Marseille history

The Marseille story began in around 600BC when seafaring Greeks settled on the shores of what is now the Vieux Port, keen to establish a trading post in what was then – as today– an important strategic location. It was one of the largest Greek settlements in Western Europe and, as such, when the Celts and Etruscans began pressing a claim to the territory, it allied itself with the expanding Roman Empire for protection. It remained independent until the first century BC, when it erroneously gave its backing to Pompey the Great, an opponent of Julius Caesar.

Under Roman rule, Marseille’s port – known as Massilia – first welcomed Christianity, before finding itself the subject of various invasions and takeovers as the Roman Empire declined and power struggles sprang up all over Europe.

Marseille formally became part of France only in the 1480s, and even then it very much retained its free-willed character. When around 500 of its citizens marched to Paris in support of the French Revolution, the recently composed song they chanted en route was seen as having such a rousing effect as to become the national anthem (today’s La Marseillaise).

Marseille saw huge growth in manufacturing and industry during the 19th century, and the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 meant even further maritime opportunities came its way. Many of the grandest buildings around the city date from this affluent period, when trade with North Africa was at its peak.

During WWII, Marseille had the dubious distinction of being bombed by both the German and Italian forces (in 1940) and the Allies (three years later). Much of the city was subsequently rebuilt in the 1950s, a project funded mainly by reparations from Germany. There was a marked increase in immigration from the 1950s onwards, which has contributed in large part to the colourful reputation Marseille now enjoys.