XV
ST. JUST DE NARBONNE
The ancient province of Narbonenses—afterward comprising Languedoc—had for its capital what is still the city of Narbonne. One may judge of the former magnificence of Narbonne by the following lines of Sidonius Apollinaris:
| "Salve Narbo potens Salubritate, |
| Qui Urbè et Rure simul bonus Videris, |
| Muris, Civibus, ambitu, Tabernis, |
| Portis, Porticibus, Foro, Theatro, |
| Delubris, Capitoliis, Monetis, |
| Thermis, Arcubus, Harreis, Macellis, |
| Pratis, Fontibus, Insulus, Salinis, |
| Stagnis, Flumine, Merce, Ponte, Ponto, |
| Unus qui jure venere divos |
| Lenœum, Cererum, Palem, Minervam, |
| Spicis, Palmite, Poscius, Tapetis." |
Narbonne is still mighty and healthful, if one is to judge from the activities of the present day; is picturesque and pleasing, and far more comfortably disposed than many cities with a more magnificently imposing situation.
The city remained faithful to the Romans until the utmost decay of the western empire, at which time (462) it was delivered to the Goths.
It was first the head of a kingdom, and later, when it came to the Romans, it was made the capital of a province which comprised the fourth part of Gaul.
This in turn was subdivided into the provinces of Narbonenses, Viennensis, the Greek Alps, and the Maritime Alps, that is, all of the later Savoie, Dauphiné, Provence, Lower Languedoc, Rousillon, Toulousan, and the Comté de Foix.
Under the second race of kings, the Dukes of Septimannia took the title of Ducs de Narbonne, but the lords of the city contented themselves with the name of viscount, which they bore from 1134 to 1507, when Gaston de Foix—the last Viscount of Narbonne—exchanged it for other lands, with his uncle, the French king, Louis XII. The most credulous affirm that the Proconsul Sergius Paulus—converted by St. Paul—was the first preacher of Christianity at Narbonne.