Notitia Galliarum Explained

The Notitia Galliarum (or Notitia provinciarum et civitatum Galliae) is a Roman register of cities dating to the 4th–6th centuries AD.^[1] The Latin register is divided into two headings. Ten provinces are listed under the diocese of Gaul and seven under the diocese of the Seven Provinces. For each province the capital city is given and then its other cities (civitates). They are given their ethnic names, i.e., "city of [people]". A total of 115 cities are listed along with six or seven castra (forts) and one portus (harbour).

The original list was probably drawn up during the reign of Magnus Maximus (383–388). Its rubric states that it was made on the order of the bishops, but this was probably added later when the list was updated. The civitates of the Notitia parallel the dioceses of the Roman church, but for the 6th rather than the 4th century. It was probably at that time that the castra and portus, which had acquired bishops, were added, along with the rubric. The bishops' purpose was to prevent disputes over metropolitan authority, "lest antiquity be overturned by any eventuality".

Notitia Galliarum Explained

Cities listed

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