Latest possible POD for an Italian Corsica?

I've sporadically been pondering that from the purely geographic perspective, Corsica is closer to Italy than to France. So, the question is, what is the latest possible POD for having an Italian Corsica by present day?
 
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A more successful Corsican Republic that is able to entirely eject Genoa from the island, establish sovereignty, and gain recognition from (some) major powers. There would exist no legal basis for the sale of Corsica to France. Depending on the amount of butterflies you're partial to (I never liked them, too much wing not enough body) you could have Napoleon not come to power in France. Even if he does, given France's lack of naval power, Corsica would probably remain independent, probably under British protection.

Whether or not this would extend to direct ownership after Vienna is up in the air, but I don't think it likely. Whilte the British had a viceroy in Corsica during the French Revolution, they have a better base in Malta, and attaching Corsica to Piedmont-Sardinia after Vienna would improve the power of that state in relation to France, and fit well with the balance of power doctrine. The rest of history would probably proceed as it did IOTL.

Again, that's assuming minimal butterflies.
 
What about a Genoa-held Corsica? If Italy were later unified, then Corsica would be incoporated into the new state.
 

General Zod

Banned
I've sporadically been pondering that from the purely geographic perspective, Corsica is closer to France than to Italy. So, the question is, what is the latest possible POD for having an Italian Corsica by present day?

Hmm, the latest possible (and indeed, most likely) PoDs would be the World Wars. Either the Axis wins WWII or Italy fights a victorious WWI at the side of the Central Powers. A slightly earlier one would be if Italy fights the Franco-Prussian war at the side of Prussia.
 
A more successful Corsican Republic that is able to entirely eject Genoa from the island, establish sovereignty, and gain recognition from (some) major powers. There would exist no legal basis for the sale of Corsica to France. Depending on the amount of butterflies you're partial to (I never liked them, too much wing not enough body) you could have Napoleon not come to power in France. Even if he does, given France's lack of naval power, Corsica would probably remain independent, probably under British protection.

One of the great British political foul ups was allowing the French to take over COrsica. France knew it couldn't take on the British at sea at that point, and if the RN had blockaded Corsica, the French wouldn't have dared land, and Paoli could likely have created his independent Corsica. Then, when Italian unification occurred....
 

yourworstnightmare

Banned
Donor
I just realized that a Italian Corsica would butterfly away Napoleon, or create a Corsican or Genuese Napoleon. Interesting thoughts.
 
I've sporadically been pondering that from the purely geographic perspective, Corsica is closer to Italy than to France. So, the question is, what is the latest possible POD for having an Italian Corsica by present day?

Maybe WWI with Italy joining the Entente at once and France unbalanced and quickly defeated by the Germans. The POD would obviously be years before, maybe Umberto I not assassinated and a militarist pro-German Italy.
 
I should know, considering I did a report on Napoleon a few years ago. But I can't find it on this computer, and the conclusion have slipped my mind... I'll dig it up tomorrow when I get access to my second computer. Gleaning at Britannica though, here are the basics:

Corsica is ceded to France, and Napoleon is born shortly thereafter. Pasquale Paoli is leading the rebellion against the French, and Napoleon's father Carlo joined Paoli's party. However when things turned sour for Paoli Carlo switched sides and joined the French. He earned the protection of the new (French) governor and got a nice job as an assessor. Following up on this he got his two sons (Napoleon and Joseph) educations in France. While Napoleon was only nine when he moved overseas to France, he had up until that time been only a Corsican. As we know he eventually ended up in the army, but had time for a two-year return to Corsica between 1786 and 1788. When the French Revolution kicked off Napoleon returned to Corsica again to join Paoli (who had made a comeback), only to be rejected by Paoli who still remembered daddy Carlo's betrayal. Napoleon fell out with Paoli some time later, and we all know what happened once he returned to France.

So, the issues here:

* If Corsica breaks free from Genoa, I think Pasquale Paoli is the natural leader. He pretty much held that position until 1769 anyway.

* If the French never invade and Carlo's loyalty doesn't become an issue, does he get to climb high enough on the ladder to send his sons away to get foreign education? He already held a pretty decent position under Paoli...

* Paoli studied at the military academy in Naples. Isn't it quite likely Napoleon would end up either there or at some other Italian academy? Or did the French academies have a high enough status to justify sending him over there?

If Napoleon doesn't get a foregin military education I think he's out of the picture. Maybe he becomes a lawyer like his dad. If he does become a military man you'd think he'd end up on Paoli's/Corsica's side in any future conflict. What I do wonder though is a) would Corsica actually get involved in the Revolutionary wars? and b) would Napoleon have risen through the ranks in the same way as he was able to during the revolution?
 
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