Trophée des Alpes at La Turbie, French Riviera - Alpes Maritime
"The first page of French history"

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This Roman monument in the village of La Turbie is perched high above Monaco/ Monte Carlo with a spectacular view down to the principality and along the Riviera. Known as La Trophée des Alpes, the trophy of the Alps, it marked the division between Italy and Gaul.

The Roman Senate ordered its construction in 5BC in honour of the emperor Augustus to commemorate the conquest of the Alps and the submission of 44 Ligurian tribes during Augustus' campaigns in 25, 16 and 15 BC. Their submission joined Gaul to Italy. The inscription on the side of the monument, shown below, is said to be the first page of French history.  (This information from the museum on the site)

	This model in the museum shows the original structure. It was built of white local stone and consisted of a square podium, a circular colonnade and a stepped cone. On top was a statue of Augustus. Niches in the colonnade contained statues of his generals in the campaign. Stairs led to all parts of the structure. Much destroyed over the centuries, it was restored to its present state in the 1920-30s.
West  face	West face	West face inscription		West face carving
South face	South face	South east angle	East face	North face
English translation of the Latin inscription on the west face (recorded by Pliny the Elder in his Natural History, volume III) TO THE EMPEROR AUGUSTUS CAESAR, SON OF THE DIVINE (JULIUS CAESAR) SOVEREIGN PONTIFF, EMPEROR FOR THE XIVTH TIME, TRIBUNE FOR THE XVIITH TIME THE SENATE AND THE ROMAN PEOPLE BECAUSE, UNDER HIS DIRECTION AND AUSPICES, ALL THE ALPINE TRIBES WHICH SPREAD FROM THE SUPERIOR SEA (ADRIATIC) TO THE INFERIOR SEA (MEDITERRANEAN) HAVE BEEN MADE SUBJECT TO THE EMPIRE OF THE ROMAN PEOPLE ALPINE TRIBES CONQUERED: TRUMPILINI, CAMUNNI, VENNONETES, VENOSTES, ISARCI, BREUNI, GENAUNES, FOCUNATES FOUR TRIBES VINDELICI, COSUANETES, RUCINATES, LICATES, CATENATES, AMBISONTES, RUGUSCI, SUANETES, CALUCONES BRIXENTES, LIPONTES, VIBERI, NANTUATES, SEDUNI, VERAGRI, SALASSI, ACITAVONES, MEDULLI, UCENNI, CATURIGES, BRIGIANI SOGIONTII, BRODIONTI, NEMALONI, EDENATES, ESUBIANI, VEAMINI, GALLITAE, TRIULLATI, ECTINI VERGUNNI, EGUITURI, NEMETURI, ORATELLI, NERUSI, VELAUNI, SUETRI
More information at the ProvenceBeyond web site (English language)
More information at French web site (French language)

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