Belgica's Aromanian Heritage: A Province In France?

Belgica, also known as Gallia Belgica, was an ancient province of the Roman Empire, located in the northeastern part of Roman Gaul, including what is now northern France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and parts of the Netherlands and Germany. It was named for the Belgae, the largest tribal confederation in the area, and was one of the three parts of Gaul (Tres Galliae), the other two being Gallia Aquitania and Gallia Lugdunensis. The province was formed by Julius Caesar during his Gallic Wars in 50 BC and officially created by Emperor Augustus in 22 BC.

The Belgae were a large confederation of tribes living in northern Gaul, between the English Channel, the west bank of the Rhine, and the northern bank of the river Seine. They were a mix of Celtic and Germanic peoples, and their name likely comes from the Proto-Celtic root belg- or bolg-, meaning to swell (particularly with anger/battle fury/etc.).

The province of Belgica was re-organized several times, with its northeastern region being split off and renamed Germania Inferior under Emperor Domitian in the 1st century AD. It was further divided into two provinces, Belgica Prima and Belgica Secunda, by Emperor Diocletian around 300 AD.

The name Belgica continued to be used as the Latin name for the Low Countries until the modern period, and it was revived in 1790 by the short-lived United Belgian States. The modern country of Belgium, established in 1830, derives its name from Gallia Belgica.

Belgica was a province of the Roman Empire

Belgica, or Gallia Belgica, was a province of the Roman Empire located in the northeastern part of Roman Gaul. It was formed in 22 BC by Emperor Augustus, following Julius Caesar's conquest of northern Gaul in 57 BC. The province was named after the Belgae, the largest tribal confederation in the area, but also included the territories of the Treveri, Mediomatrici, Leuci, Sequani, Helvetii, and others.

Belgica stretched from the Seine River in the south to the Rhine in the east and included parts of modern-day northern France, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Germany. Its capital was Durocortorum (now Reims, France).

Under Emperor Domitian (AD 81-96), large portions of Belgica along the Rhine were made into the separate provinces of Germania Inferior and Germania Superior. Later, under Diocletian (c. AD 300), the remainder of Belgica was divided into Belgica Prima, with its capital at Augusta Treverorum (now Trier, Germany), and Belgica Secunda, with its capital at Durocortorum (Reims).

In the 5th century, Belgica was absorbed into the kingdoms of the Salian and Ripuarian Franks.

It was located in the northeastern part of Roman Gaul

Gallia Belgica, or "Belgic Gaul", was a province of the Roman Empire located in the northeastern part of Roman Gaul. This area includes what is now primarily northern France, Belgium, and Luxembourg, along with parts of the Netherlands and Germany.

The province was named for the Belgae, the largest tribal confederation in the area, but also included the territories of the Treveri, Mediomatrici, Leuci, Sequani, Helvetii, and others. In 57 BC, Julius Caesar led the conquest of northern Gaul and noted that the part to the north of the Seine and Marne rivers was inhabited by the Belgae. Caesar distinguished the Belgae from the Celtic Gauls to their south by "language, custom, and laws", noting that they had some ancestry from east of the Rhine, which he referred to as Germania.

The province of Gallia Belgica was originally part of Gallia Comata, but this governmental structure proved ineffective. Following a census of the region in 27 BC, Augustus ordered a restructuring of the provinces in Gaul. Thus, in 22 BC, Marcus Agrippa split Gallia Comata into three regions: Gallia Aquitania, Gallia Lugdunensis, and Gallia Belgica. Agrippa's divisions were based on what he perceived to be distinctions in language, race, and community—Gallia Belgica was intended to be a mix of Celtic and Germanic peoples.

The capital of Gallia Belgica was Durocortorum Remorum, now known as Reims, France. However, the geographer Strabo noted that the capital moved to modern-day Trier at some point, although the date of this move is uncertain.

Over time, the province of Gallia Belgica was reorganised and changed in size several times. Under the Roman emperor Domitian (AD 81-96), large portions of Belgica along the Rhine were made into separate provinces: Germania Inferior and Germania Superior. Later, under Diocletian (around AD 300), the remainder of Belgica was divided into two provinces: Belgica Prima, with its capital at Augusta Treverorum (now Trier, Germany), and Belgica Secunda, with its capital remaining at Durocortorum Remorum (Reims).

It was named after the Belgae, the largest tribal confederation in the area

Gallia Belgica, or Belgic Gaul, was a province of the Roman Empire located in the northeastern part of Roman Gaul. It was named after the Belgae, the largest tribal confederation in the area. The province was first increased and later decreased in size over time. It was originally composed of the lands of the alliance of the Belgae who had fought against Julius Caesar, plus the lands of their southeastern neighbours the Treveri, Mediomatrici, and Leuci. The southern border of Belgica, formed by the Marne and Seine rivers, was reported by Caesar as the original cultural boundary between the Belgae and the Celtic Gauls. Caesar distinguished the Belgae from the Gauls, stating that they were separated by "language, custom, and laws". However, Strabo stated that the differences between the two groups were small.

The province of Gallia Belgica was originally part of Gallia Comata. However, this governmental structure proved ineffective. Following a census of the region in 27 BC, Augustus ordered a restructuring of the provinces in Gaul. Therefore, in 22 BC, Marcus Agrippa split Gallia Comata into three regions: Gallia Aquitania, Gallia Lugdunensis, and Gallia Belgica. Agrippa made the divisions based on what he perceived to be distinctions in language, race, and community—Gallia Belgica was meant to be a mix of Celtic and Germanic peoples. The capital of this territory was Reims, according to the geographer Strabo, though it later moved to Trier.

Modern historians view the term 'Gaul' and its subdivisions as a "product of faulty ethnography" and see the split of Gallia Comata into three provinces as an attempt to construct a more efficient government rather than a cultural division. Successive Roman emperors struck a balance between Romanizing the people of Gallia Belgica and allowing pre-existing cultures to survive.

It was first increased and then decreased in size over time

Gallia Belgica, or Belgic Gaul, was a province of the Roman Empire. It was located in the northeastern part of Roman Gaul, primarily in what is now northern France, Belgium, and Luxembourg, along with parts of the Netherlands and Germany. It was first increased and then decreased in size over time.

Gallia Belgica was originally composed of the lands of the alliance of the Belgae, who had fought against Julius Caesar, plus the lands of their southeastern neighbours the Treveri, Mediomatrici, and Leuci. The province was first increased in size, with its northeastern border likely extending to the Rhine. This area was colonized by Roman military colonies and incoming German tribes from east of the Rhine, which quickly developed their own frontier-based administration.

Later, the territory was reduced when Emperor Domitian brought the northeastern Civitas Tungrorum into Germania Inferior, joining the Rhineland colonies. The remaining part of Gallia Belgica was then divided into Belgica Prima, in the eastern area of the Treveri, Mediomatrici, and Leuci, and Belgica Secunda, between the English Channel and the upper Meuse.

It was divided into two provinces by Diocletian

Belgica was divided into two provinces by Diocletian around 300 CE. The province was split into Belgica Prima and Belgica Secunda. Belgica Prima had Augusta Treverorum (Trier) as its main city, and consisted of the eastern part. The border between Belgica Prima and Belgica Secunda was approximately along the Meuse. The capital of Belgica Prima, Trier, became an important late western Roman capital. Belgica Secunda was between the English Channel and the upper Meuse.

Frequently asked questions