Gallia Narbonensis was a Roman province located in what is now Languedoc and Provence, in southern France. It had previously been known as Gallia Transalpina (Transalpine Gaul). The Romans called it Provincia Nostra ("our province") or simply Provincia ("the province"), a name which has survived in the modern name of the region, Provence.

Bordering directly on Italy, control of the province gave the Roman state several advantages, such as control of the land route between Italy and the Iberian peninsula; a buffer against attacks on Italy by tribes from Gaul; and control of the lucrative trade routes of the Rhone valley, over which commercial goods flowed between Gaul and the trading center of Massalia, modern Marseille.
The area became a Roman province in 121 BC, originally under the name of Gallia Transalpina (Transalpine Gaul). This name was chosen to distinguish it from Cisalpine Gaul. Transalpine means "the far side of the Alps", while Cisalpine means "this side of the Alps". Cisalpine Gaul was on the east of the Alps range, in what is now northern Italy and parts of France; while Transalpine Gaul was to the west, in what is now south-east France. Together, the regions made up the region of Gaul, which was called Gallia by the Romans.

The province of Gallia Transalpina was later renamed Gallia Narbonensis, after its capital the Roman colony of Narbo Martius (Narbonne), which was founded on the coast in 118 BC.

Area in red: Gallia Narbonensis

Founding city: Massilia

The founding city of Narbonensis, Massilia (modern day Marseille) was settled by the Phoacaeans around 600 BC. In its infancy Massilia’s economic basis was primarily focused on trade. The Greeks introduced staple crops such as olives and grapes to be grown around the colony. Massilia and the colony of Narbonensis itself are famous or notorious for its wine trade. Diodorus Siculus states that the native Gauls had an extreme fondness for wine and excessive drinking. numbers of cups, jugs, and craters found in excavations back up these ancient sources. Recognizing their insatiable desire for the drink, the Greeks and later the Romans would exploit the Gauls by exchanging slaves for amphorae of wine. At any rate, Narbonensis was an important site for trade routes due to its location on the Mediterranean. Geographically, the land and climate mirror Italy. The soil, vegetation, and atmosphere were quite similar to Greek and Latin lands, which most likely inspired colonization.

Massilia’s initial involvement with Rome dates back to their mutual alliance against Carthage during the Second Punic War Massolite ships aided Rome in the crusade to stave off Hannibal’s invasion. The native Gauls, on the other hand, decided to back Hannibal because of the defeat neighboring tribes had received by Roman armies in Gallia Cisaplinia. Although Hannibal was ultimately defeated, it became apparent that the Massilites had lost control over the native tribes of the region. Two of these tribes would initiate future Roman intervention, the Ligurians tribes, who lived in the lower region of the Alps and the Saluvii, (commonly referred to as the Celts) located north of Massilia. Roman armies were present to protect Massilite interests in 154 BC. The Romans wanted to keep these and other native tribes in-check. Consul M. Fulvius Flaccus was sent to defend Massilia against the Saluvii in 125 BC, apparently he was successful, because he received a triumph in 123 BC. His successor, on the other hand, C. Sextius Calvinus, achieved even more. In123 BC he overthrew the Saluvian capitol Entremont, and established a military garrison that would later become Aquae Sextiae. The Romans achieved further success under the generals Domitius Ahenobarbus and Q. Fabius Maximus during 122-121 BC. It was also during this time that the first Roman road was completed in the region. The road ran from the Rhone to the Col du Perthus in the Pyrennes. Luckily, one of the milestones of the road has been recovered. The stone is illustrated with Domitius’s name, telling us that he was in control of the area during its construction. Military success in the area also helped initiate the colony of Narbo in 118 BC. Narbo stands out as Rome’s first overseas colony, and served as an important trade route from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean.

Although some degree of success had been achieved in the area, outside threats still remained. The Germanic tribes of the Cimbri and the Teutones had been mounting an invasion since 120 BC. By 113 they had reached the Kingdom of Noricum a Roman ally. Rome, fearing an invasion of Italy, engaged the Germanic tribes at Noreia, but, amazingly, were defeated. The Romans suffered one of their worst defeats at the battle of Arausio (Orange), where 80,000 Roman troops were reported dead. This was their most dramatic loss since the battle of Cannae. Finally Rome would receive its revenge under the consulship of C. Marius, who soundly defeated the Germanic tribes in 102 and 101 BC. After Marius the successes continued when Pompey secured the Spanish-Gallic boundary in 77-76 BC. Final consolidation was achieved during Caesar’s Gallic Wars from 58-50 BC. Caesar’s victories ensured Roman dominion in south-western Gaul as well as expanding the northern territories. Massalia was officially incorporated as a Roman city after Caesar defeated their navy in 49 BC, during the Civil War (unfortunately for the Massolites, they had sided with Pompey). Under Augustus’s reform Gaul was split into four major provinces; Belgica, Lugudunensis, Aquitania, and Narbonensis. Narbonensis was senatorial; the three other Gauls were imperial.

Once the boarders were secure, Narbonensis and its cities fell under true Romanization. New towns, public buildings, theaters, and temples were constructed. Some of these accomplishments can be seen at Nemausus (Nimes).

City plan of Nemausus (Nimes)

The amphitheatre in Nemausus measured 133.8 m long and 101.4 m wide, with maximum seating for over 20,000 people. Aquae Sextiae was furnished with five aqueducts, the longest of which ranged 20km. Long. Temple remains at Chateau-Bas Verneques are of the classical type, and they contained sculptures of Neptune, Mercury, and Jupiter. Other evidence exists in the smaller town of Glancum, with a temple that was dedicated to Agrippa. Narbo and other cities of the province were mostly settled by veterans during the time of Caesar and Augustus. Narbo was not only rich in agricultural value but was also embellished with mineral resources. Iron, copper, silver, and gold mines have been located in the northern area. Trade was carried out by the army, where metal ingots were shipped from Narbo to the Rhone Valley. Pottery was also part of the local industry, which came to fruition around the first century BC.

Although the province of Narbonensis had enjoyed successes through several centuries of Romanization it would not last. Gaul had fell out of Roman control through a number of circumstances. Narbo was fist devastated by fire in the second century, and later, downfall in capital wealth and concurrent barbarian invasions (253-236 BC) greatly slowed its prosperity. Narbo was sacked by the Visogoths in 462, and the entire colony had passed out of Roman control by the fifth century.

Nemausus (Nimes), Maison Carree

Sources:

Wikipedia
D. Unzelman, Gallia Narbonensis

Prefect: Titus Pullo Lupus Notable Residents: Aelia Cassius