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45-574: Tradition holds that she was a Corsican woman born around 283 AD at Mariana in northeastern Corsica. A young virgin, she had decided to devote herself fully to the service of God. Devota was part of the household of senator Eutychius. During the Diocletian persecution , the prefect Barbarus arrived in Corsica with a fleet and when he learned that the senator was harboring a Christian in his house, demanded that she be given up and compelled to perform

90-702: A Romance -speaking ethnic group, native to the Mediterranean island of Corsica , a territorial collectivity of France. The island was populated since the Mesolithic ( Dame de Bonifacio ) and the Neolithic by people who came from the Italian peninsula , especially the modern regions of Tuscany and Liguria . An important megalithic tradition developed locally since the 4th millennium BC . Reached, like Sardinia , by Polada culture influences in

135-466: A chapel was built, which stands in Monaco still. Traditionally, flowers are said to bloom before their season on January 27, the saint's feast day. The Sainte-Dévote Chapel is first mentioned about 1070, belonging to the abbey of Saint Pons . The chapel was rebuilt and expanded several times. It became a priory in the 13th century and in 1536 was acquired by Honoré I, Lord of Monaco . The chapel became

180-497: A first language. Fewer and fewer people speak also a Ligurian dialect in what has long been a language island , Bonifacio : it is locally known by the name of bunifazzin . Gallurese dialect is a variety of Corsican spoken in the extreme north of Sardinia , including the region of Gallura and the archipelago of La Maddalena . In the Maddalena archipelago , the local dialect (called Isulanu, Maddaleninu, Maddalenino )

225-443: A permanent place in the city's history. Reports of miracles soon sprung in connection with the tomb. During incursions by Moors , Devota's relics were translated to safety at the monastery of Cimiez . They were returned to Monaco, to a church restored much later by Antonio I , prince of Monaco. In 1070, Antinope, the captain of a Florentine ship, attempted to steal the reliquary containing Devota's relics. The legend states that

270-549: A population of 322,120 inhabitants (Jan. 2013 estimate). At the 2011 census, 56.3% of the inhabitants of Corsica were born on the island and 28.6% in Continental France , while 0.3% were natives of Overseas France and 14.8% hailed from foreign (non-French) countries. The majority of the foreign population in Corsica comes from the Maghreb (particularly Moroccans , who made up 33.5% of all immigrants in Corsica at

315-576: A unique blend of genomic ancestry. Overall, the Corsican samples have been found to be genetically closer to the Northern and Central Italian populations than to the neighboring Sardinians . The same study estimate that the genome of the modern Corsicans derive from Anatolia Neolithic: 33%, Europe Middle Neolithic/Chalcolithic: 34%, Steppe EMBA: 19% and Iran Neolithic: 14%. Mon%C3%A9gasque language Too Many Requests If you report this error to

360-507: A violent wind impeded him from escaping with the relics. Arrested, Ugo Grimaldi ordered his ears and nose to be cut off. Antinope's boat was then burnt on the beach of Monaco. In the 16th century, Devota was invoked for protection against the Genoese and the Pisans . Their ultimate failure to take away the independence of Monaco was attributed to the divine protection of Devota. An end to

405-519: Is a key vehicle for Corsican culture, which is notably rich in proverbs and in polyphonic song. From the mountains to the plains and sea, many ingredients play a role. Game such as wild boar ( Cignale , Singhjari ) is popular, and in old times mouflon ( muvra ) were consumed. There also is seafood and river fish such as trout. Delicatessen such as figatellu , coppa , ham ( prizuttu ), lonzu are made from Corsican pork ( porcu nustrale ). Cheeses like Brocciu , casgiu merzu (the Corsican version of

450-524: Is entitled A legenda de Santa Devota (The Legend of Saint Devota). It was composed in 1927 and is important because until then the Monégasque language , had been utilized for speech. Her cult became important to Monaco and the Grimaldis. Since 1874 it has been the custom that on the evening before her feast day a symbolic fishing boat is brought in procession into Port-Hercule and set alight outside

495-674: Is found in Italy, as well as in the fact that the modern Corsican varieties , especially the Northern ones , are linguistically considered part of Tuscan . Because the island has been historically and culturally related to the Italian mainland up until then, the Italian populations from Northern and Central Italy have contributed to a significant degree to the modern Corsican ancestry. In 1891 Roland Bonaparte wrote in Une excursion en Corse that

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540-520: Is still listed as an immigrant in French statistics. On the other hand, persons born in France with foreign citizenship (the children of immigrants) are not listed as immigrants. Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria Portugal, Italy, Spain, Andorra, Gibraltar , Monaco Source: INSEE Alongside French ( Français ), the official language throughout France, Corsican ( Corsu ) is the other most widely spoken language on

585-719: The Ilvates in the neighboring Ilva island (today's Elba in Italy), and may have spoken the old Ligurian language . The ethnic base of the Corsicans was made up of the Corsican tribes of the Nuragic and then Torrean civilization, of Sardinian origin. In ancient times they were influenced and mixed from the ancient Corsicans to the Ligurians , Carthaginians , Etruscans , to the first Greek settlers and then to other peoples such as

630-577: The Longonenses or Longonensi ). These Corsi shared the island with the Tibulati , who dwelt at the extreme north of Sardinia near the ancient town of Tibula . Further research is still needed to answer the question of the origin of the Corsi and their alleged relation with today's Corsicans. According to several scholars, they may have been a group of tribes affiliated to the ancient Ligures , like

675-711: The Muradid dynasty , of Corsican origin and who reigned over the Regency of Tunis from 1613 to 1702. At the end of the Middle Ages and at the beginning of the Renaissance, the Corsicans distinguished themselves in combat in many conflicts, many of them were then mercenaries (or Condottieri ) and fought for sometimes rival Kingdoms. Corsicans distinguished themselves in particular during the Battle of Lepanto alongside

720-709: The Sainte-Dévote Chapel lends its name to the first corner of the Circuit de Monaco , one source has commented that "Saint Devota's name is unfortunately heard on the radio waves solely for the Monaco's Grand Prix Formula 1 for the famous bend of Saint Devota." Joseph Méry put the legend of Saint Devota into verse. The first book written in Monegasque language by the Monegasque poet, Louis Notari ,

765-493: The Sardinian casu marzu ), casgiu veghju are made from goat or sheep milk. Chestnuts are the main ingredient in the making of pulenta . A variety of alcoholic drinks also exist, ranging from aquavita (brandy), red and white Corsican wines ( Vinu Corsu ), muscat (plain or sparkling), and the famous "cap corse" produced by Mattei. Genetic research has revealed that the Corsican samples presented affinities with people from

810-549: The 1920s and the 1950s, the major destination became the French mainland , primarily Marseille , which today is considered as the "first Corsican city of the world" with around 100,000 Corsicans in the city. Causes of this emigration are various; poverty is the main reason (the French laws for restriction of exportations, the Second Industrial Revolution and the agricultural crisis had an adverse effect on

855-605: The 2011 census), and from Southern Europe (particularly Portuguese , 22.7% of all immigrants, followed by the Italians, 13.7%). During the 19th century and the first part of the 20th century, Corsican emigration was significant. Large numbers of Corsicans left the island for the French mainland or foreign countries. During the 19th century, the favorite destinations of migrants were the French colonies and South America (for more details, see Corsican immigration to Puerto Rico and Corsican immigration to Venezuela ). Then, between

900-1196: The Corsi were formed by a composite number of tribes that dwelt in Corsica (namely the Belatones or Belatoni , the Cervini , the Cilebenses or Cilibensi , the Cumanenses or Cumanesi , the Licinini , the Macrini , the Opini , the Subasani , the Sumbri , the Tarabeni , the Titiani and the Venacini ) as well as in the far north-east of Sardinia (the Lestricones , Lestrigones or Lestriconi / Lestrigoni ,

945-437: The Corsican language as a potentially endangered language , as it has "a large number of children speakers" but is "without an official or prestigious status." The classification does not state that the language is currently endangered, only that it is potentially so. Often acting according to the current long-standing sentiment unknown Corsicans cross out French roadway signs and paint in the Corsican names. The Corsican language

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990-582: The Corsicans particularly abhor injustice and since the Genoese who ruled the island for 500 years had erected the denial of justice into a principle of government, it followed that the Corsica was reduced to taking justice into his own hands: hence the vendetta . Throughout the 19th century many Corsicans sympathized with the Bonapartist doctrine and French nationalism while other Corsicans took part in French political and military life. Corsica has

1035-719: The Early Bronze Age , in the 2nd millennium BC Corsica, the southern part in particular, saw the rise of the Torrean civilization , strongly linked to the Nuragic civilization . The modern Corsicans are named after an ancient people known by the Romans as Corsi . The Corsi , who gave their name to the island, actually originated from the Northeastern part of Nuragic Sardinia ( Gallura ). According to Ptolemy ,

1080-569: The French region of Provence and the Italians from Tuscany , Liguria, Campania , Sicily and Latium . In 2019, analysis of the genome of the Corsican population also reveals a close genetic affinity with the populations of northern and central Italy, while sharing with the Sardinians a notable proportion of ancestry, demographic processes and similar isolations. The analysis revealed that the Corsican population shares several genomic characteristics with Sardinia and north-central Italy, creating

1125-709: The Holy League against the Ottoman Empire , others were mercenaries in the service of the Kingdom of France (including Sampiero Corso who also served the Kingdom of Naples and returned to his native land with the support of France, Naplesand the Ottoman Empire to confront the Genoese occupiers). At the beginning of the 17th century, according to Pierre Davity , the Corsicans were hardly civilized for

1170-530: The Latins. At the beginning of our era, Corsica underwent Romanization. In the Middle Ages, the local population of Corsica mixed with a minority of Greeks Byzantines, Germanic Ostrogoths , Franks and Lombards . In the 9th century , Corsica was conquered by Arabs and Muslims from Spain, and in the 11th and 18th centuries the Pisans and the Genoese dominated the island. The indigenous population preferred to live in

1215-687: The Monegasque Rugby Federation, in association with the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation, organized the Saint Devota Rugby Challenge. Including teams from Spain and Italy, the free program includes educational workshops and circuits for disabled children, to introduce them to the game. In the 1687, some of Devota's relics were transported from Monaco to the Jesuit church of Sant'Ignazio on

1260-557: The central part of the island, which contributed to relative security and prevented them from mingling with foreigners. Strabo says that when the Roman captains did some errands in Corsica and took a large number of slaves to Rome, one looked with admiration at the fact that the Corsicans were all savages and were more beast than man: for either they hunted each other to death in every way possible to them, or else they annoyed their masters so greatly with their impatience and lack of wit, that

1305-433: The diocese of Corsica proclaimed both Saint Devota and Saint Julia to be the principal patron saints of Corsica. In 1893, a church was dedicated to Saint Devota on the island. Her cult was officially approved in 1984 by the bishop of Ajaccio . The new Roman Martyrology commemorates her on January 27, with the description, "At Mariana, on the island of Corsica, in memory of Saint Devota, virgin and martyr." Saint Devota

1350-508: The flames by Christians. Her body was placed on a boat bound for Africa . Gratianus (Graziano), the boat's pilot ; Benedict (Benenato), a priest; and Apollinaris, his deacon; believed it would receive proper Christian burial there. However, a storm overtook the boat. A dove appeared and guided the boat to present-day Les Gaumates, today part of the Principality of Monaco , where a chapel dedicated to Saint George stood. In her honor

1395-469: The island. Between 1727 and 1751, attempts were made to receive from the Vatican official recognition of Devota as special patroness of Corsica. These were refused because there was scant evidence of her existence. However, the diffusion of her cult continued and Pasquale Paoli created a short-lived "Order of Saint Devota" in 1757 during the movement for Corsican independence. In 1820, the first bishop of

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1440-486: The island: it is a Romance language pertaining to the Italo-Dalmatian branch and akin to medieval Tuscan . Corsican was long the vernacular language besides Italian ( Italiano ), which retained official status in Corsica until 1859. Since then, Italian as the island's traditional prestige language has been replaced by French due to the annexation of the island by France in 1768. Over the next two centuries,

1485-494: The local economy). Later, the departures have become more considerable owing to the demographic strain caused by First World War . Notes: Essentially Pieds-Noirs who resettled in Corsica after the independence of Tunisia, Morocco and Algeria, many of whom had Corsican ancestry. An immigrant is by French definition a person born in a foreign country and who didn't have French citizenship at birth. Note that an immigrant may have acquired French citizenship since moving to France, but

1530-494: The most part and there was not in them that politeness that one sees among the Italians. They are "extremely cruel" and still retain what Caesar said of them for this look, nevertheless there are some very good soldiers and brave strong men among them. Moreover, they are so vindictive that the Italians have a common proverb which says that one should not trust a Corsican, neither alive nor dead, because as soon as someone has been killed, suddenly all his relatives come together to kill

1575-413: The murderer if it is possible for them. In subsequent centuries, Corsica was ruled and settled by Pisans (from 1050 to 1295) and the Genoese (from 1295 to 1755, when the island broke free from La Superba ): this is reflected in the fact that around 80% of the modern Corsican surnames ( Casanova , Luciani , Agostini , Colonna , Paoli , Bartoli , Rossi , Albertini , Filippi , Cesari , etc. )

1620-607: The outbreak of the plague in 1631 was attributed to Devota, as well as the expulsion of the Spanish on the night of 17 November 1641 a galley taken from the Spanish was rebaptized "Devota." Monégasque coins bearing the effigy of Devota were issued in the 16th century, beginning in the reign of Honoré II, Prince of Monaco . During his reign, Devota became the patroness of Monaco. A series of postage stamps bearing Devota's likeness were issued in 1944 as well as 1992. However, as

1665-427: The parish church in 1887. The "Legend of Saint Devota" is one of the Principality of Monaco's oldest traditions – it has influenced national culture in fields as diverse as religion, folklore and popular beliefs, history, literature, the arts, painting, music, coins and stamps. This legend, passed on through a medieval document, holds a special place in the heart of Monaco's people and over the centuries has been awarded

1710-469: The population "had some command of the Corsican language." In 1990 out of a total population of about 254,000 the percentage had declined to 50%, with only 10% using it as a first language. The language appeared to be in serious decline when the French government reversed its non-supportive stand and began some strong measures to save it. Whether these measures will succeed remains to be seen. No recent statistics on Corsican are available. UNESCO classifies

1755-400: The requisite sacrifice to the imperial cult. Eutychius refused, and not wishing to confront him directly, Barbarus arranged to have him poisoned. Devota was imprisoned and tortured for her faith. She was martyred at Mariana by being racked or stoned to death. After her death, the governor of the province ordered for her body to be burnt to prevent its veneration. However, it was saved from

1800-602: The said masters were angry for having put their money into it, although they would have cost them very little. For several centuries the Corsicans suffered raids from the Barbary and many captured Corsicans were enslaved in North Africa. Some of these slaves converted to Islam and became renegades in the service of the Ottoman Empire , they in turn captured other Corsicans. Among these renegades are Hasan Corso , Mami Corso and Murad I Bey (born Giacomo Senti) who founded

1845-484: The studies – though not the linguistic survey work referenced in this article – were performed, was about 261,000 (see under Corsica ). Only a fraction of the population at either time spoke Corsican with any fluency. The 2001 population of 341,000 speakers on the island given by Ethnologue exceeds either census and thus may be considered questionable, like its estimate of 402,000 speakers worldwide. The use of Corsican over French has been declining. In 1980 about 70% of

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1890-498: The use of French grew to the extent that, by the Liberation in 1945, all islanders had a working knowledge of French. The twentieth century saw a wholesale language shift, with islanders changing their language practices to the extent that there were no monolingual Corsican speakers left by the 1960s. By 1990, an estimated 50% of islanders had some degree of proficiency in Corsican, and a small minority, perhaps 10%, used Corsican as

1935-748: The Église Sainte Dévote. This is followed by a fireworks display that lights up Port-Hercule. On January 27, Mass is celebrated in the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception attended by Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene. It is followed by a Solemn Procession of the Relics, to request protection for the Royal Family and the Principality. Receptions in the Monte Carlo Opera House also take place. In 2014

1980-461: Was brought by shepherds from Alta Rocca and Sartène in southern Corsica during immigration in the 17th to 18th centuries. Though influenced by Gallurese, it has maintained the original characteristics of Corsican. There are also numerous words of Genoese and Ponzese origin. The January 2007 estimated population of the island was 281,000, while the figure for the March 1999 census, when most of

2025-446: Was recently selected as the main motif of a high value collector's coin; the €5 silver 1700th anniversary of Saint Devota's death commemorative coin , minted in 2004. On the reverse of the coin, a statue of the saint can be seen. Next to it is a representation of the dove guiding the boat to the coast of Monaco, as recorded in the legend. Corsican people The Corsicans ( Corsican , Italian : Corsi ; French : Corses ) are

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