The etymological origin of the village's name comes from the Celtic " uz " which designates a raised spot, and "la Rousse" ("the Red") recalls either the colour of Marguerite des Baux's hair or the local stone with which the chateau was built.

The Princes of Orange were the principal governors, then the house of Les Baux gave Suze great seigneurs, including the Count François de la Baume, who won renown in the 16th century in the many battles against the Baron des Adrets during the wars of religion.

In 1564, he received Charles IX and the queen mother Catherine de Medici at the château.

But it was in 1587 that he uttered a phrase that would go down in prosperity:

"Allons la Grise, allons mourir à Suze ! ". (Let's go la Grise, let us die in Suze!")

François de la Baume had just been mortally wounded, as had his mare Grise, in Montélimar, town besieged by the Calvinists.