However, the landscape changed in 1789 with the onset of the French Revolution. During this period, Corsica fell under the jurisdiction of the new French National Assembly, leading to the pardon of Pasquale Paoli. After a 20-year exile, Paoli returned, and was greeted warmly by the people of Corsica including Napoleon. Subsequent elections in Corsica saw Pasquale Paoli emerge victorious, becoming the President.
Despite Napoleon’s ‘traitorous’ father having passed away by the time and Napoleon holding Paoli in high regard, Paoli harboured resentment toward Napoleon’s family, Consequently, Paoli declared that such traitorous families could not live in Corsica, prompting Napoleon and his family to relocate from Corsica to France in June 1793.
Following this, Paoli severed ties with the French Revolutionary Assembly, aligning himself with their enemy, the British. This is why, in 1794, the Anglo-Corsican Kingdom was established, expelling France from Corsica and rendering it a puppet state under British control. However, this arrangement lasted only two years. In 1796, France launched an attack, reclaiming Corsica from British rule. Meanwhile, France was embroiled in a civil war, marked by various factions of French revolutionaries and counter-revolutionaries. People, divided into various groups, were fighting among themselves.
