Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
MOMENTS IN HISTORY
1. EARLY SETTLERS
Carvings in the Grotte d'Observatoire in Monaco and paintings in the Grotte Cosquer
near Marseille date from as far back as 1 million BC. Between 2500 and 2000 BC,
dwellers in the
Vallée des Merveilles
left behind carvings of beasts and human figures.
2. FOUNDATION OF AIX
In 123 BC the Phoenician Greeks, settled in Marseille since 600 BC, asked for Roman
help against the invading Celtic tribes inland. After defeating the Celts, the Romans
founded Aquae Sextia (Aix) in the area (for further details see
Aix-en-Provence
)
.
3. ADVENT OF CHRISTIANITY
In AD 40 St Honorat brought Christianity to Provence, founding the first monastery
on Ile de Lérins. Camarguais legend, however, claims Christianity was brought here
by Mary Magdalene herself.
4. FRANKS AND SARACENS
With the fall of the Roman Empire in AD 476 Provence was pillaged by barbarians,
eventually coming under the rule of the Franks. From the 8th century the coasts were
harried by Moorish pirates who gave their name to the Massif des Maures. They were
finally defeated in 974 by Guillaume le Libérateur, Count of Arles.
View photo
5. DAWN OF A DYNASTY
In 1297 François Grimaldi, a supporter of the papacy in the Guelph-Ghibelline feuds
which beset 13th-century Italy, seized Monaco and its castle to found the dynasty
which still rules there today.
6. THE AVIGNON PAPACY
Pope Clement V relocated to Avignon in 1309 to escape strife-torn Rome, the first of a
succession of nine French pontiffs who were to reside in the Provençal town. In 1348
Clement VI bought the city and Avignon remained the seat of the papacy until 1377
(for further details see
Palais des Papes
)
.
