalia (Aléria) in the VI and V centuries B.C. According to the Greek historian Hérodote, it was through this colony that Phocéens instilled the island with religious cults and the techniques of the Mediterranean world. Nevertheless, the presence of the Phocéens, then that of Étrusques and Carthaginois was limited to the coast. On the contrary, the capture of Aléria by the Romans, in 259 B.C, marked the beginning of a long presence. The romanization, then christianization, brought an inter mixing of races between the natives, Greek colonists, Latins and foreigners. During several centuries, the island underwent various foreign dominations. In the V century A.D, the barbarian invasions (Vandals, then Ostrogoths) played havoc with the Corsican Bishoprics. The barbarian pirates and the Sarrasins (VII in the XI century) landed in order to ensure other maritime ways. Faced with these invaders, the corsicans settled in the hinterland. In the VII century, Pépin le Brief confirmed the attribution of the island to the Saint-Siège. But facing these recurrent sarrasine incursions, the papacy conceded the administration of Corsica to the bishop of Pisa in 1077. Following a period of peace and prosperity, the competition between Genoa and Pisa, led the pope to allot three of the six bishoprics to the Genoese from 1133. The Corsicans remained geographically parcelled out and socially opposed. Those of the "L’En deça",
situated in the north-east, supported the genoese domination, with their council of the "Six Corses". Those of the "L’Au-delà", in the south-west, fought against the administration of Genoa. This constant competition reduced the effectiveness of the Corsican resistance against the conquerors, which made it possible for the Genoese to dominate the island from 1284 to 1729.
The exclusion of the Corsicans in the high administration, the legal inequalities and the economic situation started a succession of jacqueries. In this context of disorder, Pasquale Paoli organized a "Gouvernement de la Nation Corse" in 1755. During the French revolution, Corsica, under the terms of the ‘rights of the people’, to be at its own disposal, became a French department. In 1790, Paoli was recalled from his exile to assume the responsibility of president of the general Council and commander of the national guard. Weak in health, he broke up his relationships with the Convention. Originating from the island, Bonaparte became First consul and, quickly engaged the assimilation of Corsica to France. However, the island developed little. During the XlX century, the regional planning and the economical development of Corsica remained limited while the banditry and the vote catching continued. During the Second World War, Corsica was the first department to be liberated (October 4, 1943). Its soldiers then contributed to the Province Landing.
The Corsican art and cultural heritage is remarkable and rich: trunks; dolmens (stone tombs), monoliths of the Neolithic era, towers of torréenne civilization, (plateau of Levie, region of Porto-Vecchio), Gréco-romaine architecture (Aleria, Mariana), early Christian basilicas (Calvi, Sagon, Saint-Florent). Pre-roman architecture was built from the early middle ages. At the end of the XI century, the Republic of Pisane built coastal cathedrals in the Castaniccia, the Nebbio and the Balagne. This roman Pisan art is present up to the XV century. On the contrary, there is a limited amount of gothic art. Baroque art arrived with the Contre-Réforme. It developed in the XVI and XVII centuries, especially in the Bastia and Castaniccia regions. The insularity, the genoese presence and the continual threats of the barbarian pirates have put a lasting mark on the Corsican countryside. Genoa left numerous citadels (Bonifacio, Algajola, Porto-Vecchio) and the office of Saint George gave the island a surveillance system by building towers along the coasts.
The language is also very rich. It has been made up, progressively with foreign contribution, celto-ligurian roots, Latin influences, tuscan and then genoese). It reflects the "vendettas" of the past and was principally oral up to the middle of the XlX century. It then became a written language and is now taught at the University of Corté. Today the Corsican polyphony (la paghjella, le chjama è rispondi) help to keep up a tradition and a culture which express and reflect past conflicts of an island and its people. Compared to the economical realities, the Corsican culture has just as much meaning and importance. The balance between these two areas, which can be at times conflicting, is nevertheless difficult to retain.
Around 600 000 B.C. Definitive separation of Corsica and the continent. Dividing up and isolation of the insular fauna.
Towards 60 000 B.C. First indications of human presence on the island.
Between 6000 and 4000 B.C. Ancient Neolithic. Cardinal and impressionist Ceramic.
Between 3500 and 3000 B.C. Middle and recent Neolithic. Basic ceramic with its stone vases. The first volcanic glass was imported from Sardinia. Chassey-Matera ceramic. Coffer sepultures; mace of arms.
Between 2000 and 1800 B.C. Alignment of monoliths and the big megalithic tombs. The beginning of the monumental statutory. The first megalithic appearance.
Menhir at Cambia
L.Lemaitre - according to Prosper
Mérimée, megalithism
in Corsica in Notes d'un voyage en Corse,
Paris, 1847.
Between 1500 and 1300 B.C. Corsica enters the primitive history.Culture of the ‘torre’ and the ‘castelli’. First statues - armed menhirs.
Towards 1000 B.C. End of Torréen. Sedentarism. Iron age. Corsican interpenetration – Northern Italy. Statues – septentrional menhirs.
Towards 565 B.C. Installation of Phocéens at Alalia (Aléria).
453-452 B.C. Syracusains settle in Portus Syracusanus.
545-543 B.C. Alalia, grown bigger with phocaean imigrants, becomes metropolis.
384 B.C. Denys of Syracuse carries out an expedition against Pyrgi, the island of Elba and Corsica.
Towards 271 B.C. Presumed Carthaginion presence.
259 B.C. Cornelius Scipio takes Aléria by storm and conquers Corsica.
231 B.C. Corsica and Sardinia form the second Roman province.
100 B.C. Marius creates the Roman colony of Mariana.
81 B.C. Sylla creates the Roman colony of Aléria.
40-37 B.C. Corsica governed by Sextus Pompeé.
9 B.C. Auguste and his grandsons attested "patrons of Aléria ". Bases of the fleet of Misène at Aléria and Mariana.
A.D.
41-49 Sénèque Exile in Corsica.
202 Saint Dévote martyrized by Quintus Gabinius Barbarus.
300 the ‘praese magnus’ rebuilds the court of Aléria.
Towards 420 Final ruin of Aléria.
Towards 550 Lombardes incursions in Corsica.
590-604 Pontificate of ‘Gregoire le Grand’.
774 First official claim of Corsica by the ‘Saint-Siège’. First ‘sarrasin’ raids in Corsica.
Illustration of Jeanne
Petit-Jean: The saracens set fire
to Corsica, massacred or put the habitant into slavery.
In the year 1000: Death of the legendary Count Arrigo Bel Messere.
Beginning of the Xl century: Joint actions of Pisa and Genoa against the Saracen bases in Corsica.
Andrea Celesti, Imaginary portrait of a
vitorius warrior of the Saracens, XVII.
1077 The bishop of Pisa, apostolic vicar in Corsica.
1118 Dedication of the cathedral of Mariana by the archbishop of Pisa.
1195 Conquest of Bonifacio by Genoa.
1248 The lords of the Cap Corse give their allegiance to the district of Pisa.
1268 Genoese foundation of Calvi.
1284 Naval defeat of Pisa by Genoa off the Meloria shore.
1297 Boniface VIII invests the king of Aragon with the kingdom of Sardinia and Corsica.
1347 Constitution in Genoa of a Fund for the acquisition of Corsica and the occupation of all the island by the genoese.
The Corsican
theologist, gathred in concil,
proclaim war against Genoa: "Verry just".
1348 Great plague.
1358 Popular revolt known as ‘Sambucuccio’. First Statutes of Corsica (October).
Portrait of Novellini :
Sambucuccio d'alando
1420 Expedition of Alphonse V d’Aragon. Siege of Bonifacio.
1453 Transfer of Corsica to the bank of Saint-George.
1464-1479 Suzerainty of the dukes of Milan.
1511 End of the feudal revolts.
1553 (August 23) Landing of the French troops.
1559 (April 3) The treaty of ‘Cateau-Cambrésis’.
1564 (June 14) Landing of Sampiero in the gulf of Valinco.
Portrait of Novellini :
Sampiero Corso
1567 (January 17) Death of Sampiero.
1569 (April 1) Alphonse d' Ornano and his companions leave Corsica after having surrendered on February 15.
1570 Saint Alexandre Sauli, bishop of Aléria.
1571 Publication of the revised Statutes.
1601 College of the Jesuits in Bastia.
1659 Foundation in Bastia of the Academy of Vagabondi.
1715 Prohibition of fire weapons.
1729 The first disorders in the Bozio.
1730 (February 19-21) The sacking of Bastia.
1730 (December) Election of the first two Generals of the Corsican nation.
1731-1732 Campaign of the imperial troops of Corsica.
1733 (November 17) Second insurrection.
1736 (April 13 - November 15) Theodore 1st, king of the Corsicans.
1736 Publication of Disinganno.
1738 (February 8) - 1741 (November) French Intervention in Corsica.
1745 (November) Capitulation of Bastia by the Anglo-Sardes.
1748 (mai) - 1753 (April 4) New French intervention in Corsica.
1753 (October 2) Assassination of Jean-Pierre Gaffori.
1755 (July 14) Election of Pascal Paoli at the Généralat.
Portrait of Novellini :
Pascal Paoli
1756 (August 16) First treaty of Compiegne.
1758 First edition of Giustificazione.
1764 (August 6) Second treaty of Compiegne.
1765 (January 1) Opening of the university of Corte.
1768 Boswell publishes ‘Journal d’un voyage en Corse’.
1768 (May 15) Treaty of Versailles.
1769 (May 8) Battle of Ponte-Nuovo.
Batlle of Ponte-Nuovo,
1769.
1769 (June 13) Exile of Pascal Paoli.
1774 Suppression of insular resistance.
1790 (July) Return of Pascal Paoli.
1794 (June 19) Constitutional Act of anglo-Corsican kingdom.
1796 (October) the French troops occupy Corsica, partition into two departments.
1798 Revolt of Crocetta.
1807 (February 5) Death of Pascal Paoli in London.
1811 Reunification of the department of Corsica.
1830 The first sea link by steamer.
1836 (May 23) Law defining the road network of Corsica.
1853 (June 10) Law relating to the illegal carrying of firearms.
1894 Completion of the railway Ajaccio-Bastia.
1896 Foundation of the newspaper ‘A Tramuntana’.
1912 (July 8) Fiftieth anniversary of the subsidy law.
1942 (November 11) Landing of the troops of occupation.
1942 (December 14) The first expedition of the Casabianca submarine.
1943 (September 4 - October 8) Liberation of Corsica.
1957 Regional action plan. Creation of the Somivac and the Secto.
1975 (August 22) Events of Aléria.
1991 (May 13) Law relating to the particular statute of the Corsican region (Community Territorial of Corsica)
Dates and images extracted from Beaux Arts Magazine Hors Série n°141. Museum of Corsica.
CORSICAN ART AND CULTURE