As everywhere in Provence, the area of Forcalquier is a country where the man is old. Before the Roman time, a Mediterranean population, the Ligurians (starting from X3rd century before our era) to which mix after the VI3rd century the Celts come from North, saw an age of the hills based on the forest and livestock products. In testify to many oppidums, strengthened perched villages, of which most famous is Chastelard de Lardiers, place of a pilgrimage which lasted until the III3rd century of our era.

The Romans, them, privileged the large axes, with the way domitienne, one their principal roads, connecting Italy to Spain. One still locates of them the traces in many sites of the country of Forcalquier.

 

 

 

the Middle Ages sees a revival of the age of the hills, which will make the success of that where is built Forcalquier During more than one century, the counts de Forcalquier will make of their city the capital of an independent state, with its sovereigns, its laws and its currency. It is the golden age of the country of Forcalquier which still point out to us the many Romance monuments of the area.

A marriage will combine finally the houses comtales of Forcalquier and Provence, and the two States will be joined together after 1209, preserving however a certain autonomy which will grow blurred only gradually.

 

 

 

 

 

the end of the XIII, century sees the beginning of an economic and demographic crisis. In 1348 the Black Death strikes and settles for centuries, causing devastations of which High Provence will have evil to be raised. In 1481 Provence is annexed in France, against the feeling of Forcalquiérens.

As with the Middle Ages the Jews, the Protestants will be numerous at the XVI3rd century in the area, with the involved often unhappy consequences, here like elsewhere, by the wars of religion. After the Revolution, the new mode makes it possible Forcalquier to preserve part of its capacity by installing the sub-prefecture there.

 

 

 

 

  In 1851, Forcalquier and its country counted among the principal actors of the republican revolt against the coup d'etat of Napoleon III In spite of the wild repression which followed, Forcalquier remained to the war of 1914 the intellectual and artistic capital of the high-country, as well as one of the poles of the rebirth of Provence. The last war made area again a high place of resistance and Forcalquier preserves still largely today its role of cultural capital of the country.

according to J Y. Royer