SaracenSaracen (ˈsærəsən ) was a term used in the early centuries, both in Greek and Latin writings, to refer to the people who lived in and near what was designated by the Romans as Arabia Petraea and Arabia Deserta. The term's meaning evolved during its history of usage. During the Early Middle Ages, the term came to be associated with the tribes of Arabia. The oldest known source mentioning "Saracens" in relation to Islam dates back to the 7th century, in the Greek-language Christian tract Doctrina Jacobi.
Corsican nationalismCorsican nationalism is a nationalist movement in Corsica that advocates more autonomy for the island, if not outright independence from France. The main separatist party, Corsica Libera, achieved 9.85% of votes in the 2010 French regional elections. However, only 19% and 42% of those who voted respectively for Gilles Simeoni's autonomist list Femu a Corsica and Jean-Guy Talamoni's separatist Corsica Libera were, according to polling, in favour of independence.
Torrean civilizationThe Torrean civilization was a Bronze Age megalithic civilization that developed in Southern Corsica, mostly concentrated south of Ajaccio, during the second half of the second millennium BC. The characteristic buildings of this culture are the torri ("towers"), megalithic structures similar to the Sardinian nuraghes (although the torri were smaller and less impressive), from which the culture takes its name, and the castelli ("castles"), more complex buildings that include a wall, a tower and huts.
Battle of Ponte NovuThe Battle of Ponte Novu took place on May 8 and 9, 1769 between royal French forces under the Comte de Vaux, a seasoned professional soldier with an expert on mountain warfare on his staff, and the native Corsicans under Carlo Salicetti. It was the battle that effectively ended the fourteen-year-old Corsican Republic and opened the way to annexation by France the following year. The Corsican commander-in-chief, Pasquale Paoli, was trying to raise troops in the vicinity but was not present in person.
