Gallia Narbonensis
The Roman province known as Gallia Narbonensis stretched from the Pyrenees Mountains on the west to the Alps on the east. Its southern edge touched the Gulf of Lion, while the Cévennes mountains marked its northern limit. This territory included most of the Rhone catchment area and covered what is now Occitania and Provence in Southern France. The Romans first called this region Gallia Transalpina or Transalpine Gaul to distinguish it from Cisalpine Gaul near Rome. Later sources record a name change to Gallia Narbonensis after the capital Colonia Narbo Martius was established in 118 BC. A census conducted by Gnaeus Pullius Pollio during the Augustan era marks the first recorded use of the new name. The ancient term Provincia Nostra meaning Our Province survived into modern times as the word Provence for the eastern part of the region.
Roman involvement in transalpine Gaul began in 218 BC when Hannibal routed local Gallic tribes across the Rhône River. Massalia had already formed an alliance with Rome to protect the city against Carthaginian threats. In 189 BC praetor Lucius Baebius died while traveling through Ligurian territory on his way to Hispania. The First Transalpine War lasted from 125 BCE to 121 BCE under Roman general Quintus Fabius Maximus Allobrogicus. He defeated the Arverni tribe led by king Bituitus at the Battle of the Isère River. This victory weakened the Arverni and secured security for the province. The area officially became a Roman province in 121 BCE. Romans founded Narbonne in 118 BC and built the Via Domitia road connecting Gaul to Hispania. They also constructed the Via Aquitania leading toward Atlantic ports like Tolosa and Burdigala.
Massalia served as a Greek colony founded around 600 BC that facilitated Hellenisation of Celtic Gaul. The province controlled land routes between Italy and the Iberian Peninsula while providing a buffer against northern Gallic attacks. Trade networks along the Rhône valley connected Gaul to markets in Massalia. Narbonne emerged as a major trading competitor to Massalia after becoming the provincial capital. The region generated significant financial output making it a valuable imperial asset. During the Sertorian War from 80 BCE to 72 BCE Gallia Narbonensis functioned as an important base for military activities. This conflict contributed to the organization and Romanization of the province through administrative restructuring.
Julius Caesar began his Gallic Wars from the capital city of Narbonne. He rebuilt Narbo and established new cities including Forum Julium and Arles. In 49 BC the city of Massalia sided with Pompeians during the civil war. After the war ended Massalia lost all independence and became fully subject to Roman rule. Julius Caesar granted citizenship to many communities within Gallia Narbonensis. Lepidus received responsibility for Narbonese Gaul during the Second Triumvirate in 40 BC alongside Hispania and Africa. Mark Antony governed the remaining territories of Gaul at that time. These reforms transformed local governance structures and integrated the province more deeply into Roman political systems.
Augustus made Gallia Narbonensis a senatorial province governed by a proconsul after becoming Emperor. By the late first century BCE traditional hilltop village patterns had largely disappeared across the countryside. Small farms dotted the landscape where defensible elevated sites were no longer essential. Emperor Diocletian reorganized the Empire in 314 AD merging Gallia Narbonensis with Gallia Aquitania. This created a new administrative unit called Dioecesis Viennensis with its capital located further north in Vienne. The diocese later changed its name to Dioecesis Septem Provinciarum indicating a demotion of provincial status. This restructuring reflected changing imperial priorities regarding regional administration and control mechanisms.
Gnaeus Pullius Pollio served as governor between 18 and 16 BC according to historical records. Marcus Cincius Saturninus held office under Augustus while Titedius Labeo served during Tiberius reign. Manius Vibius Balbinus governed from 15 to 17 AD and Torquatus Novellus Atticus ruled from 30 to 34 AD. Titus Mussidius Pollianus administered the province between 34 and 37 AD before Titus Vinius took over under Nero. Aulus Larcius Priscus governed from 103 to 109 AD followed by Marcus Acilius Priscus Egrilius Plarianus from 118 to 120 AD. Lucius Aurelius Gallus ruled from 124 to 127 AD and Lucius Novius Crispinus Martialis Saturninus served from 144 to 145 AD. Gaius Seius Calpurnius Quadratus Sittianus held office before 150 AD while Lucius Cestius Gallus governed between 165 and 183 AD.
Galla Narbonensis and surrounding areas were incorporated into the Visigothic Kingdom between AD 462 and 477. This event permanently ended Roman political control over the region. After the Gothic takeover the dominions became generally known as Septimania in the west. The term Provence came into use for territories east of the lower Rhone river. The transition marked the end of centuries of Roman administration that had shaped the landscape since 121 BCE. Local communities adapted to new rulers while maintaining some continuity in trade and settlement patterns despite the change in sovereignty.
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Common questions
When did Gallia Narbonensis become a Roman province?
The area officially became a Roman province in 121 BCE. This status followed the First Transalpine War which lasted from 125 BCE to 121 BCE under Roman general Quintus Fabius Maximus Allobrogicus.
Where was the capital of Gallia Narbonensis located and when was it founded?
The capital Colonia Narbo Martius was established in 118 BC. The Romans named this city Narbonne after founding it as the provincial seat following the region's official designation as a province.
Who governed Gallia Narbonensis during the Augustan era census?
Gnaeus Pullius Pollio conducted a census during the Augustan era that marks the first recorded use of the name Gallia Narbonensis. He served as governor between 18 and 16 BC according to historical records.
What happened to Massalia after the civil war ended in 49 BC?
After the war ended Massalia lost all independence and became fully subject to Roman rule. The city had sided with Pompeians during the civil war before Julius Caesar defeated them.
When did Roman political control over Gallia Narbonensis end?
Roman political control permanently ended between AD 462 and 477 when Galla Narbonensis and surrounding areas were incorporated into the Visigothic Kingdom. This event marked the transition where dominions became generally known as Septimania in the west.
All sources
4 references cited across the entry
- 1bookRoman Imperialism: Post-colonial PerspectivesJane Webster — University of Leicester School of Archaeological Studies — 1996
- 2bookTransalpine Gaul: The Emergence of a Roman ProvinceCharles Ebel — Brill — 1976
- 3bookThe Romans: From Village to EmpireMary Taliaferro Boatwright — Oxford University Press — 2011
- 4bookThe Cambridge World History of SlaveryNeville Morley — Cambridge University Press — 2011