Béziers

Quick Facts: Who was Béziers?

Subject:

Béziers

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Historic city in southern France, known for its ancient roots and the Feria de Béziers.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Béziers (French: [bezje] ; Occitan: Besièrs) is a city in southern France. It is a subprefecture of the Hérault department in the Occitanie region. Every August Béziers hosts the famous Feria de Béziers, which is centred on bullfighting. A million visitors are attracted to the five-day event. The town is located on a small bluff above the river Orb, about ten kilometres (six miles) from the Mediterranean coast and 75 kilometres (47 miles) southwest of Montpellier.

Career & Major Achievements

At Béziers, the Canal du Midi passes over the river Orb by means of the Pont-canal de l'Orb, an aqueduct claimed to be the first of its kind. Béziers is one of the oldest cities in France. Research published in March 2013 shows that the ancient Greek colony of Béziers dates from 575 BCE, making it older than Agde (Greek Agathe Tyche, founded in 525 BCE) and slightly younger than Marseille (Greek Massalia, founded in 600 BCE). The site has been occupied since Neolithic times, before the influx of Celts. Roman Betarra was on the road that linked Provence with Iberia.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The Romans refounded the city as a new colonia for veterans in 36–35 BCE and called it Colonia Julia Baeterrae Septimanorum. Stones from the Roman amphitheatre were used to construct the city wall during the third century. Béziers exported wine to Rome. A dolium discovered in an excavation near Rome is marked, "I am a wine from Baeterrae and I am five years old." Another is simply marked, "white wine of Baeterrae." Béziers was conquered by the Muslims and remained part of Islamic Iberia between 720 and 752. From the 10th to the 12th centuries, Béziers was the centre of a Viscountship of Béziers.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 2013: 2013 Milestone — Research published in March 2013 shows that the ancient Greek colony of Béziers dates from 575 BCE, making it older than Agde (Greek Agathe Tyche, founded in 525 BCE) and slightly younger than Marseille (Greek Massalia, founded in 600 BCE).

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Béziers

True or False: “The original Greek colony of Béziers was founded in 525 BCE, making it older than Marseille.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): Marseille (Massalia) was founded earlier, around 600 BCE, while the ancient Greek colony of Béziers dates from 575 BCE.

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