Arles was established by the Greeks as early as the 6th century BC under the name of Theline. It was captured by the Celtic Salluvii in 535 BC, who renamed it to Arelate. The Romans took the town in 123 BC and expanded it into an important city. However, it struggled to escape the shadow of Massalia (Marseille) further along the coast.

Its chance came when it sided with Julius Caesar against Pompey, providing military support. Massalia backed Pompey; when Caesar emerged victorious, Massalia was stripped of its possessions, which were transferred to Arelate as a reward.

An episcopal see from the 4th century until 1790, it was the site of several important ecclesiastical councils, including the Council of Arles, condemned Donatism, a heretical Christian movement. After the collapse (476 AD) the Roman Empire of the West, Arles was seized by the Visigoths and then by the Ostrogoths, and by 730, while ruled by the Merovingian dynasty, it was plundered by Muslim invaders.

from: wkipedia and www.galenfrysinger.com

It was a sleepy, inward looking town when Vincent Van Gogh came because of the light to paint.