THE CORSICAN FLAG, A BANDERA CORSA
No one can exactly explain the true origin of the Moorish head. But several legends persist:
- A Moorish servant was plotting against the king of Aragon. A Corsican thwarted the plot by bringing the head of the Moorish on a white sheet. Then the king of Aragon grateful said to him "this sheet will from now be the flag of your country".
- During Saracen invasions, Corsican impaled the heads of the Moorish officers, recognizable by their white band around the forehead. Branding their trophies during the battles, the Corsairs took the psychological top on their assailants.
Historically some things are reliable, so we know that the flag with the head of Moor, whose headband covered his eyes, is of Aragonese origin, his relationship with the armorial of Corsica dates back to 1297 when Pope Boniface VIII gave the management of Corsica and Sardinia to the King of Aragon. Aragon did not reign over Corsica but he gave his armorial to Sardinia (Red Cross surrounded by 4 Moorish heads on a white background).
In 1736 when Theodore of Neuhoff became king of Corsica, he adopted the Moorish head in his armorial, at that time the head was turned to the right.
In 1745 when Ghjuvan Petru Gaffori attacked the citadel of Bastia besieged by the Genoese, he adopted that flag. He made remove the banner because "Corsica opened the eyes".
In 1760 Pasquale Paoli formalizes the choice of Gaffori, but removed the jewels on the Moorish head and turned it to the left. In 1762 the “Consulta di Corti” adopts the Moorish head in the arms of Corsica.
- A Moorish servant was plotting against the king of Aragon. A Corsican thwarted the plot by bringing the head of the Moorish on a white sheet. Then the king of Aragon grateful said to him "this sheet will from now be the flag of your country".
- During Saracen invasions, Corsican impaled the heads of the Moorish officers, recognizable by their white band around the forehead. Branding their trophies during the battles, the Corsairs took the psychological top on their assailants.
Historically some things are reliable, so we know that the flag with the head of Moor, whose headband covered his eyes, is of Aragonese origin, his relationship with the armorial of Corsica dates back to 1297 when Pope Boniface VIII gave the management of Corsica and Sardinia to the King of Aragon. Aragon did not reign over Corsica but he gave his armorial to Sardinia (Red Cross surrounded by 4 Moorish heads on a white background).
In 1736 when Theodore of Neuhoff became king of Corsica, he adopted the Moorish head in his armorial, at that time the head was turned to the right.
In 1745 when Ghjuvan Petru Gaffori attacked the citadel of Bastia besieged by the Genoese, he adopted that flag. He made remove the banner because "Corsica opened the eyes".
In 1760 Pasquale Paoli formalizes the choice of Gaffori, but removed the jewels on the Moorish head and turned it to the left. In 1762 the “Consulta di Corti” adopts the Moorish head in the arms of Corsica.