The Marseille Trilogy: How a City Defined France

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the history of Marseille, France's oldest city, from its founding by Greek settlers around 600 BCE to its role as a revolutionary hotbed and multicultural hub. They discuss the city's unique identity as a Phocaean colony, its prosperity under the Roman Republic, its fierce independence during the Middle Ages, and its transformation into a port of empire. The conversation highlights key figures like the revolutionary Barbaroux and the modern writer Jean-Claude Izzo, whose 'Marseille Trilogy' novels capture the city's gritty soul. Lucas explains how Marseille's history of immigration—from Italians and Corsicans to Armenians and North Africans—shaped its vibrant, often misunderstood character. They touch on the city's role in the French Resistance during World War II, the 1934 assassination of King Alexander I of Yugoslavia, and the tragic collapse of buildings in the historic Panier district. The episode ends with a reflection on Marseille's enduring spirit as a crossroads of the Mediterranean. #Marseille #GreekColonization #Phocaea #Massalia #RomanProvince #MedievalMarseille #FrenchRevolution #Barbaroux #JeanClaudeIzzo #MediterraneanHistory #PortCity #Immigration #FrenchResistance #PanierDistrict #KingAlexanderAssassination #UrbanHistory #History #FexingoHistory #NapoleonBonaparte #LouisXIV Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo