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IL is univerfàll}' allowed to be one of the plealanteil parts in the fouth of France, owing
to the Ibftncfs and falubrity of the atmofphere, to the great variety of its produdions, and
the fertility of the foil.
It poflefles alfo an exteniive commerce, which has for many centuries been in a moft
flouriiliing ftate, and which may, in a great meafure, be attributed to the iitiiation, the
fafety, and the convemence, of its hai'bours.
The inliabitants derive their origin from a colony of Phocians, who fettled in Gaul
nearly fix hundred and twenty years before tlie Chriflian era, il" we may credit Juftin and
Polybius, and who foon after founded the famous city of Marfeilles, which became one of
the moft coniiderable of the Grecian colonies.
The Romans, inlatiable of conqueft, and not even fatisfied witli the deftruftion of
Carthage, refolved on chaftifing the Gauls for having favoured the paflage of Hannibal
into Italy ; which, after a vigorous reiifiance of four years on the part of the inhabitants of
tlie A]ps, they were able to efFeft by penetrating into Tranfalpine Gaul, and fubduing the
whole traél of country from the Var to the mouth of tlie Rhone, or Gallia Narboiienfis
Secunda.
Rome, fenfible of the great advantages gained by this conqueft, granted many privileges
to its inhabitants, and (as Pliny obfen-es, in lib. iii. cap. 4) confidered that province as a
fécond Italy, from its fertility, opulence, and extenfive commerce.
That part of Gallia Narbonenfis continued, for feveral centuries, to fliare the fate of tlie
empire, till, Rome at laft falling a prey to the hordes of barbarians which at that time invaded
Italy, it fell fucceffively imder the dominion of the Vifigoths, the Burgundians, and
the Goths. Thefe laft added to it the country of Septimanoe ; but they were foon deprived '
of their pofleffions by the Saracens, who infefted thofe coafts till the year 733 of our era;
when Charles Martel, king of France, conquered thofe countries, and annexed them to his
kingdom ; in which ftate ihey remained till the divifion of that great empire among the
children of Lewis theFirft, fumamed Le Debonnaire, A. D. 817- Lothaire the Firft, fucceeding
to the weftem empire, and inheriting Provence, ere£ted it into a monarchy, which
devolved to his defcendants ; by whom it was divided into feveral petty ftates, with the
title of Count.
In 1480, Charles of Anjou, king of Jerufalem and the Sicilies, as alfo the laft coimt of
Provence, dying without ilTue, bequeathed his poiTeflions to Lewis tlie Eleventh, king of
France ; iuice which it has continued to form a part of that government.
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