in the time of
Hadrian (ruled 117–138), showing, on the lower
Rhine river, the
imperial province of Germania Inferior (NW Germany/S. Netherlands, E. Belgium), and the three
legions deployed there in 125. Note that the coast lines shown in the map are those of today, known to be different from those in Roman times in the North Sea area.Roman settlement in what would become Germania Inferior began around 50 BC, these settlements being incorporated in the province
Gallia Belgica. The first confrontations between the
Roman army and the peoples of Germania Inferior occurred during
Julius Caesar's
Gallic Wars. Caesar invaded the region in 57 BC and in the next three years annihilated several tribes, including the
Eburones and the
Menapii, which were most likely Celtic or mixed Celtic-Germanic tribes, though called Germanic by Caesar. Germanic influence (mainly through the
Tungri) increased during Roman times, leading to the assimilation of the Celtic peoples in the area. Despite largely being occupied by Roman forces since the reign of Augustus, Germania Inferior was not integrated as a province until the reign of
Domitian (r. 81-96 AD), ca. 85 AD. The province was split from Gallia Belgica following campaigns against the
Chatti from 83-85 AD. This expansion led to the creation of two new imperial provinces, Germania Superior and Germania Inferior (Upper & Lower Germany respectively), known together as
Germani Cisrhenani. The capitol of Germania Inferior was located at the city of
Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium, modern-day
Cologne. The adjective
Inferior refers to its position downstream of the Rhine relative to Germania Superior. The army of Germania Inferior, typically shown on inscriptions as EX.GER.INF. (
Exercitus Germaniae Inferioris), included several
legions at various times: of these, Legions
I Minervia and
XXX Ulpia Victrix were the most permanent. The Roman Navy's
Classis Germanica (Germanic fleet), charged with patrolling the
Rhine and the
North Sea coast, were based at
Castra Vetera and later at Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensis. As attested in the early 5th century document
Notitia Dignitatum, the province was renamed
Germania Secunda (
Germania II) in the 4th century. It was administered by a
consularis and formed part of the
Diocese of Gaul. Up to the end of Roman control, it was an intensely garrisoned province that was inhabited by Romans and
Ripuarian Franks in the 5th century. Its capital remained at Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium, which also became the seat of a
Christian bishopric, which was in charge of an ecclesiastical province that survived the
fall of the Western Roman Empire. After the final abandonment of the province it became the core of the
Frankish Kingdom. ==See also==