Editing Narbonne (section)

===Under the Romans===
Narbonne was established in [[Gaul]] by the [[Roman Republic]] in 118 BC, as {{nowrap|'''Colonia Narbo Martius'''}}, colloquially {{nowrap|'''Narbo'''}}, and made into the capital of the newly established province of [[Gallia Transalpina]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Collin Bouffier |first=Sophie |year=2009 |title=Marseille et la Gaule méditerranéenne avant la conquête romaine |journal=Pallas |issue=80: Marseille et la Gaule Méditerranéenne avant la Conquête Romaine |pages=51–52 |jstor=43606588}}</ref> It was located on the [[Via Domitia]], the first [[Roman road]] in Gaul, built at the time of the foundation of the colony, and connecting [[Italy]] to [[Spain]]. Geographically, Narbonne was therefore located at a very important crossroads because it was situated where the Via Domitia connected to the [[Via Aquitania]], which led toward the [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic]] through [[Toulouse|Tolosa]] and [[Bordeaux|Burdigala]]. In addition, it was crossed by the river [[Aude (river)|Aude]]. Surviving members of [[Julius Caesar]]'s [[Legio X Equestris]] were given lands in the area that today is called Narbonne. {{Citation needed|date=October 2011}}

Politically, Narbonne gained importance as a competitor to [[Massilia]] ([[Marseille]]). [[Julius Caesar]] settled veterans from his [[Legio X Equestris|10th Legion]] there and attempted to develop its port while Marseille was supporting [[Pompey]]. Among the products of Narbonne, its [[rosemary]]-flower [[honey]] was famous among Romans.<ref>Maguelonne Toussaint-Samat (Anthea Bell, tr.) ''The History of Food'', 2nd ed. 2009:23.</ref>

Later, the [[Roman province|province]] of Gallia Transalpina was renamed [[Gallia Narbonensis]] after the city, which became its capital. Seat of a powerful administration, the city enjoyed economic and architectural expansion. At that point, the city is thought to have had 30,000–50,000 inhabitants, and may have had as many as 100,000.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Planhol |first=Xavier de |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=C19glZh7zfoC&pg=PA47 |title=An Historical Geography of France |last2=Claval |first2=Paul |date=1994-03-17 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-0-521-32208-9 |language=en}}</ref>