Marseille Tourism
Bouches-du-Rhône (13)
Provence - Alps
4, La Canebière,
13000 MARSEILLE
Phone : 04 91 13 89 00
Fax : 04 91 13 89 20
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Marseille was founded in 600 B.C. by Greeks[1] from Phocaea as a trading port under the name Massalia.
Facing an opposing alliance of the Etruscans, Carthage and the Celts, the Greek colony allied itself with the expanding Roman Republic for protection.
The association with the expanding Roman market saw the city thrive by acting as a link between the interior of Gaul, hungry for Roman goods and wine, and Rome's insatiable slave markets.
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Under this arrangement the city maintained its independence until the rise of Julius Caesar, when it joined the losing side in civil war, and lost its independence. It was the site of a siege and naval battle. During the Roman times, it was called Massilia.
It was the home port of Pytheas.
Medieval
From the 5th to the 8th century, Marseilles faced wars, barbarian invasions, pillages and epidemics which led to its impoverishment and depopulation. During the 11th century the city revived economically and received a religious focus (the 1st "abbé" is elected in the abbey of St Victor).
Modern
A view onto the Old Port
The Fort Saint Nicolas, overlooking the harbour on the left bank
In 1934 Alexander I of Yugoslavia arrived at the port to meet with the French foreign minister Louis Barthou. He was assassinated there by Vlada Georgieff.
Credits
: This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the
Wikipedia article
"Marseille".
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