You're right, the history is absolutely fascinating. Although I was being somewhat fecitious if one takes a step back and looks at the bigger picture, we really should be part of part of Italy. The Genovese may not have treated the Corsicans all that well, but our blood, tradition, language, and culture is of Italian influence and heritage. As I'm sure you know, Italy was for a long time a conglomeration of city-states and there were people "oppressed" by others. Although Corsica (after France had sent it 30,000 troops) lost the battle against the French, they didn't complain that much because France treated them better and was richer, but they have never seen themselves as French. Now I've lived in Italy multiple times and one thing that struct me was how proud each region was of its history and people. I remember this little old lady always refering to this other lady who was 80 yrs old and had moved to Florence from Pisa when she was only 13 yrs old, as the "Lady from Pisa". She was never seen as a native Florentine. Cosican's may see themselves as "different" but they're really Italian. I'm Corsican but I consider myself Corsican/Italian.