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| VIENNE IN TRANSALPINE GAUL (121 - 27 BC) | |
| THE ROMANISATION OF THE ALLOBROGES | 
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| VIENNE, THE ALLOBROGE CAPITAL |
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THE DEFEAT OF 121 BC
The Greek City of Marseilles, which was regularly attacked by the surrounding Gauls, appealed several times to their long-term ally, Rome, for help. Rome intervened regularly, because it wanted to ensure the safety of the land route linking them with Iberia (Spain), which had become a Roman province at the beginning of the IInd Century BC. This route passed through the middle of Gaul and was the other reason for Rome's help, since Rome no doubt wished to take control of the routes that opened up north of Marseilles towards the Rhône Valley and the Alps. After the victorious military campaigns led by Rome in 125 - 123 against the Ligurians, the Salians and the Voconcae (southern neighbours of the Allobroges) the Salians took refuge with the Allobroges. The latter, confirming at the same time their alliance with the very powerful Arverni, refused to deliver them to the Romans. This was the pretext for the campaign led by Cnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus in the spring of 121 BC. Before being joined by their Arverni allies, the Allobroges were severely defeated a little to the north of the present-day city of Avignon. On August 8th 121, Quintus Fabius Maximus, bringing his legions to reinforce Domitius's army, defeated the Allobroges and the Arverni.The Allobroges yielded to the power of Rome which reduced the nations of the south of Gaul to the status of a province.
