MASSALIA

A STORY BY BASTIEN ARMAND

596 BC . Phokaia

A subtle breeze. The dawn of a new day. The water is clear, serene. The anchored boats slowly pitch over waters. The crew is complete. The sails mended. The weapons sharpened. Rowers are taking place. The boats are full: supplies and water for a month. A dozens of amphoraes. Salted fish, olives, barley. They are used to this. But today feels different.

Two weeks earlier, the king had summoned his equipage again. A new land must be found in Liguria. Locations have been identified by previous crews. But food shortage and skirmishes with local tribes brought each mission to an end. The region is risky. Known for being overwatched. Celtics, Carthaginians, Etruscans. The water is clear and serene, but the tension could be felt.The dawn of not a simple voyage. The dawn of a journey that will carve their name into history.

They didn't know it but they are the first group of Phokaians sailing to Liguria who will not return.

596 BC . Phokaia

The Phokaians

History of Massalia brings us back to the Ionians, people from the greek Phoenicia who had established their reputation as a prosperous thalasoccracy in the Mediterranean.

Their float was the illustration of some of the greek greatest engineering accomplishment: pentecontere, bireme or even trireme. Versatile, fast and agile ships that contributed in their naval supremacy at that period, and supported the trades between their own colonies.

The phokaians settled in several strategic locations of the Mediterranean. The first one could actually be Alaria (current Aleria, Corsica). But the Etruscans and Carthaginians empire eventually defeated the Greeks on this colony -known as the naval battle of Alalia, leaving them with no choice but to choose a safer and more prosper location. And that was to be Massalia, which eventually became the Phokaian metropolis.

The harbour

473 BC . massalia

Beyond its less contested status, Massalia's location offered great access to both sea and land trades. Its natural harbour would protect the passage of sailors and travelers. But it also gave great passage through northen lands with the natural trade route of the Rhone.

The economy of the new colony will flourish through wine and olive oil cultures, as well as ceramics trades.

Indeed, massaliotes trades and maritime commerce is very likely what helped them assert their position on the Celtic territory. Potery and greek ceramics were brought to the north (up to places like current Germany and Autrichia) while raw materials like tin and copper were distributed from the Celts to the rest of the Mediterranean through Massalia.

Though its prosperity will heavily depend on the politic stability of Greece, as various wars opposed Greece with the Etruscans, the Carthaginians, and the Spartians throughout the 5th and 4th century BC.

473 BC . massalia

Massalia and Rome

Massalia was able to retain its independence from the Roman empire for the first 5 centuries of its existence. But local conflicts with the Celts, common ennemies (like Carthage), and the declining of Athens made their allegiance to Rome a necessity.

In exchange of ships provision and military aids, Ceasar would grant them protection yet leave their independence untouched. A pledge that Caesar would capitalize on, most notably during the Punic Wars (between 264 and 146 BC).

146 BC.

Unfortunately, this stability would come to an end when the Greeks made side with Pompey in the Civil war of 49BC. The city fell to the hands of Caesar who made it part of the Republic. From now on, the Romans would slowly impose their culture, transform the architecture of the city, and revamp its institutions as well. More importantly, the Roman merchants settled in the regions and their commerce would take over the Massaliote's.

46 BC.

MASSALIA BECAME

MASSILIA

the heritage

Throughout its time, Massalia remained a very unique artefact of the Greek civilisation. First an ark for the Phokaians, then a major port and city in the Hellenic world.

The city, somewhat isolated from the rest of the Greek colonies, shined through commerce and diffused a very unique influence in the region.

Its history is complex and still much debated for some periods. But without a doubt, it thrived for centuries, soaked up numerous cultures, from the Latin and Greek worlds to smaller local tribes, and became the gate between the Gaul and the rest of the mediterranean.

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Note: some illustrations from this story are AI generated and are initially inspired from the painting style of Emile Loubon, a prominent Marseillais painter of the 19th.