Collioure’s Ancient History
Phoenicians Greeks, Romans & Arabs
Greeks & Phoenicians in Collioure, 600 BC
Over two thousand years ago, Collioure was actually once two villages separated by the Douy River.
In the 7th century BC, Greek seafarers arrived on the Vermilion Coast and started to bring their civilisation and traditions to the area bringing vines and olive oil to Collioure and the surrounding area.
It was first really settled in the 6th century BC by Phoenicians from Corinth and Greek seafarers who used Collioure’s useful natural port as a trading point for the iron trade. However, early settlers’ main staple was, of course, fishing and, for most of its history, Collioure has been known as a fishing village and, in particular, anchovies.
The French Gallic Tribes in Collioure 200 BC
The Greeks ruled this area for over three centuries until more arrivals started to come from Iberia (modern day Spain and Portugal), but it was until the end of the 3rd Century BC, that the Gallic tribes of France ventured down this far south and conquered the area around Collioure, so we can say that Collioure’s French influence really started in the 2nd century BC.
The Romans Arrive to Collioure, 100 BC
However, the French tribes rule over Collioure was shortlived as the Romans invaded towards the end of the second century BC and Collioure became port city for Elne, the regional Roman capital.
And, frankly thank goodness for that, as the Romans introduced many aspects of their culture, architecture and traditions to the Roussillon. In fact, the name Collioure comes the Roman name for it, Caucoliberis.
Back then, Collioure was really a dependency of Port-Vendres, or Portus Veneris as it was called in Latin, and Port-Vendres was where Roman ships would dock. Thus, they Romans established a castrum – or fort - in Collioure and occupied for seven centuries until as last as the 5th century AD as a highly strategic port to control the area.
So, when Hannibal was gearing up to cross the Pyrenees against Rome, Hannibal sent his emissaries to the local tribes near Collioure to actually block the Roman legions that arrived to Collioure in pursuit of Hanibal.
Visigoths Seize Collioure, 400 AD
But, in the fourth century AD, the Roman Empire experienced constant attacks by the Visigoths tribes hailing from Germany, who repeatedly raided and attacked the Roman Empire until they finally established their own kingdoms in Spain and Gaul.
So, it was that in 410 AD, the Visigoths, led by Ataulphus, settled in Southern Gaul, including Collioure, and then later in Spain in 415 AD.
Collioure thus became under Visigoth rule and renamed the town, Septimania. Very little was written down during the Visigoth era, but we do know that the wonderfully named King Wamba ruled Collioure in 673.
The Visigoths established their capital in Toulouse, where they ruled Roussillon and Collioure for about a century - until 507 AD - when the Franks under King Clovis conquered them and push them out south towards Spain.
Collioure, however, remained under the Visigoth rule and was a strategic commercial port for the Visigoths who fortified Collioure and were able to keep Collioure for another three centuries until the Arabs finally conquered them in the 8th century AD and took Collioure.
The Arabs Take Collioure, 700 AD
So, around 710 AD, the Arabs, led by the Umayyad Caliphate, took control of Collioure. Both Collioure and Port Vendre with their natural ports were prime targets to the Arabic Saracen fleet.
Yet, the Caliphate was under pressure from the start because the rest of France was under Frankish rule and, in the mid-8th century, Charlemagne, the King of the Franks, was focused on driving back the Arabs from Gaul.
Charlemagne Seizes Collioure, 800 AD
Charlemagne repeatedly waged military campaigns against the Umayyad Caliphate and, despite facing defeats in his initial attempts, he persisted, and by the late 8th century, he had established control of Collioure as part of the famous Spanish March.
So, we can really say that, the French history of Collioure begins from the 9th century when feudalism and countships started to grow and dynasties began with the First Count of Roussillon, Guifred, under the Franks.