The History of the Languedoc

Click on the following link to read an article giving a quick overview of Languedoc history Or see below for more detail.

Prehistoric Period.  From early geological time to the Iron Age. See also Palaeontology. Celts.  Celts in the area and Hannibal's march through the Languedoc. Greeks.  BC 600 - 50: Greek colonies set up Phoenicians.  BC 560: Phoenician settlements established Romans:  BC 60: Start of Roman occupation, including the Domitian Way (Via Domitia), Nîmes with its Maison Carrée and the Pont du Gard. Visigoths et al  AD 300 - 500: Invasion by Alamans, Vandals and Visigoths Moors.  AD c 700: Occupation by the Moors Franks.  AD c 800: Occupation by the Franks.  AD 865: Formation of Catalonia Medieval Period.  The Counts of Toulouse. AD 12th Centuty: Troudours establish Occitan as a literary language.  AD 1208 - 1244: Crusades against the Cathars Go to: War against the Cathars.  AD 1276 some of present Languedoc-Russillon under the rule of the king of Majorca.     Mid 13th Century: Languedoc annexed by France.  AD 1300 New border defences to the South.  14th Century: Visits by the Black Prince.

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The post Medieval Period:

• Wars of Religion.  AD 1559: Edict of Nantes granting freedom of worship to Huguenots. AD 1560 - 1600: Wars of Religion
• Treaty of the Pyrenees.  AD 1659 France aquires the Roussillon under the Treaty of the Pyrenees
• Canal du Midi.  AD 1666: work starts on the Canal du Midi. Click here to go to a page about the Canal
• French Revolution onwards.  Click here for information on the following:   AD 1789: French Revolution.    AD 1875: Phylloxera destroys vines.    AD 1939: Refugees flood in from Spain towards the end of the Spanish Civil War.   AD 1939-45: 2nd World War War and the Vichy Government.
• The Second World War: Click on the following link for more on the Maquis and Allied OSS operations in the Languedoc