Gallia Belgica

Gallia Belgica, later known simply as Belgica, was one of the three Roman provinces created when Gaul was partitioned by Emperor Augustus around 16 BC; the other two were Gallia Lugdunensis in the centre and Gallia Aquitania in the southwest.

Belgica encompassed the north and east of present-day France, western Belgium, western Switzerland and the Jura down to Lake Geneva (Lacus Lemanus), as well as the catchment area of the Moselle to about 50 kilometres before its confluence with the Rhine. The capital of the province was Durocortorum (Reims). Until the establishment of the east bordering provinces Germania superior and Germania inferior under Emperor Domitian, the governor of Belgica was also responsible for securing the Rhine border.

During the administrative reform of Diocletian (emperor 284-305), Belgica was divided into the provinces Belgica I (Belgica Prima) around the Moselle and Belgica II (Belgica Secunda), which stretched from Reims to the English Channel. They then formed with the previous provinces Lugdunensis, Germania superior and Germania inferior, Sequana (western Switzerland, Jura, later Maxima Sequanorum) and Alpes Graiae et Poeninae (see Alpes Poenina and Alpes Graiae) the Dioecesis Galliae.

The western part of Belgica eventually became the nucleus of the Frankish Empire, while the eastern part was occupied by the Alamanni.

Important cities in the province of Belgica were:

• Augusta Suessionum (Soissons)
• Augusta Treverorum (Trier), in late antiquity capital of the Dioecesis Galliae and temporary imperial residence
• Bagacum (Bavay)
• Portus Itius, later Gesoriacum, late antique Bononia (Boulogne-sur-Mer)
• Caesaromagus (Beauvais)
• Catalauni (Châlons-en-Champagne)
• Divodurum (Metz)
• Durocortorum (Reims)
• Mediolanum Aulercorum (Évreux)
• Nasium (Naix-aux-Forges)
• Samarobriva (Amiens)
• Tullum (Toul)
• Vesontio (Besançon)
• Virodunum (Verdun)

Vici worth mentioning:

Governor