One of Doria's first actions was a puerile and ignoble one. Marching to Bastelica, the birthplace of the great Corsican, he burnt the village, and destroyed Sampiero's house.
But Sampiero's house and his possessions were little to him, compared to the sufferings of his country; and he was far more deeply touched by the cruelties inflicted on the harmless and the innocent by his unfeeling foe. For three years he carried on the warfare, more or less successfully, against the very superior forces of Genoa; and during this time was not merely the military leader of his people, but also their statesman, convoking national assemblies, which he guided by his far-seeing wisdom to prudent measures, and in every way endeavouring to lay the seeds of a constitution that, when peace should come, might be a blessing to his country.
But the patriot was doomed at length to fall by treachery. Since the fatal act of passion which resulted in his wife's death, the family of the Ornano had naturally become his bitterest foes; and, to abet their terrible vendetta, they deserted their very country and offered to assist the Genoese by stratagem.
The old warrior was decoyed by forged letters, with but a small party of followers, into a narrow defile, where his enemies, rushing suddenly from their ambuscade, swarmed upon him, eager for his blood. The old lion fought hard for life, but was at length overcome, and his head cut off and carried to Doria.
It was in the year 1567, when Sampiero was in his sixty-ninth year, that this greatest of Corsicans thus fell, by the sword of his fellow-countrymen.
For two years his eldest son Alfonso continued the war with considerable success; and then a treaty was concluded with Genoa on favourable terms for the brave little island.
For the next fifty years Corsica remained inactive; depressed and miserable under renewed Genoese exactions and tyrannies, but too exhausted to resume hostilities.
In 1729, however, fighting again broke out, suddenly roused by one of the many private wrongs then pressing upon the lower orders, and the rebellion soon spread over the whole island.
It was well organized under two leaders of energy and ability, and was more determined in its measures than ever. Internal reforms had been effected, a general oath of resistance to the death against Genoa was adopted, and the very clergy, who had sometimes shown themselves but lukewarm friends to their country's cause, were at length roused by the dishonesty of the republic, to take part with their fellow-countrymen, and to declare the war a sacred one.
Genoa had recourse to the emperor of Germany, from whom she bought several thousand mercenaries, who were sent across the sea to try their skill upon these unconquerable islanders. Genoa paid high for her assistance: thirty thousand gulden monthly for the force of eight thousand men; and for every man killed or deserting, a compensation of one hundred gulden.