The Great Plague of Marseille struck in 1720, marking the final major outbreak of bubonic plague in Europe. Despite strict military cordons, the disease claimed the lives of up to 100,000 people in Marseille and surrounding areas. This outbreak underscored the challenges of public health and disease control in the 18th century, leaving a lasting impact on the region's population and societal structures.

The Great Plague of Marseille in 1720 prompted a wave of elegiac poetry and philosophical reflections on societal breakdown. Poets like Paul Valéry and later writers grappled with the limitations of Enlightenment reason in the face of such crises, leading to a deeper exploration of human vulnerability and mortality.