Pascal Paoli

Biography

It is born in the hamlet known as “has Stretta” of the village of Morosaglia, in a Corsica then under domination génoise. He is the son of Hyacinthe Paoli, jointly named with several notable Corsican chief of the nation before and since the departure of the king Theodore de Neuhoff.

Youth and Neapolitan exile

In 1739, Hyacinthe Paoli, constrained by Génois to leave Corsica shaken by disorders since 1729, chooses to take refuge with Naples. It takes along with him young person of its sons, Pasquale, 14 years old.

It is thus in Italy, and more particularly with Naples, than Pasquale Paoli receives the essence of its formation. He is pupil with the Military academy of Naples. He begins thereafter a career in the royal regiment from Farnèse and carries an attentive glance in same time on the events which proceed in Corsica and the revolt of part of the Corsican farming community supported on the notable ones against the capacity génois.

The généralat

In 1755, it is called by the Corsican main leaders revolted against Genoa to take the head of the insurrection for the independence of Corsica. Pasquale Paoli, in spite of some internal oppositions like those of Emanuele Matra, becomes in fact the chief of revolted Corsican: the July 14th 1755, it is proclaimed Général of the Nation at the time of one consults held with the Couvent Saint-Anthony of Casabianca.

During the first months of the généralat, Matra is elected in its Général turn of the Nation. With a body of partisans, he is opposed and gone against Paoli; but the fight ends in the death of this general who dies in the seat of the convent of Bozio.

Pasquale Paoli gives to the island a Constitution (Corsican Constitution) founded on the separation of the capacities, founds a Université and grants the right to vote with all the citizens, of which women (widowed or unmarried). Corsica then became the first democratic State in the Europe of the lights, and Paoli a “despot lit”, which caused the admiration of philosophers like Rousseau and Voltaire. Paoli defended freedom, although being elected with life. The possibility of being dislocated by the Corsican diet, dominated in the facts by the chiefs of clan, clearly not established. Moreover, Paoli reserved the right to invite many people not elected to come to sit in this assembly. When at the university founded in Corte, it remained, by the studied matters and its many ecclesiastical professors, dominated by Catholicism.

On the economic plan, Paoli introduces in Corsica the Potato as of 1756, founds Island-Russet-red the (1758) with an aim of competing with chair them génois Algajola and of Calvi, and makes beat currency with the effigy of the Corsican nation with Murato (1762).

A “HMSO” is created with Campoloro where the “ Ragguagli LED are published' Insulated di Corsica ”, kind of official journal. It creates a marine of war and fact of Corte the capital of the Corsican Nation where seat the government.

Negotiations between Genoa and France, the war of Corsica

The France, for strategic reasons, wishing to be established in the Mediterranean found opportunity political to seize the Corsica when the République of Genoa, driven out of Corsica and sifted debts, sought of the assistance near the king de France. Under the treated of Versailles, signed on May 15th, 1768, France lent two million books to Genoa which gave in guarantee Corsica that it did not have any more.

Having been informed of the treaty of Versailles, Pasquale Paoli joins together one consulted on May 22nd in Corte where it made this comment: “Never people did not wipe a more bloody insult… One does not know too who one must hate more that which sells to us or of that which buys to us… Let us confuse them in our hatred since they treat us with an equal contempt”

Decided well to defend their independence, the Corsicans gain several victories vis-a-vis the French troops. Most famous being that of Borgu, on October 5th, 1768, where the armies of France must beat a retreat in front of the combativeness of the Corsican regiments. But higher of number and of weapons the French troops gain a decisive victory on May 9th, 1769 with Ponte Novu.

The Corsican troops put in rout, Pasquale Paoli, constrained with the exile, leaves Corsica for England on June 13rd, 1769. Corsica loses at the same time his independence and sees the citizens of his democracy passing to the row subjects of Louis XV.

The military victory of French and the exile of Pasquale Paoli did not mean however that Corsica is conquered. The many insurrections which burst in the island are repressed.

First exile and return in Corsica

Paoli is exiled, it leaves Corsica with 500 or 600 of its partisans, it embarks bound for the Great Britain and is acclaimed on its passage by its admirors, of Italy in Great Britain while passing by the Austria or the Netherlands. Its combat indeed became famous through the Europe gràce with the account of voyage of the British James Boswell, Account off Corsica .

Lastly, after a twenty years exile, it is authorized to return to France at the beginning of the French revolution. Paoli is recalled in 1790, in its fatherland, and its voyage of Paris in Corsica was a true triumphal walk. Louis XVI names then it lieutenant-general and ordering island. He unloads the July 14th 1790 with Macinaggio for his return in Corsica, where he is accommodated triumphantly by the population.

However, the relations between Paoli and the Convention tarnish, in particular following the failure of the Expédition of Sardinia.

Not knowing where the French revolution would stop, Paoli approaches Great Britain to drive out the French of Corsica and to found a kingdom anglo-Corsican .

The April 2nd 1793, Convention issues its arrest and “with the French Republic declares it treacherous”.

In answer, patriotic Corsican and appointed meet in Consults general with Corte the June 10th 1794 to raise it with the row of Babbu di has Patria (“Father of the Fatherland”), and the deputies swore fidelity with the King d' Angleterre and the constitution that this prince had offered, and who established a Parliament and a viceroy.

The Kingdom anglo-Corsican and the second exile

Drawn aside by the British of the title of viceroy, Paoli, dissatisfied with control whom the English hold, withdraws itself with Monticello. Paoli leaves Corsica with resigned regret but. It turns over to London for a second and last English exile, where it dies the December 5th 1807 with old 81 years.

It leaves, by its will, an important sum to found in Corte a university, and Morosaglia a higher Elementary school.

The myth of Pasquale Paoli, “babbu di has Patria” (“father of the Fatherland”) is still very alive and present in the island. Its ashes rest today in its native village of Morosaglia. Its Cénotaphe is with the Abbaye from Westminster in London. The University of Corsica whom it had founded during the généralat, closed by the Army of Louis XV in 1769 and reopened in 1981, bears his name.

Today, not less than five American communes bear the name of Paoli in the Pennsylvania, the Indiana, the Wisconsin, the Oklahoma and the Colorado.

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