Gallia Lugdunensis

Quick Facts: Who was Gallia Lugdunensis?

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Gallia Lugdunensis

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Ancient Roman province in modern France, centered around the city of Lyon (Lugdunum).

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Origins & Early Life

Gallia Lugdunensis (French: Gaule Lyonnaise) was a province of the Roman Empire in what is now the modern country of France, part of the Celtic territory of Gaul formerly known as Celtica. It is named after its capital Lugdunum (today's Lyon), possibly Roman Europe's major city west of Italy, and a major imperial mint. Outside Lugdunum was the Sanctuary of the Three Gauls, where representatives met to celebrate the cult of Rome and Augustus. In De Bello Gallico describing his conquest of Gaul (58–50 BC), Julius Caesar distinguished between provincia nostra in the south of Gaul, which already was a Roman province in his time, and the three other parts of Gaul: the territories of the Aquitani, of the Belgae, and of the Galli also known as the Celtae. The territory of the Galli extended from the rivers Seine and Marne in the north-east, which formed the boundary with Gallia Belgica, to the river Garonne in the south-west, which formed the border with Gallia Aquitania.

Career & Major Achievements

Under Augustus, Gallia Lugdunensis was created by reducing in size the territory of the Gauls (Galli): the portion between the river Loire and the Garonne was given to Gallia Aquitania, and central-eastern portions were given to the new province of Germania Superior. The map shows the extent after these reductions. The date of the creation of Gallia Lugdunensis is under discussion, whether between 27 and 25 BC or between 16 and 13 BC, during Augustus' visits to Gaul. It was an imperial province, deemed important enough to be governed by an imperial legate. Under the Tetrarchy (AD 296), it was first divided into two, Lugdunensis Prima, with its capital at Lyon, and Lugdunensis Secunda, with its capital at Rouen.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

This division is recorded in the Verona List. Both new provinces belonged to the diocese of Gaul, alongside the Helvetic, Belgian and German provinces. 306–337 AD) divided the provinces again. Lugdunensis Senonia, with its capital at Sens, was split off from Prima, while Lugdunensis Tertia, with its capital at Tours, was separated from Secunda. According to the Notitia Dignitatum, Prima was governed by a consularis, while the other three were governed by a praeses.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Gallia Lugdunensis

True or False: “The division into Lugdunensis Prima and Lugdunensis Secunda occurred during the reign of Augustus.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): This initial division into two provinces occurred much later, under the Tetrarchy around AD 296.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

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