History of Marseille

Ancient

Marseille was founded in 600 B.C.E. by Greeks from Phocaea as a trading port under the name ?assa??a (Massalia; see also List of traditional Greek place names). Facing an opposing alliance of the Etruscans, Carthage and the Celts, the Greek colony allied itself with the expanding Roman Republic for protection. 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.

Home port of Pytheas.

Modern

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.