Resisting the might of France’s imperial power proved challenging. The turning point came in 1769 when the French army clashed with Corsican forces. During the Battle of Ponte Novu. Following a swift victory, France claimed Corsica as its territory.
Shortly thereafter, Napoleon Bonaparte was born. His father Carlo, was a lawyer who initially fought alongside Corsican freedom fighters. But after the French army’s triumph Paoli had to flee the country. And Carlo switched allegiance. The shift was notable, as Carlo became an ardent supporter of the French royalty. He used connections to make advances in his career. He secured the status of Nobility.
By 1777, he became Corsica’s representative to the court of the new French king, Louis XVI. This transformation bothered Napoleon. He harboured no fondness for his father. He viewed his father as a coward and deserter. But it was his father’s connections that Napoleon and his brother Joseph secured scholarships, enabling him to enroll in the French Military College.
