But at length force and intrigue together proved too much for D'Istria, his enemies cunningly sowing dissensions in every available quarter, and rousing up against him the antagonism of some of the proud and lawless seigniors, or barons. He left Corsica to entreat the assistance of Spain, but was taken prisoner on the voyage, and ended his days by decapitation at Genoa in 1434.
For the next twenty years greater confusion than ever reigned in the unhappy island.
Here and there a noble-minded patriot was to be found amongst the barons, a man who loved his country better than rank or wealth, and who could merge his own interests uncomplainingly in those of his suffering countrymen; but as a rule, the seigniors were selfish and proud, fighting more for their own supremacy than for the freedom of their land, and the nobler spirits were to be found amongst those of less noble birth.
During these twenty years half a dozen barons kept up petty civil wars in their country, each striving after the position of chief or king of Corsica; whilst the contest with the Genoese troops never flagged; and the king of Aragon likewise put in a claim to the island.
In 1453, by the consent of the puzzled and distracted people, whose blood had been shed unavailingly in every direction, and whose foes were as numerous as the hydra-headed monster, it was resolved to accept the "protection" or supremacy of the Bank of St. George of Genoa, a company of capitalists, useful to the Genoese court, which ceded its Corsican claims to them. The Bank accordingly commenced its process of "farming" Corsica, which, save for an interregnum of about twenty years, when the Milanese and Piombinese took their place, was continued for nearly three hundred years. But not unchallenged.
A large proportion of the people had never consented from the first to this change of masters. They had no greater faith in the Bank of Genoa than in the Court of Genoa, and preferred death, starvation, and ruin to any foreign master. And by degrees the cruel exactions and boundless injustice of the new governors brought over to their opinion the small remnant who, in their despair, had agreed to the new arrangement.
Another Della Rocca appeared on the scene at this time, and for many years he and a rival nobleman, Giovanni Paoli da Leca, with their retainers, fought with equal spirit against each other and against the common enemy.
In 1501, Da Leca was driven from his beloved country, never to return; but the dauntless Renuccio della Rocca continued his efforts for many years longer. Constantly defeated and chased from the island, he as constantly returned again to harass his bitter foes, sometimes accompanied only by a few followers.
Twice he was forced to come to terms, and was carried as a prisoner to Genoa; but his spirit never failed, and each time he managed, after a short space, to escape from prison, the Genoese on the first occasion revenging themselves for the loss of the father by the execution of his eldest son.
In 1510 this determined man returned for the last time to his native land, with only eight followers. The peasantry were exhausted and decimated by ceaseless wars, and the leader for whom they longed was the exiled Da Leca.