Page 48 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Provence & The Côte d'Azur

46  INTRODUCING PROVENCE

Medieval Provence

With the fall of the Roman Empire, stability and relative
prosperity began to disappear. Although Provence became
part of the Holy Roman Empire, the local counts retained The Great Walls, finally
considerable autonomy and the towns became fiercely completed in 1300, 30 years
after Louis IX’s death, were over
independent. People withdrew to hilltops to protect themselves 1.6 km (1 mile) long and formed
an almost perfect rectangle.fect rectangle.
from attack by a series of invaders, and villages perchés an almost per
(see pp24–5) began to develop. Provence became a major base
for Christian Crusaders, intent on conquering
Muslim territories in Africa and Asia.

St-Trophime Carving
The monumental
12th-century portal at
St-Trophime in Arles
(see p148) is adorned
with intricate carvings
of saints and scenes from
the Last Judgment.

Louis IX’s army consisted
of 35,000 men plus horses
and military equipment.

Louis IX

St Martha and the
Tarasque
This 9th-century legend
proved the strength
of Christianity. The saint
is said to have lured the
Tarasque dragon to
its death, using
hymns and holy The Seventh Crusade
water (see p144). Hoping to drive the Muslims out of the Holy Land,
Louis IX (St Louis) of France set sail from his new
port, Aigues-Mortes (see pp138–9), in 1248. It was
a spectacular occasion, with banners waving and
his army singing hymns.

737–9 Anti-Frankish rebellions 949 Provence divided
in Avignon, Marseille and 855 Kingdom of Provence into four counties
Arles brutally suppressed created for Charles the Bald,
536 Provence ceded by Charles Martel grandson of Charlemagne
to the Franks
600 700 800 900
Battle between
the Crusaders 800 First wave of 924 Hungarians
and the Saracens Saracen invasions sack Nîmes
Charles the Bald