“Who would have thought a chain could spark such heated debate centuries later?” That’s the question that comes to mind as we stand here at Montée de la Chaîne. This street holds a silent story a saga of conquest. It involves a chain that once guarded Marseille’s Old Port.
Montée de la Chaîne might seem like any other street. However its name speaks of a past drama. The story revolves around a chain. This chain was no ordinary one. It was a massive barrier stretched across the Vieux-Port. It protected Marseille from invaders.
Let’s travel back to 1423. King Alphonse V of Aragon sought to punish Marseille. Marseille was an ally of his enemy. He sailed toward the city with his Catalan troops. The chains blocked his passage. The Catalans broke these chains. They stormed Marseille. The troops pillaged and burned. King Alphonse V took the broken chain as a trophy. He also stole relics of Saint-Louis d’Anjou.
The relics returned to Marseille in 1956. But the chain remains in Spain. It hangs on the walls of the Sainte-Marie cathedral in Valencia. For centuries it has fueled passions. Many Marseillais want it back. It symbolizes their stolen heritage.
Serge Obré wrote a novel about the chain. It tells of a ragtag team planning to steal it back. His play at the Théâtre de l’Antidote sold out. This shows how much the chain still means to people here. People feel the injustice. They wonder why it was never returned. Some even joke about becoming mercenaries to get it back.
Imagine the scene six hundred years ago. Catalan soldiers break the chain. They invade Marseille. The city burns. Now picture the chain hanging in a Spanish cathedral. It is a constant reminder of that defeat. The spirit of the Olympic Games may help. Maybe it is time for Spain to return the chain.
The loss of the chain remains a sensitive point. It is a symbol of Marseille’s past struggles. It is a reminder of the city’s resilience. As we stand on Montée de la Chaîne we remember this past. The Montée de la Chaîne reminds us of Marseille’s history.