But both Bonifacio and Calvi were not only garrisoned, but to a great extent colonized by natives of Genoa, and with these points d'appui and the superior power of Genoa to back him up, General Doria could not but, after a time, get the better of his opponents.
When blind and very old, Della Rocca, the noble patriot and just judge, was treacherously betrayed into the hands of his enemies by a son of his own, and ended his days, deserted and uncared for, in a wretched dungeon in Genoa.
From that time until the middle of the eighteenth century, Corsica remained writhing beneath the scourge of the Genoese power; sometimes, however, shaking off the yoke and chastising the enemy, and never, for more than a few years at a time, remaining quiescent beneath the tyranny they loathed.
Crushed but not quelled, ruined but not disheartened, decimated but never terrified, the Corsican nature, strong and simple, remained true to its universal instinct, the principle which was their very life and being, and which they imbibed with their mother's milk—love of country and love of liberty.
During that time, the land literally bathed its plains in the blood of martyrs, and no Corsican thought it too much to give up home and life for the sake of that suffering country which was so dear to him in her suffering, or that freedom which was to him more than life itself.
The castle of Guidice della Rocca, who was the first Corsican of mark to lose his life in disputing the invasion of Genoa, is situated on a lofty rock above Monticelli, a mountain village about half-way between San Fiorenzo and Isola Rossa. It is now, of course, in ruins, but still commands the road below with stern grey walls that are not the less grand for the decaying touch of age.
About seventy years after the death of Guidice, another of his family rose up, Arrigo by name, who, until he was poisoned in the year 1401, did good service for his country, vanquishing the Genoese, driving them for some years almost entirely from the island, and winning the friendship of the king of Spain.
But Arrigo, although wise and brave, was cruel; and he soon raised up a strong home faction against himself by his remorseless measures. This was headed by some of the barons, who ultimately drove him from the country. But only for two months; after which time, Arrigo della Rocca re-appeared, defeated the Genoese, and regained his power in the island.
But Genoa had not now to learn for the first time the use of poison, nor to seek far for assassins to carry out her infamous designs. In the history of Corsica, treachery and murder on the part of the Genoese republic play a conspicuous part, and they were foes with which the devoted heroism and the ceaseless energy of their opponents were unable to cope. As fast, however, as one patriot of note disappeared, another rose up in his place to take the part of leader among his distracted countrymen; and Vincentello d'Istria, reared an exile, and serving in the army of the king of Aragon, but by birth belonging to the same noble family as Arrigo, was the next to make his name famous in his country's cause.
For more than fifteen years he led his countrymen, with varying success, against the Genoese forces; at one time even wresting from them Calvi, their great stronghold, and going near to possessing himself also of Bonifacio, which, however, after a brave resistance by its Genoese garrison, was relieved at the last moment.