Lugdunensis Prima

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.

History

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. Under Augustus, Gallia Lugdunensis was created by reducing in size the territory of the 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. This division is recorded in the Verona List. Both new provinces belonged to the diocese of Galliae, alongside the Helvetic, Belgian and German provinces.

Constantine I () 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''. All the provinces were gradually overrun by invading Franks and Burgundians during the 5th century. What was left of the provinces effectively ceased to exist in AD 486/7 when the Roman general Syagrius, who controlled Secunda and Senonia, was defeated by the Franks.

Cities

The cities and '' castra'' of the four provinces are listed in the late 4th-century ''Notitia Galliarum'' by their ethnic titles. The ''castrum'' of Mâcon is a later addition to the ''Notitia''. They are listed here with their conventional short names (where different from the ethnic name) and their modern names:

*Lugdunensis Prima
#''Metropolis civitas Lugdunensium''
(Lyon)
#''Civitas Aeduorum''
(Augustodunum, Autun)
#''Civitas Lingonum''
(Andematunnum, Langres)
#''Castrum Cabillonense''
( Chalon-sur-Saone)
#''Castrum Matisconense''
(Mâcon)

*Lugdunensis Secunda
#''Metropolis civitas Rotomagensium''
(Rouen)
#''Civitas Baiocassium''
(Augustodorum, Bayeux)
#''Civitas Abrincatum''
(Ingena, Avranches)
#''Civitas Ebroicorum''
(Mediolanum, Évreux)
#''Civitas Saiorum''
(Sées)
#''Civitas Lexoviorum''
(Noviomagus, Lisieux)
#''Civitas Constantia''
(Coutances)

*Lugdunensis Tertia
#''Metropolis civitas Turinorum''
(Caesarodunum, Tours)
#''Civitas Cenomannorum''
(Suindunum, Le Mans)
#''Civitas Redonum''
(Condate, Rennes)
#''Civitas Andecavorum''
(Iuliomagus, Angers)
#''Civitas Namnetum''
(Condivincum, Nantes)
#''Civitas Coriosolitum''
(Fanum Martis, Corseul)
#''Civitas Venetum''
(Darioritum, Vannes)
#''Civitas Osismorum''
(Vorgium, Carhaix

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