The French Island of Corsica the birthplace of Napoleon has switched hands many times. When the Roman Empire’s western half collapsed in the 5th century, the Ostrogoths and Vandals invaded the island that already had a history of being invaded. It soon became the March of Tuscany’s dependency and later was ruled by Pisa and Genoa. Genoa feeling it could no longer hold the island against its enemies, gave up the island to France.