A Tour of the Great Roman Cities
Mediolanum (Milan)
Governors, we come now to the city of Mediolanum. Mediolanum is northeast of Rome in Gaul-this-side-of-the-Alps (Cisapline Gaul).
As the name of the region indicates, Mediolanum is located in the land of the Gauls who are also sometimes called Celts. Mediolanum was originally established by the Gauls. This means that unlike Syracuse or Florence or Pompeii, Mediolanum was originally a barbarian town. Fortunately, Governors, the city has been Roman for over two hundred years so you can be assured that it is a proper Roman city.
The Celts of the Cisalpine region first came into the Roman world when the Gauls attacked and sacked Rome in 366 AUC (387 BC). Governors, you can imagine the shock and horror of the Romans in that day: a barbarian people managed to defeat a Roman army and force all the Romans to flee to safety on the Capitoline Hill. Fortunately, the sacred Geese of Juno alerted the Romans to an attempt by the Gauls to storm the hill. The Romans were able to repel that attack. However, the Romans were forced to buy their freedom from the Gauls with a thousand pounds of gold. Worse, the Romans discovered the Gauls were behaving dishonorably by using false weights. When the Romans confronted the Gauls over this, the leader simply said ‘vae victis’ (Woe to the conquered).
The Romans learned from this how fierce and dangerous the Gauls can be. It is no surprise then that after the Romans conquered Etruria they quickly moved ahead and brought Cisalpine Gaul under their control. The Gauls were clearly too dangerous to leave free on the border of Roman territory.
You will travel to Mediolanum along the Via Aemillia. As you plan your travel you should remember that Cisalpine Gaul is more a northern one and so is colder than Rome.
Governors, you should also remember the lessons of Hannibal. The proximity of Mediolanum to the Alps means that it is an important strategic city. Though the Transalpine Gauls have been subdued for sometime now, since the conquest by the Divine Julius Caesar, the Germans remain ever a threat. Should they ever decide to try and cross the Alps to move into Italy, Mediolanum is the closest city. Be vigilant because it may be your duty to protect all of Italy against invasion.
Lugdunum (Lyon)
Governors, the city of Lugdunum shows that a city need not be old to be important. Lugdunum is the youngest of the cities I’ve spoke about so far, but it is also one of the most important in our own day. Lugdunum plays a critical role in keeping Gaul Roman and protecting the Empire against the incursions and depredations of the German barbarians.
The city of Lugdunum sits at the junction of the three parts of Gaul that the Divine Julius wrote about in De Bello Gallico. The city was founded during the Civil Wars by Munatius Plancus and Marcus Aemilius Lepidus on top of an old Gallic hill fort to house Roman refugees from Vienne in Gaul. The city grew quickly in size and importance.
The meaning of the city’s name is uncertain but it is clearly a word from the barbaric language of the Gauls. Some say that it’s named after the name the Gauls have given to Mercury while others think it may be related to the word for “light”.
Either way, Lugdunum is an important city because of its location being the largest major city north of the Alp that is close to the German lands. In recent years, Lugdunum has been used as a staging area for armies moving into the German lands and the Italica legion is currently stationed there.
Though Lugdunum is in the land of the Gauls, unlike Mediolanum it was founded as a Roman city. But, Governors, you should take care to know the ways of the Gauls since they will be your neighbors. Though Gaul is relatively quiet, as I’ve said, the Gauls are a fierce people and the nearby Germans who raid only serve to stir trouble in that region.
