Anglo-Corsican Kingdom
Encyclopedia
The Anglo-Corsican Kingdom was a short-lived self-declared independent state on the island of Corsica
during the mid-1790s.
, Corsica had been a part of France for just two decades. The Corsican leader Pasquale Paoli
, who had been exiled under the monarchy, became something of an idol of liberty and democracy, and in 1789 was invited to Paris
by the National Constituent Assembly
, where he was celebrated as a hero in front of the assembly. He was afterwards sent back to Corsica with the rank of lieutenant-general.
However, Paoli eventually split from the revolutionary movement over the issue of the execution of the king
, and threw in his lot with the royalist party. Accused of treason by the French National Convention, he summoned a consulta (assembly) at Corte
in 1793, with himself as president, and where Corsica's formal secession from France was declared. He requested the protection of the British government, then at war with revolutionary France, and suggested the Kingdom of Ireland
as a model for an autonomous kingdom under the British monarch. For Britain it was an opportunity to secure a Mediterranean
base.
In 1794 Britain sent a fleet to Corsica under Admiral Samuel Hood
. It was during the fighting to capture Calvi
the then-Captain Horatio Nelson
lost the sight in his right eye. For a short time, Corsica was added to the dominions of King George III
, chiefly by the exertions of Hood's fleet, and Paoli's cooperation.
The constitution could be considered democratic for its time. A viceroy represented the King. There was an elected unicameral Parliament, and a Council that was the executive body of the Kingdom.
Sir Gilbert Elliot
represented the king's government as viceroy
. Carlo Andrea Pozzo di Borgo
was procureur-general-syndic
(chief of the civil government), and later president of the council of state.
The relationship between Paoli's government and the British was never clearly defined, however, resulting in numerous questions of authority; in particular, tensions arose from the conflict between Sir Gilbert's loyalty to the British monarchy, and Paoli's republican leanings and desire to defend Corsican autonomy. There was also a pronounced division between Corte, the traditional capital and an inland stronghold, and Bastia
on the coast, where Sir Gilbert moved the capital in early 1795, and which was the centre for French and Corsican royalists. At last the crown invited Paoli to resign and return to exile in Britain with a pension, which, having no alternative, he did in 1796. With Spain coming in on the side of the French, the British realised their position in the Mediterranean was on precarious hold, so they had to withdraw their forces from the island before October. On October 19, 1796, the French reconquered Bastia and Corsica became a French département.
Corsica
Corsica is an island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is located west of Italy, southeast of the French mainland, and north of the island of Sardinia....
during the mid-1790s.
Background and history of the kingdom
During the time of the French RevolutionFrench Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
, Corsica had been a part of France for just two decades. The Corsican leader Pasquale Paoli
Pasquale Paoli
Filippo Antonio Pasquale di Paoli , was a Corsican patriot and leader, the president of the Executive Council of the General Diet of the People of Corsica...
, who had been exiled under the monarchy, became something of an idol of liberty and democracy, and in 1789 was invited to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
by the National Constituent Assembly
National Constituent Assembly
The National Constituent Assembly was formed from the National Assembly on 9 July 1789, during the first stages of the French Revolution. It dissolved on 30 September 1791 and was succeeded by the Legislative Assembly.-Background:...
, where he was celebrated as a hero in front of the assembly. He was afterwards sent back to Corsica with the rank of lieutenant-general.
However, Paoli eventually split from the revolutionary movement over the issue of the execution of the king
Louis XVI of France
Louis XVI was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and Navarre until 1791, and then as King of the French from 1791 to 1792, before being executed in 1793....
, and threw in his lot with the royalist party. Accused of treason by the French National Convention, he summoned a consulta (assembly) at Corte
Corte
Corte is a commune in the Haute-Corse department of France on the island of Corsica. It is the fourth-largest commune in Corsica .-Administration:Corte is a subprefecture of the Haute-Corse department.-History:...
in 1793, with himself as president, and where Corsica's formal secession from France was declared. He requested the protection of the British government, then at war with revolutionary France, and suggested the Kingdom of Ireland
Kingdom of Ireland
The Kingdom of Ireland refers to the country of Ireland in the period between the proclamation of Henry VIII as King of Ireland by the Crown of Ireland Act 1542 and the Act of Union in 1800. It replaced the Lordship of Ireland, which had been created in 1171...
as a model for an autonomous kingdom under the British monarch. For Britain it was an opportunity to secure a Mediterranean
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
base.
In 1794 Britain sent a fleet to Corsica under Admiral Samuel Hood
Samuel Hood, 1st Viscount Hood
Samuel Hood, 1st Viscount Hood was a British Admiral known particularly for his service in the American War of Independence and French Revolutionary Wars...
. It was during the fighting to capture Calvi
Siege of Calvi
The Siege of Calvi was a siege of French Revolutionary forces in Calvi, Haute-Corse in July and August 1794 by British forces, ending in a British victory.- Context :...
the then-Captain Horatio Nelson
Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson
Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson, 1st Duke of Bronté, KB was a flag officer famous for his service in the Royal Navy, particularly during the Napoleonic Wars. He was noted for his inspirational leadership and superb grasp of strategy and unconventional tactics, which resulted in a number of...
lost the sight in his right eye. For a short time, Corsica was added to the dominions of King George III
George III of the United Kingdom
George III was King of Great Britain and King of Ireland from 25 October 1760 until the union of these two countries on 1 January 1801, after which he was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until his death...
, chiefly by the exertions of Hood's fleet, and Paoli's cooperation.
The constitution could be considered democratic for its time. A viceroy represented the King. There was an elected unicameral Parliament, and a Council that was the executive body of the Kingdom.
Sir Gilbert Elliot
Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 1st Earl of Minto
Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 1st Earl of Minto PC , known as Sir Gilbert Elliott between 1777 and 1797 and as The Lord Minto between 1797 and 1813, was a Scottish politician diplomat....
represented the king's government as viceroy
Viceroy
A viceroy is a royal official who runs a country, colony, or province in the name of and as representative of the monarch. The term derives from the Latin prefix vice-, meaning "in the place of" and the French word roi, meaning king. A viceroy's province or larger territory is called a viceroyalty...
. Carlo Andrea Pozzo di Borgo
Carlo Andrea Pozzo di Borgo
Carlo Andrea, count Pozzo di Borgo , was a Corsican politician who became a Russian diplomat.He was born at Alata, near Ajaccio, of a noble Corsican family, four years before the island became a French possession...
was procureur-general-syndic
Syndic
Syndic , a term applied in certain countries to an officer of government with varying powers, and secondly to a representative or delegate of a university, institution or other corporation, entrusted with special functions or powers.The meaning which underlies both applications is that of...
(chief of the civil government), and later president of the council of state.
The relationship between Paoli's government and the British was never clearly defined, however, resulting in numerous questions of authority; in particular, tensions arose from the conflict between Sir Gilbert's loyalty to the British monarchy, and Paoli's republican leanings and desire to defend Corsican autonomy. There was also a pronounced division between Corte, the traditional capital and an inland stronghold, and Bastia
Bastia
Bastia is a commune in the Haute-Corse department of France located in the northeast of the island of Corsica at the base of Cap Corse. It is also the second-largest city in Corsica after Ajaccio and the capital of the department....
on the coast, where Sir Gilbert moved the capital in early 1795, and which was the centre for French and Corsican royalists. At last the crown invited Paoli to resign and return to exile in Britain with a pension, which, having no alternative, he did in 1796. With Spain coming in on the side of the French, the British realised their position in the Mediterranean was on precarious hold, so they had to withdraw their forces from the island before October. On October 19, 1796, the French reconquered Bastia and Corsica became a French département.
See also
- Pasquale Paoli
- Corsican RepublicCorsican RepublicIn November 1755, Pasquale Paoli proclaimed Corsica a sovereign nation, the Corsican Republic, independent from the Republic of Genoa. He created the Corsican Constitution, which was the first constitution written under Enlightenment principles, including the first implementation of female...