A timeline of significant historical events concerning the city of Toulon, France.
- c. 6th century BCE: Early Ligurian settlement, possibly a trading post for Greek mariners.
- Roman Era (1st century BCE onwards): Known as Telo Martius, it developed as a Roman port, producing dyes from the Murex shellfish (Tyrian purple).
- 5th century CE: Decline of Roman influence; the city is sacked multiple times by Visigoths and other invading groups.
- 7th - 10th centuries: The region suffers from Saracen raids, leading to depopulation and a period of instability.
- 1032: Toulon falls under the control of the Counts of Provence.
- 1178: Toulon is granted communal rights, allowing for a degree of self-governance.
- 1481: Provence, including Toulon, is incorporated into the Kingdom of France under King Louis XI.
- 16th century: The city begins to develop as a naval port, with construction of an arsenal and fortifications under Francis I.
- 1543: Toulon hosts the Ottoman fleet under Hayreddin Barbarossa as part of a Franco-Ottoman alliance against Charles V. The city's inhabitants are temporarily evacuated.
- 17th century: Under Louis XIV, Toulon is significantly developed as a major French naval base by Jean-Baptiste Colbert and further fortified by Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban. It becomes the primary port for the French Mediterranean fleet.
- 1707: During the War of the Spanish Succession, Toulon successfully resists a siege by combined Savoyard and Habsburg forces.
- 1720-1721: The city is severely affected by the Great Plague of Marseille.
- 1789: Outbreak of the French Revolution. Toulon initially embraces the revolutionary ideals but later becomes a royalist stronghold.
- 1793: Siege of Toulon. Royalist and Anglo-Spanish forces occupy the city. A young artillery officer, Napoleon Bonaparte, distinguishes himself by orchestrating the capture of key positions, leading to the liberation of Toulon by republican forces. The British fleet is forced to withdraw, and thousands of royalists are executed or flee.
- 19th century: Toulon continues to grow as a major naval and industrial center. The arsenal expands significantly.
- 1830-1847: Toulon serves as a key embarkation point for French troops during the conquest of Algeria.
- 1854-1856: During the Crimean War, Toulon is a major logistical hub for the French expeditionary force.
- 1884: Toulon experiences a significant cholera epidemic.
- World War I (1914-1918): Toulon remains a vital naval base, home to a significant portion of the French fleet.
- World War II (1939-1945):
- 1940: Following the Fall of France, Toulon and its fleet are located in the "Free Zone" of Vichy France, under strict German and Italian armistice terms.
- November 27, 1942: Scuttling of the French fleet at Toulon. As German forces advance to occupy the "Free Zone" (Operation Anton), the French fleet, under orders, scuttles 77 warships, including battleships, cruisers, and destroyers, to prevent them from falling into Axis hands.
- 1943-1944: Toulon suffers heavy Allied aerial bombardments due to its strategic importance as a German-occupied naval base.
- August 15, 1944: Allied forces land in Provence (Operation Dragoon).
- August 20-28, 1944: Battle of Toulon. French forces, under General Jean de Lattre de Tassigny, fight to liberate the city.
- Post-WWII: Toulon undergoes extensive reconstruction. The naval base remains the primary home port of the French Mediterranean fleet, including its aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle.
- Late 20th - Early 21st century: The city develops its economy beyond the military, focusing on tourism, higher education, and cultural activities, while maintaining its crucial naval role.