Simone Lawson
The Corsican Constitution was written in 1755 by Pasquale Paoli, who was seeking independence from the Republic of Genoa. It was the first constitution written in the Italian language and included various Enlightenment principles, such as female suffrage. The Corsican Republic was short-lived, and the constitution remained in force until the annexation of Corsica by France in 1769. A second Corsican Constitution was drawn up in 1794 for the Anglo-Corsican Kingdom, which lasted from 1794 to 1796.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 1755 |
| Language | Tuscan Italian |
| Writer | Pasquale Paoli |
| Inspiration | Jean-Jacques Rousseau |
| Independence from | Republic of Genoa |
| Suffrage | Universal for those over 25, including women |
| Legislature | Corsican Diet (or Consulta Generale) |
| Legislature Members | Over 300 |
| Legislature Meetings | Once a year |
| Legislature Delegates | Elected by acclamation from each parish for three-year terms |
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What You'll Learn
The first Corsican Constitution was written in 1755
Corsica had long been under the control of Genoa, but in 1755, Paoli, known as "the precursor of Italian irredentism," led a movement to free the island. He proclaimed the Corsican Republic, introducing a constitution that was not only the first of its kind in Italy but also predated the American Constitution by over three decades. Paoli's constitution was a product of his admiration for Italian culture and his belief in the need for Corsican independence, democracy, and liberty.
The document itself was written in Tuscan Italian, the language of elite Corsican culture at the time, and consisted of around ten and a half pages. Paoli's constitution included various Enlightenment principles, such as universal suffrage for those over the age of twenty-five, which notably included women—a radical concept for its time. It also established a legislature, the Corsican Diet, composed of over 300 members, who were elected by acclamation from each parish for three-year terms.
The Corsican Constitution of 1755 was short-lived, as Corsica was annexed by France in 1769, and the island fell under autocratic rule. However, Paoli's work left a lasting impact, with Linda Colley crediting him with writing the first written constitution of a nation-state. The Corsican Constitution inspired later attempts at self-governance, including the second Corsican Constitution in 1794, which introduced suffrage for all property owners during the short-lived Anglo-Corsican Kingdom.
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It was drafted by Pasquale Paoli
The Corsican Constitution was written in 1755 by Pasquale Paoli, who was seeking independence from the Republic of Genoa. Paoli's ideas of independence, democracy, and liberty gained support from philosophers such as Voltaire, Raynal, and Mably. The Corsican Constitution was the first written constitution of a nation-state, predating the American Constitution by over 30 years. Paoli's constitution was inspired by the works of Montesquieu and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, who wrote "Projet de constitution pour la Corse" in 1763.
Paoli's constitution was written in Tuscan Italian, the language of elite Corsican culture at the time. It included various Enlightenment principles, such as universal suffrage for men and women over the age of twenty-five. This was a significant departure from the traditional method of election, which was based on family heads and parish representatives. The Corsican Constitution also established a legislature, the Corsican Diet, composed of over 300 members who were elected by acclamation from each parish for three-year terms.
Paoli's efforts to free Corsica from colonial control were successful, and he became the elected head of the Corsican Diet. However, this period of independence was short-lived, as the French invaded the island in 1768 and subjected the Corsicans to autocratic rule. Despite the eventual annexation of Corsica by France in 1769, Paoli's constitution and his efforts to establish an independent republic had a significant impact on the island's history and the development of democratic principles.
Paoli's work on the Corsican Constitution and his leadership in seeking independence from Genoa made him renowned as a freedom fighter, both during his lifetime and in historical retrospect. His ideas and the principles enshrined in the Corsican Constitution continue to be studied and celebrated, even as the specific provisions and historical context have evolved over time.
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It was written in Tuscan Italian
The Corsican Constitution was written in 1755, a time when Tuscan Italian was the language of elite Corsican culture. It was drafted by Pasquale Paoli, who sought to free the Mediterranean island from the colonial control of Genoa. Paoli's ideas of independence, democracy, and liberty gained support from philosophers such as Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Voltaire, Raynal, and Mably.
Corsica had a unique ethnolinguistic character due to its strong historical ties to Sardinia and other neighboring peninsular peoples. This distinct identity shaped its claim for cultural recognition and self-rule. In fact, Corsican is an Italo-Dalmatian tongue that is closely related to Tuscan Italian. Paoli himself was sympathetic to Italian culture and regarded Corsican as an Italian dialect.
The choice to write the Corsican Constitution in Tuscan Italian reflected the prestige and influence of Italian culture on the island at that time. It also aligned with Paoli's vision for the newly founded Corsican Republic, as he wanted Italian to be its official language. This decision carried symbolic weight and served as a statement of cultural and linguistic affiliation.
The use of Tuscan Italian in the Corsican Constitution is significant as it showcases the interplay between language and power. By adopting the language of elite culture, Paoli positioned the Corsican Republic within the sphere of Italian influence. This choice also contributed to the enduring legacy of the Tuscan Italian language on the island, even as subsequent colonial powers, like France, sought to impose their own languages and cultural norms.
The content of the Corsican Constitution is equally noteworthy. It was described by historian Dorothy Carrington as a "concentrated statement of some major doctrines of the Enlightenment." The constitution included various Enlightenment principles, such as female suffrage, and established a representative democracy with a Diet or parliament.
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It was inspired by Jean-Jacques Rousseau
The first Corsican Constitution was drafted in 1755 by Pasquale Paoli, who was seeking independence from the Republic of Genoa. It was written in Tuscan Italian, the language of elite Corsican culture at the time. The constitution was inspired by Jean-Jacques Rousseau, who was commissioned by the Corsicans in 1763 to write the Projet de constitution pour la Corse.
Rousseau's work states that each citizen of Corsica is obliged to swear an oath of allegiance to the Corsican nation. While the Corsicans are praised for their bravery, they are also warned of their vices. They are encouraged to lead an agricultural life, as agriculture builds individual character and national health. Laws should be framed to induce people to avoid gathering in cities, and trade, commerce, and finance should be discouraged as they lead to fraudulent activities. All travel should be done on foot or by beast. Early marriage and large families should be encouraged, while unmarried citizens over the age of forty should lose their citizenship. The government should exercise control over education and public morality, with the Cantons of Switzerland serving as a model for the form of government.
Rousseau believed that the Corsican people were in a fortunate condition that made it possible to establish a good constitution. They could start anew and take steps to prevent degeneration. He thought that the Corsicans had not yet adopted the vices of other nations, but they had already adopted their prejudices, and these prejudices would need to be combated and destroyed to create good institutions. The advantageous location of the island of Corsica and the natural qualities of its inhabitants seemed to offer them a reasonable hope of becoming a flourishing people and making their mark in Europe.
However, Rousseau also acknowledged the challenges facing Corsica, including the extreme exhaustion caused by forty years of uninterrupted warfare, the existing poverty of the island, and the state of depopulation and devastation. He pointed out that the Corsicans would need to overcome significant obstacles to establish a strong and independent nation.
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Corsica was independent from Genoa at the time
The Corsican Constitution was written in 1755 by Pasquale Paoli, who was seeking independence from the Republic of Genoa. The Corsican Republic was a short-lived state on the island of Corsica in the Mediterranean Sea. It was proclaimed in July 1755 and remained independent from Genoa until 1769, when it was conquered by the French.
Corsica had a long history of being fought over by various powers, including the Holy Roman Empire, the papacy, and the city-states of Pisa and Genoa. The island was first conquered by Charlemagne in 774 and changed hands multiple times over the centuries. In 1077, the island was transferred to the papacy, and in 1090, the Pope yielded civic administration to Pisa. However, the rivalry between Pisa and Genoa soon led to conflict over Corsica. The island was annexed to the Papal States in 1217 but fell to Genoa in 1284 after the battle of Meloria.
Genoa retained control of Corsica until the establishment of the Corsican Republic in 1755. Pasquale Paoli, who had been living in exile, returned to Corsica in that year with the works of Montesquieu in hand. He led the effort to free the island from Genoese control and created the Corsican Constitution, which was written in Italian. The constitution included various Enlightenment principles, such as female suffrage, and provided for a legislature, the Corsican Diet, composed of over 300 members.
Despite Paoli's efforts, the Corsican Republic was unable to fully eject the Genoese from the island. The Republic of Genoa retained control of the major coastal fortresses of Calvi and Bonifacio. In 1767, the Corsicans took the island of Capraia from the Genoese, but the Republic of Genoa was exhausted by four decades of fighting and sold their claim to the island to France in 1768. The French conquest of Corsica was launched in May of that year and met with fierce resistance, but the Corsican army was decisively defeated at the Battle of Ponte Novu in 1769, bringing an end to Corsican independence.
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Frequently asked questions
The first Corsican Constitution was written in 1755.
Pasquale Paoli wrote the first Corsican Constitution.
The first Corsican Constitution was written in Tuscan Italian, the language of elite Corsican culture at the time.
The Corsican Constitution included various Enlightenment principles, including female suffrage and universal suffrage for men over 25. It also established a legislature, the Corsican Diet, composed of over 300 members.
The first Corsican Constitution lasted until 1769 when Corsica was annexed by France and came under autocratic French rule.
