MARSEILLES, mar-silz, or MAR SEILLE, mar-sa-ye, France, the principal commercial seaport of the country. a first-class military-and naval station, the second city of France as regards population, and the capital of the department of Bouches-du-RhOne, 508 miles southeast of Paris. It stands on the northeastern shore of the Gulf of Lyons, and on a bay containing a group of islets, one of which, the Chateau d'If, has world-wide celeb rity in connection with the elder Dumas' 'Monte Cristo.' The city is strongly defended by various works, and lies in the form of an amphitheatre round a natural harbor of mod erate size (about 70 acres), known as the Old Harbor. From the Old Harbor one of the finest of the city thoroughfares, called the Cannebiere, runs inland in a straight line; while at right angles to this another great thoroughfare traverses the city, planted with trees, lined with fine edifices and bearing dif ferent names at different points. In the older part of the town the streets are narrow and irregular, but in general the streets are spa cious and regular and lined with handsome houses. Marseilles, however, is not rich in public edifices. The chief are the large cathe dral, in the Byzantine style, consecrated in 1893; the church of Notre Dame de la Garde, a modern Romanesque building, on a hill of same name, whence a splendid view is obtained; the church of Saint Victor, a building of great antiquity; the Hotel de Ville; the Prefecture; the Palms des Arts de Longchamp, contain ing a picture-gallery and natural history mu seum; the exchange; the public library (120, 000 vols.) ; the palace of justice or law courts; the episcopal palace, etc. Marseilles is the sent of a bishop and possesses a court of first in stance, a mint, an Academy of Sciences, Belles lettres and Arts, various learned societies and educational institutions.
Marseilles improved greatly in regard to street architecture, sanitary matters, etc., and made great progress in extent, population and commerce, largely owing to the conquest of Algeria and the opening of the Suez Canal. Including Old and New Harbors, the total water area is 414 acres; there are seven wet docks, with depths at ordinary tides ranging from 25 to 66 feet, six dry docks and 13 miles of quayage. Vessels entered in 1913, 4,621, of an aggregate of 8,308,165 tons. The traffic in merchandise has grown from 4,372,000 tons in 1870 to 21,590,000 tons in 1913. From the
Durance an abundant water supply has been derived. A canal irrigates the neighboring slopes and plains and has transformed them from arid tracts into fruitful fields. The sur rounding districts are now occupied by new population, employed in raising vegetables, fruit, etc., on the reclaimed and improved lands. The Marseilles-Rhone Canal, intended to open up waterways from Marseilles to the interior of France and central Europe, was authorized in 1903, and is expected to be completed in 1919. The canal, which is 50 miles long, has no locks and is at sea-level throughout its entire course, and will, with its tributaries, form a series of waterways 350 miles long, navigable by heavy barges. The most important manu factures are soap, soda and other chemical products; also olive and other oils, sugar, machinery, iron and brass work, matches, can dles, glass, earthenware, Oriental hosiery, etc. In the building-docks a great number of war and other vessels are built. The trade consists chiefly of soap, olive-oil, wine, brandy, corn, flour, dried fruits, oranges and other products of the southern departments; salt provisions, tobacco, wool, skins and hides, iron, raw cot ton, cotton twist, dye-woods and American nov elties. Marseilles is the headquarters of the 15th army corps and is the seat of a United States consulate. During the European War 1914-18 it was a center of great naval activity a chief port of debarkation for the world-con verging armies of the Entente Allies.
Marseilles was founded by a colony of Greeks from Asia Minor about 600 years be fore Christ, the original name being Massalia, and the Greek language is said to have been spoken here for several centuries before Christ. Its progress for centuries was rapid and almost without interruption. Having taken the part of Pompey in the great contest for supremacy between him and Caesar, it was besieged by the latter and taken in 49 a.c. On the decline of the Roman Empire it became a prey to the Goths, Burgundians and Franks. In 735 it fell into the hands of the Saracens, who completely destroyed all the ancient monuments which the barbarians had spared. In the 10th century it fell under the dominion of the counts of Prov ence and for some centuries after followed the fortunes of that house. Pop. 550,619.