For centuries, control over who would be the dominate power of the Mediterranean was
waged between the Ottoman Empire and the nations of Europe. Throughout this centuries long power
struggle, there would be many, now long forgotten instances of Ottoman encroachment
into European held land. Sometimes, with the help of a continental power. In this episode,
We will be looking at Corsica, and the long forgotten Otto-French invasion of the island.
The island of Corsica had been of great importance to the Spanish, who used it as their center hub of
communications between their European provinces, as well as it acting as a way station for smaller
ships that were traveling from Spain to Italy. In 1551, the French under Henry the 2nd, would
launch a series of campaigns against the Hapsburgs in the Holy Roman Empire and Spain, attempting to
become the dominate power within Italy. To help achieve this, he would conclude an alliance with
Suleiman the Magnificent of the Ottoman Empire, just as his father had done previously. A combined
Ottoman French fleet of 100 galleys would be victorious against the main Genoan fleet in the
Battle of Ponza on August the 5th of 1552. This would grant the fleets much needed breathing room
to raid Italy as time went on, and they would use that time wisely. Attacking many cities within the
Calabria region of Southern Italy, even capturing the city of Reggio for a short period of time.
After wintering in the island of Chios, the combined fleet would head west,
and aid in transporting French troops from Parma towards their next target. The Island of Corsica.
Corsica had been ruled by the Republic of Genoa since
1284. Even with the long-standing hold on the island. Genoa did not manage the island well,
and there would be constant fighting between families over control of the inner territory. Due
to financial stress, Genoa would grant the bank of Saint George the island as collateral
in 1453, and the people of Corsica held a public assembly, where an overwhelming number of them
would accept the banks dominance over the island chain. At first, the bank was rather popular,
but as time went on, exclusion zones of native folks, and the gradual increased taxation,
would create a substantial amount of Corsicans that would either be exiled, or leave the
island voluntarily. One of which, would be an individual by the name of Sampiero Corso,
who immigrated to France and became a high-ranking officer in the French army,
playing a major part in their on-going Italian campaigns. A conference with the general staff
would be raised, and at Corso's insistence, Corsica would be a prime French target.
Ottoman and French ships would transport roughly 7,000 men over to the island in August of 1553.
Landing on cap corse, the northern peninsula. By the 24th of the month, Bastia would fall to
the French, Saint-Florent on the 26th and Corte a short time later, with Bonifacio,
located on the southern end of the island, taken in September. The French conquests were largely
centered around the coasts and the major cities, while Sampiero Corso would proceed to use native
Corsicans to wage war in the center of the island, slowly making gains over the interior.
The only major city left to take was Calvi on the north-western section of the island, which was
the most fortified position that the Genoese had held, even prior to the invasion. But by October,
the Ottoman vessels, which had been the bulk of the fleet, were sailing back to Constantinople,
filled to brim with riches from their raids. The French fleet itself headed back to Marseilles for
the winter, leaving roughly 5,000 French men and locally raised Corsican militia to hold
the occupation. With the fleet withdrawl, the tide had now turned, as Genoese and Tuscan ships
now had dominate control over the high seas, and Calvi would be reinforced throughout the winter.
Henry the second would open negotiations with Genoa at the start of the new year,
but it was too late. 15,000 men made up of regulars, german mercenaries, and militia under
Admiral Andrea Doria was en route from Genoa. And their forces would land near Saint-Florent,
putting the city under siege in April of 1554. Word was sent to the Ottomans asking
for the return of the Galley fleet, but they would be delayed en route, and only managed to
attack Naples before needing to return back to Constantinople. The only assistance that
the French would receive was from the Bey of Algeris, but his Galiot force was too small to
contest the Genoese and Tuscan ships, so were delegated to pirate activity and coastal raids.
Saint-Florent would fall in June, Bastiat in September, and Bonifacio in December. The start of
1555, would see the French stuck inland, having lost virtually all of their coastal holdings.
After the recapture of the main coastal cities, details are sparse,
as the French and Genoese would gradual trade land over the next number of years, engaging in small
scale skirmishes centered around said cities, the French not strong enough to dislodge the Geneoses,
but the Genoese not strong enough to dislodge the French from the interior.
Another Turkish fleet would arrive in 1558,
but were ravaged by a plague outbreak, and their effect on Corsica ended up being rather minimal.
In 1559, the treaty of Cateau-Cambr sis would return all of Corsica to Genoese control. But
it wouldn't be too long, before the French would once again come knocking on the islands door.