62-756: Corsican may refer to: Someone or something from Corsica Corsicans , inhabitants of Corsica Corsican language , a Romance language spoken on Corsica and northern Sardinia Corsican Republic , a former country in Europe "The Corsicans", the original name of the Hearts of Oak militia in Colonial New York See also [ edit ] List of all pages beginning with "Corsican" List of Corsicans Corsicana, Texas Corsica (disambiguation) Corse (disambiguation) Topics referred to by
124-518: A subarctic climate (Dsc, Dfc) and the rare Mediterranean climate can be found. The station of Sari-Solenzara records the highest year-round temperatures in Metropolitan France, with an annual average of 16.41 °C over the 1981–2010 period. The average amount of sunshine received annually was 2,715 hours in the period 2008–2016. The island is divided into four major ecological zones, by altitude. Below 600 metres (2,000 ft)
186-511: A Southern Romance one. Fewer and fewer people speak a Ligurian dialect , known as bunifazzinu , in what has long been a language island , Bonifacio , and in Ajaccio , the aghjaccinu dialect. In Cargèse , a village established by Greek immigrants in the 17th century, Greek ( Ελληνικά ) was the traditional language. Among foreign languages, the most spoken ones were English (39%) and Italian (34%) as reported by an official survey by
248-402: A candidate requires an absolute majority , whereas in the second round a plurality is sufficient. The list that wins in the first or second round automatically obtains three seats as a "premium to the majority". The other seats are distributed based on proportional representation . At the first meeting of Assembly Councillors after an election, the councillors elect an Assembly President in
310-648: A pastoral society, dominated by clans and the rules of vendetta . The code of vendetta required Corsicans to seek deadly revenge for offences against their family's honor. Between 1821 and 1852, no fewer than 4,300 murders were perpetrated in Corsica. During the first half of the century, the people of Corsica were still immersed in the Italian cultural world: the bourgeoisie sent children to Pisa to study, official acts were enacted in Italian and most books were printed in Italian. Moreover, many islanders sympathised with
372-621: A pieds-noirs-owned wine cellar in Aleria , occupied by Corsican nationalists on 23 August 1975. This marked the beginning of the Corsican conflict , an armed nationalist struggle against the French government. Ever since, Corsican nationalism has been a feature of the island's politics, with calls for greater autonomy and protection for Corsican culture and the Corsican language , or even full independence. Some groups supporting independence, such as
434-616: A plurality ballot. This is also a two-round contest, with an absolute majority required to proceed to the second round. At the same time as the election of the President, the Assembly also elects the ten members that will make up the President's Committee ( bureau ). In contrast to the executives of the regional councils, Assembly Councillors may not also be members of the Corsican Executive Council. Election to
496-451: Is a minimum of 11 km (6.8 mi) wide. In 2005 the population of Corsica was settled in approximately 360 communities. According to the Köppen climate classification scheme, coastal regions are characterized by a hot-summer Mediterranean climate (Csa). Further inland, a warm-summer Mediterranean climate (Csb) is more common. At the highest elevation locations, small areas with
558-469: Is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Language and nationality disambiguation pages Corsica Corsica ( / ˈ k ɔːr s ɪ k ə / KOR -sik-ə ; Corsican: [ˈkorsiɡa, ˈkɔrsika] ; Italian : Corsica ; French : Corse [kɔʁs] ) is an island in the Mediterranean Sea and one of
620-800: Is documented in the Neolithic period from the 6th millennium BC. After a brief occupation by the Carthaginians , colonization by the ancient Greeks , and an only slightly longer occupation by the Etruscans , it was incorporated by the Roman Republic at the end of the First Punic War and, with Sardinia , in 238 BC became a province of the Roman Republic . The Romans, who built a colony in Aléria , considered Corsica as one of
682-471: Is estimated that only 10% of Corsica's population speak the language natively, with only 50% having some sort of proficiency in it. The Corsican language is divided into two main varieties: Cismuntanu and Ultramuntanu , spoken respectively northeast and southwest of the Girolata– Porto Vecchio line. This division was due to the massive immigration from Tuscany which took place in Corsica during
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#1732765908246744-453: Is expected to achieve "a form of autonomy" in the near future. The regional capital is Ajaccio . Although the region is divided into two administrative departments , Haute-Corse and Corse-du-Sud , their respective regional and departmental territorial collectivities were merged on 1 January 2018 to form the single territorial collectivity of Corsica. Corsican autonomy is more extensive than in other regional collectivities of France and
806-527: Is the unicameral legislative body of the territorial collectivity of Corsica . It has its seat at the Grand Hôtel d'Ajaccio et Continental , in the Corsican capital of Ajaccio . After the 2017 territorial elections , the assembly was expanded from 51 to 63 seats, with the executive council expanding from 9 to 11 members (including the president). Before 1975, Corsica was a département of
868-516: Is the coastal zone's mild Mediterranean climate , with hot, dry summers and cool, rainy winters. The area's natural vegetation is sparse Mediterranean forest, scrubland, and shrubs. The coastal lowlands are part of the Tyrrhenian-Adriatic sclerophyllous and mixed forests ecoregion , in which forests and woodlands of evergreen sclerophyll oaks predominate, chiefly holm oak ( Quercus ilex ) and cork oak ( Quercus suber ). Much of
930-461: Is the high alpine zone . Vegetation is sparse, with high winds and frequent cloud cover. This zone is uninhabited. There is considerable birdlife in Corsica. One famous example is the bearded vulture , or Lammergeier , which (along with the iconic griffon vulture ) serve as environmental "janitors" by scavenging the remains of deceased animals, thus limiting the proliferation of infectious microbes and diseases. Other avian species to be seen include
992-520: Is very mountainous, with Monte Cinto as the highest peak at 2,706 m (8,878 ft), and around 120 other summits of more than 2,000 m (6,600 ft). Mountains comprise two-thirds of the island, forming a single chain. Forests make up 20% of the island. It is also the fourth largest island in the Mediterranean, after Sicily , Sardinia and Cyprus . Corsica has nature reserves covering about 3,500 km (1,400 sq mi) of
1054-543: The 18 regions of France . It is the fourth-largest island in the Mediterranean and lies southeast of the French mainland , west of the Italian Peninsula and immediately north of the Italian island of Sardinia , the nearest land mass. A single chain of mountains makes up two-thirds of the island. As of January 2024 , it had a population of 355,528. The island is a territorial collectivity of France , and
1116-581: The Corsican Assembly is permitted to exercise limited executive powers. Corsica's second-largest town is Bastia , located in the prefecture of Haute-Corse. Corsica was ruled by the Republic of Genoa from 1284 to 1755, when it seceded to become a self-proclaimed, Italian -speaking Republic . In 1768, Genoa officially ceded it to Louis XV of France as part of a pledge for the debts incurred after enlisting French military help in suppressing
1178-645: The French region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur . On 2 March 1982, a law was passed that gave Corsica the status of territorial collectivity ( collectivité territoriale ), abolishing the Corsican Regional Council which had existed before. Unlike the regional councils, the Corsican Assembly has executive powers over the island. In 1992, three institutions were formed in the territorial collectivity of Corsica: Members of
1240-486: The Italian peninsula . French ( Français ) is the official and most widely spoken language on the island with Corsican , the native language and an Italo-Dalmatian language , also recognized as one of France's regional languages . Corsica is the third-least populated region of France after Mayotte and French Guiana . Corsica has been occupied since the Mesolithic era. The permanent human presence in Corsica
1302-718: The March of Tuscany , which used it as an outpost against the Saracens . Pepin the Short , king of the Franks and Charlemagne 's father, expelled the Lombards and nominally granted Corsica to Pope Stephen II . In the first quarter of the 11th century, Pisa and Genoa together freed the island from the threat of Arab invasion. After that, the island came under the influence of the Republic of Pisa . Many polychrome churches which adorn
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#17327659082461364-541: The National Liberation Front of Corsica , have carried out a violent campaign that includes bombings and assassinations targeting buildings and officials representing the French government; periodic flare-ups of raids and killings culminated in the assassination of Prefect Claude Érignac in 1998. Lately, the drive towards independence has taken a more electoral approach, where Corsicans elected pro-autonomist, or pro-independence parties overwhelmingly in
1426-701: The Sardinian dhole , the mustelid Enhydrictis galictoides , the deer Praemegaceros cazioti , the Corsican giant shrew , Tyrrhenian mole , Sardinian pika , Tyrrhenian vole , and the Tyrrhenian field rat . As of the January 2024 estimate, Corsica has a population of 355,528 inhabitants. At the 2019 census, 55.7% of the inhabitants of Corsica were people born on the island, 29.9% were from Continental France , 0.3% were natives of Overseas France , and 14.1% were born in foreign countries. The majority of
1488-503: The barn owl , blue rock thrush , common crane , Corsican nuthatch , golden eagle , greater flamingo , osprey , peregrine falcon , red kite , and starry bittern . In some cases, Corsica is an isolated portion of a species' distribution; in other cases, it is the furthest point in a species' range. For example, a subspecies of hooded crow ( Corvus cornix cornix ) occurs in Corsica, but not anywhere further south. Corsica has abundant reptile and amphibians, one protected species being
1550-414: The Corsican Assembly were first called "territorial councillors" in reference to Corsica's status as a collectivité territoriale . Members are now called "Councillors of the Corsican Assembly", or in unofficial and everyday speech, just "Councillors". There are 63 members of the Assembly, elected for a six-year term via a closed party list and two rounds of voting. To pass beyond the first round,
1612-470: The Corsican revolt; as a result, France annexed the island in 1769. The future Emperor of the French , Napoleon Bonaparte , was a native Corsican, born that same year in Ajaccio: his ancestral home, Maison Bonaparte , is now a visitor attraction and museum. Because of Corsica's historical ties to Tuscany , the island has retained many Italian cultural elements, and many Corsican surnames are rooted in
1674-464: The French nation through participation in the French Empire. Compared to much of Metropolitan France, Corsica was poor and many Corsicans emigrated. While Corsicans emigrated globally, especially to many South American countries, many chose to move within the French Empire which acted as a conduit for emigration and eventual return, as many young Corsican men could find better job opportunities in
1736-669: The administration of the island to its main bank, the Bank of Saint George , which brought peace. In the 16th century, the island entered into the fight between Spain and France for supremacy in Italy. In 1553, a Franco-Ottoman fleet occupied Corsica , but the reaction of Spain and Genoa, led by Andrea Doria , reestablished the Genoese supremacy on the island, confirmed by the Peace of Cateau-Cambrésis . The unlucky protagonist of this episode
1798-583: The cheeses is brocciu (similar to ricotta), which is used as a fresh ingredient in many dishes, from first courses ( sturzapreti ) to cakes ( fiadone ). Other cheeses, like casgiu merzu ("rotten cheese", the Corsican counterpart of the Sardinian casu martzu ), and casgiu veghju , are made from goat or sheep milk. Chestnuts are the main ingredient in the making of pulenta castagnina and cakes ( falculelle ). A variety of alcohol also exists, ranging from aquavita (brandy), red and white Corsican wines ( Vinu Corsu ), muscat wine (plain or sparkling), to
1860-571: The coast to defend Corsica from the attacks of the Barbary pirates from North Africa. The period of peace lasted until 1729, when the refusal to pay taxes by a peasant sparked the general insurrection of the island against Genoa. The island became known for the large number of mercenary soldiers and officers it produced. In 1743, over 4,600 Corsicans, or 4% of the entire population of the island, were serving as soldiers in various armies (predominantly those of Genoa, Venice, and Spain), making it one of
1922-688: The coastal lowlands have been cleared for agriculture, grazing and logging; these activities have reduced the forest area considerably. Between 600 and 1,800 m (2,000 and 5,900 ft) is a temperate montane zone . The mountains are cooler and wetter, and home to the Corsican montane broadleaf and mixed forests ecoregion. This region supports diverse forests of oak , pine , and broadleaf deciduous trees, with vegetation more typical of northern Europe. The population lives predominantly below 900 m (3,000 ft), with only shepherds and hikers from 600 to 900 m (2,000 to 3,000 ft). The elevation above 1,800 to 2,700 m (5,900 to 8,900 ft)
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1984-788: The collapse of France to the German Wehrmacht in 1940, Corsica came under the rule of the Vichy French regime, which was collaborating with Nazi Germany . In November 1942 the island was occupied by Italian and German forces following the Anglo-American landings in North Africa . After the Italian armistice in September 1943, Italian and Free French Forces pushed the Germans out of the island, making Corsica
2046-438: The colonial empire, the introduction of steamboats , which reduced the travel time between mainland France and the island drastically, and – last but not least – Napoleon himself, whose existence alone constituted an indissoluble link between France and Corsica. Thanks to all these factors by around 1870 Corsica had landed in the French cultural world. From the 19th century into the mid-20th century, Corsicans also grew closer to
2108-662: The commerce with Italy, and the western Banda di fuori , or Pomonte , almost deserted, wild and remote. The crushing defeat experienced by Pisa in 1284 in the Battle of Meloria against Genoa had among its consequences the end of the Pisan rule and the beginning of the Genoese influence in Corsica: this was contested initially by the King of Aragon , who in 1296 had received from the Pope
2170-549: The famous "Cap Corse" apéritif produced by Mattei. The herbs which are part of Maquis ( Corsican : machja ), and the chestnuts and acorns of the Corsican forests are eaten by local animals, resulting in a noticeable flavour in the food there. Corsica has produced a number of known artists: Most Corsican football clubs are currently littered through the top 5 tiers of French football. AC Ajaccio and SC Bastia play in Ligue 2 in 2024–25, although both have played in Ligue 1 in
2232-557: The far corners of the Empire where many other French hesitated to go. In many parts of the Empire, Corsicans were strongly represented, such as in Saigon where in 1926 12% of Europeans were from Corsica. Across the French Empire, many Corsicans retained a sense of community by establishing organizations where they would meet regularly, keep one another informed of developments in Corsica, and come to one another's aid in times of need. After
2294-617: The first French Department to be freed. During the May 1958 crisis , the French military command in Algeria mutinied against the French Fourth Republic and on 24 May occupied the island in an action called Opération Corse that led to the collapse of the government; the second phase of the coup attempt, occupying Paris , was cancelled following the establishment of a transitional government under Charles de Gaulle . Between
2356-494: The foreign immigrants in Corsica come from the Maghreb (particularly Moroccans , who made up 29.0% of all immigrants in Corsica at the 2019 census) and from Southern Europe (particularly Portuguese and Italians , 23.9% and 12.5% of immigrants on the island respectively). French ( Français ) is the official and most widely spoken language on the island. Italian was the official language of Corsica until 9 May 1859, when it
2418-535: The investiture over Sardinia and Corsica. A popular revolution against this and the feudal lords, led by Sambucuccio d'Alando , got the aid of Genoa. After that, the Cismonte was ruled as a league of comuni and churches, after the Italian experience. The following 150 years were a period of conflict, when the Genoese rule was contested by Aragon, the local lords, the comuni and the Pope: finally, in 1450 Genoa ceded
2480-596: The island and established an Anglo-Corsican Kingdom . Following Spain's entry into the war, the British decided to withdraw from Corsica in 1796. Despite being the birthplace of the Emperor, the island was slightly neglected by Napoleon's government. In 1814, near the end of the Napoleonic Wars , Corsica was briefly occupied again by British troops. The Treaty of Bastia gave the British crown sovereignty over
2542-535: The island date from this period. Corsica also experienced a massive immigration from Tuscany, which gave to the island its present toponymy and rendered the language spoken in the northern two-thirds of the island very close to the Tuscan dialect . This led to the traditional division of Corsica into two parts, along the main chain of mountains roughly going from Calvi to Porto-Vecchio : the eastern Banda di dentro , or Cismonte , more populated, developed, and open to
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2604-762: The island was divided into pagi , which in the Middle Ages became the pievi , the basic administrative units of the island until 1768. In the fifth century, the western half of the Roman Empire collapsed, and the island was invaded by the Vandals and the Ostrogoths . Briefly recovered by the Byzantine Empire , it soon became part of the Kingdom of the Lombards . This made it a dependency of
2666-475: The island, but it was later repudiated by Lord Castlereagh who insisted that the island should be returned to a restored French monarchy . After the restoration, the island was further neglected by the French state. Despite the presence of a middle class in Bastia and Ajaccio, Corsica remained an otherwise primitive place, whose economy consisted mainly of subsistence agriculture, and whose population constituted
2728-403: The knowledge of the French language, which thanks to the mandatory primary school started to penetrate among the local youth, the high prestige of French culture, the awareness of being part of a big, powerful state, the possibility of well-paid jobs as civil servants, both in the island, in the mainland and in the colonies, the prospect of serving the French army during the wars for the conquest of
2790-627: The last decade. FC Bastia-Borgo currently competes in the Championnat National and Gazélec Ajaccio currently competes in the Championnat National 3. ÉF Bastia previously competed in Regional 1, but in 2021 merged with fellow Corsican team Association de la Jeunesse de Biguglia, to form Football Jeunesse Étoile Biguglia. Corsican Assembly Opposition (31) The Corsican Assembly or Assembly of Corsica ( Corsican : Assemblea di Corsica ; French : Assemblée de Corse )
2852-463: The late 1950s and the 1970s, proposals to conduct underground nuclear tests in the Argentella mines , the immigration of 18,000 former settlers from Algeria (" Pieds-Noirs ") in the eastern plains, and continuing chemical pollution ( Fanghi Rossi ) from mainland Italy increased tensions between the indigenous inhabitants and the French government. Tensions escalated until an armed police assault on
2914-710: The lower Middle Ages: as a result, the Cismuntanu became very similar to the Tuscan dialects, being part of the Italo-Dalmatian language group , while the Ultramuntanu maintained its original characteristics which make it much more similar to a Southern Romance language , such as Sardinian ( Sardu ). Therefore, due to the differences between the main dialectal varieties, many linguists classify Corsican as an Italo-Dalmatian language, while others consider it
2976-516: The most backward regions of the Roman world. The island produced sheep, honey, resin and wax, and exported many slaves, not well considered because of their fierce and rebellious character. Moreover, it was known for its cheap wines, exported to Rome, and was used as a place of exile, one of the most famous being the Roman philosopher Seneca . Corsica was integrated into Roman Italy by Emperor Diocletian ( r. 284–305 ). Administratively,
3038-561: The most militarized societies in Europe. In 1729, the Corsican Revolution for independence from Genoa began, first led by Luiggi Giafferi and Giacinto Paoli, and later by Paoli's son, Pasquale Paoli . After 26 years of struggle against the Republic of Genoa , including an ephemeral attempt in 1736 to proclaim an independent Kingdom of Corsica under the German adventurer Theodor von Neuhoff , an independent Corsican Republic
3100-521: The national struggle which was taking place in nearby Italy in those years: several political refugees from the peninsula, like Niccolò Tommaseo , spent years on the island, while some Corsicans, like Count Leonetto Cipriani [ fr ] , [ it ], took active part in the fights for Italian independence. Despite all that, during those years the Corsicans began to feel an increasingly strong attachment to France. The reasons for that are manifold:
3162-426: The park. The Corsican red deer was re-introduced after it was extinct due to overhunting . This Corsican subspecies was the same that survived on Sardinia, so it is endemic . There are other species endemic to Corsica especially in the upper mountain ranges, i.e. Corsican nuthatch , Corsican fire salamander and Corsican brook salamander and many plant subspecies. Corsica, like all the other Mediterranean islands,
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#17327659082463224-467: The past few elections. In 2018, Corsica had the highest murder rate in France. In March 2022 Corsica saw large protests and riots after Yvan Colonna , the murderer of Claude Érignac , was murdered in prison. The August 2022 Corsica derecho swept across the island and killed six people, injured dozens of others, and caused significant damage. Corsica was formed about 250 million years ago with
3286-402: The regional government. From the mountains to the plains and sea, many ingredients play a role. Game such as wild boar ( Cingale , Singhjari ) is popular. There also is seafood and river fish, such as trout . Delicacies, such as figatellu (also named as ficateddu ), made with liver, coppa , ham ( prizuttu ), lonzu , are made from Corsican pork ( porcu nustrale ).Characteristic among
3348-412: The same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title Corsican . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Corsican&oldid=871758237 " Category : Disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description
3410-504: The sensitive Hermann's tortoise , which are found at A Cupulatta at Vero and Moltifao Regional Natural Park. Corsican brook and fire salamanders , leaf-toed gecko , and yellow and green grass snakes are also common. The European pond turtle can be seen, especially in the waters of Fango Estuary, southern Calvi , Biguglia Lagoon and Pietracorbara . The island has a natural park ( Parc Naturel Régional de Corse , Parcu di Corsica), which protects rare animal and plant species. The park
3472-573: The total surface area of 8,680 km (3,350 sq mi), primarily located in its interior is Parc naturel régional de Corse . Corsica contains the GR20 , one of Europe's most notable hiking trails . The island is 90 km (56 mi) from Tuscany in Italy and 170 km (110 mi) from the Côte d'Azur in France. It is separated from Sardinia to the south by the Strait of Bonifacio , which
3534-468: The uplift of a granite backbone on the western side. About 50 million years ago sedimentary rock was pressed against this granite, forming the schists of the eastern side. It is the most mountainous island in the Mediterranean, a "mountain in the sea". The island is 183 km (114 mi) long at its longest, 83 km (52 mi) wide at its widest, has 1,000 km (620 mi) of coastline, with more than 200 beaches such as Paraguano . Corsica
3596-403: Was Sampiero di Bastelica , who would later come to be considered a hero of the island. Their power reinstated, the Genoese did not allow the Corsican nobility to share in the government of the island and oppressed the inhabitants with a heavy tax burden. On the other hand, they introduced the chestnut tree on a large scale, improving the diet of the population, and built a chain of towers along
3658-616: Was created in 1972 and includes the Golfe de Porto, the Scandola Nature Reserve (a UNESCO World Heritage Site ), and some of the highest mountains on the island. Scandola cannot be reached on foot, but people can gain access by boat from the village of Galéria and Porto (Ota). Two endangered subspecies of hoofed mammals, the European mouflon ( Ovis aries musimon ) and Corsican red deer ( Cervus elaphus corsicanus ) inhabit
3720-549: Was home to endemic mammals during the Late Pleistocene , most or all of these are shared with Sardinia (as Sardinia was joined to Corsica for much of the Pleistocene). After the arrival of humans during Mesolithic around 8000 BC, these began to disappear. Some of the smaller mammals managed to survive until at least the early Iron Age, but are now all extinct. Extinct mammals formerly native to Corsica include
3782-412: Was proclaimed in 1755 under the leadership of Pasquale Paoli and remained sovereign until 1769 when the island was conquered by France . Following the outbreak of the French Revolution in 1789, Pasquale Paoli was able to return to Corsica from exile in Britain. In 1794, he invited British forces under Lord Hood to intervene to free Corsica from French rule. Anglo-Corsican forces drove the French from
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#17327659082463844-409: Was replaced by French. Corsican ( Corsu ), a minority language that is closely related to medieval Tuscan ( Toscano ), has a better prospect of survival than most other French regional languages : Corsican is the second most widely spoken language after French. However, since the annexation of the island by France in the 18th century, Corsican has been under heavy pressure from French, and today it
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