Still just because it would suck if Theodore heirs got into mainland politics neglected Corsica that doesn't mean they couldn't pick up a little territory here and there, there are island nations around the Tyrrhenian Sea that it wouldn't be to crazy for Corsica to gain influence over if they do well.
King Theodore's Corsica
- Thread starter Carp
- Start date
I mentioned the possibility of the island of Gorgona just north of Capraia. It is currently owned by the Carthusians, who sold it to the Grand Duke of Tuscany, Leopold, in 1770s. The other islands in the Tuscan Archipelago might be tougher to obtain, given that they were mostly controlled by the Bourbon Stato dei Presidi. Although, it would be neat if we got a Corsican Count of Montecristo.
I don't honestly see the draw for Corsica going to such lengths to assert its independence from Genoa, only to end up as a part of Italy - even if it ends up as the notional founder of a united Italian state.
For one, it must be kept in mind that without the Napoleonic era, it's unlikely Italian pan-nationalism would have developed on nearly the same lines as it did in our time. For the other, it's also fairly certain that Corsica spearheading Italian unification wouldn't save it from being overshadowed by the more populous and economically powerful regions of a united Italy, leading it to be doomed to neglect and assimilation by the mainland. It was the royal house of Scotland that ended up securing a union with the Kingdom of England; that did not prevent the monarchs from moving their capitol to London and establishing a state hierarchy dominated by England.
Some form of federated union between Corsica and Sardinia might be interesting, but would be hard to handle in a way that would be satisfactory and representative for all its inhabitants; there are Corsican-speakers on the north of Sardinia, but it has nearly five times as much population as Corsica does at present, not to mention the language disparity between the Sards and Corsicans themselves. Still, the ideals of the Theodoran system might appeal to them, at least moreso than the alienation seen under the Savoyards. A union of the two islands would also be ideally situated to be very powerful in Mediterranean commerce and strategic positioning.
Overall, I'd prefer to see not Corsica as the founder of a united Italy, or a part of Italy, but an inspiration of sorts for mainland Italians should a pan-national movement develop. A pan-national movement founded by someone inspired by Theodore's liberation of the people from Genoese tyranny, acknowledging the diversity of the Italian peoples and trying to bring them together rather than bind them into one, would be quite cool to see.
For one, it must be kept in mind that without the Napoleonic era, it's unlikely Italian pan-nationalism would have developed on nearly the same lines as it did in our time. For the other, it's also fairly certain that Corsica spearheading Italian unification wouldn't save it from being overshadowed by the more populous and economically powerful regions of a united Italy, leading it to be doomed to neglect and assimilation by the mainland. It was the royal house of Scotland that ended up securing a union with the Kingdom of England; that did not prevent the monarchs from moving their capitol to London and establishing a state hierarchy dominated by England.
Some form of federated union between Corsica and Sardinia might be interesting, but would be hard to handle in a way that would be satisfactory and representative for all its inhabitants; there are Corsican-speakers on the north of Sardinia, but it has nearly five times as much population as Corsica does at present, not to mention the language disparity between the Sards and Corsicans themselves. Still, the ideals of the Theodoran system might appeal to them, at least moreso than the alienation seen under the Savoyards. A union of the two islands would also be ideally situated to be very powerful in Mediterranean commerce and strategic positioning.
Overall, I'd prefer to see not Corsica as the founder of a united Italy, or a part of Italy, but an inspiration of sorts for mainland Italians should a pan-national movement develop. A pan-national movement founded by someone inspired by Theodore's liberation of the people from Genoese tyranny, acknowledging the diversity of the Italian peoples and trying to bring them together rather than bind them into one, would be quite cool to see.
Honestly, that could work out rather well. Especially if, unlike Germany, you don't have one member state so big that it is pretty much guaranteed that they would be elected leader.
I suppose its relationship with Italy might end up resembling that between Italy and San Marino IRL, where the smaller state contributed so much to the cause of peninsular unification, albeit by accident (Garibaldi just happened to find refuge there), that it was kept independent out of gratitude.
Orrrrr, by the time Italian unification happens , Corsica deciders to remain independent as it had been for many years. If anyone invades they find a motivated and inhospitable native population.
Frankly Corsica is hardly more unique than any other particular region of Italy apart from being an island, which is itself far from unique (Sardinia, Sicily, Malta debatably, and the Venetian lagoon). If anything it has more in common with "Italy" than eg Venice, having a language and culture heavily influenced by Tuscan.
I know , I just want it to be on its own for reasons of coolness.
We don't know if "Italy" will exist as a state ITTL. While some form of Italian nationalist movement will almost certainly exist, the political context in which it operates will be very, very different. The European balance of power is already conspicuously different at this point, in 1770s, and set on a mostly divergent path. I suppose that a French Revolution in some form will still happen, but its timing, and the dynamic of the resulting conflict, are unlikely to mirror OTL, and the events in Italy are specifically guaranteed not to, since the main agent of those events is... not present. Italian Ancien régime will fall eventually, but the way it does is pretty hard to predict now.
Or more likely both. I could see minor contributions and support coming from Corsica for Italian nationalists, both for ideological reasons and to support the creation of a potential ally; I can also see an alt-Italy considering the annexation of Corsica and not going ahead, both because of gratitude and because it would not be worth it - just like San Marino in OTL.
I think that Italian unification is less likely to follow the OTL route than something closer to the German route, especially if Venice remains independent (absent Napoleon not impossible.) Corsica would have every reason to participate in an Italian Confederation and would presumably be a member state- perhaps we get a Theodore inspired populist Corsican pope who agrees to head such a confederation as some were suggesting OTL.
Honestly, I think it would be plausible for Corsica to remain independent even with an Italy forming, and could essentially be in a really excellent position to do what San Marino did - harbor fugitive Italian Nationalists in the lead up to Italian Unification, but then respect the desire of the crown and people that want to remain independent in Corsica. Unlike a lot of other parts of Italy, Corsica could develop a strong us and them mentality considering their history with Genoa on the mainland.
Another option could be to have Italian unification unify only Northern Italy, and have the two halves of Italy view themselves as distinct. With that set up, it would be very easy for an independent Corsica to exist.
Another option could be to have Italian unification unify only Northern Italy, and have the two halves of Italy view themselves as distinct. With that set up, it would be very easy for an independent Corsica to exist.