In describing his conquest of Gaul (58–50 BC), Julius Caesar distinguished between in the south of Gaul, which already was a Roman province in his time, and the three other parts of Gaul: the territories of the , of the , and of the also known as the . The territory of the Galli extended from the rivers
Seine and
Marne in the north-east, which formed the boundary with , to the river
Garonne in the south-west, which formed the border with . Under
Augustus, was created by reducing in size the territory of the Gauls (): the portion between the river
Loire and the Garonne was given to , and central-eastern portions were given to the new province of . The map shows the extent after these reductions. The date of the creation of is under discussion, whether between 27 and 25 BC or between 16 and 13 BC, during Augustus' visits to Gaul. It was an imperial province, deemed important enough to be governed by an imperial
legate. Under the
Tetrarchy (AD 296), it was first divided into two, , with its capital at Lyon, and , with its capital at
Rouen. This division is recorded in the
Verona List. Both new provinces belonged to the
diocese of Gaul, alongside the Helvetic, Belgian and German provinces.
Constantine I () divided the provinces again. , with its capital at
Sens, was split off from Prima, while , with its capital at
Tours, was separated from . According to the , Prima was governed by a , while the other three were governed by a . All the provinces were gradually overrun by invading
Franks and
Burgundians during the 5th century. What was left of the provinces effectively ceased to exist in AD 486/487 when the Roman general
Syagrius, who controlled and , was defeated by the Franks. • • (
Lyon) • (Augustodunum,
Autun) • (Andematunnum,
Langres) • (
Chalon-sur-Saone) • (
Mâcon) • • (
Rouen) • (Augustodorum,
Bayeux) • (Ingena,
Avranches) • (Mediolanum,
Évreux) • (
Sées) • (Noviomagus,
Lisieux) • (
Coutances) • • (Caesarodunum,
Tours) • (Suindunum,
Le Mans) • (Condate,
Rennes) • (Iuliomagus,
Angers) • (Condivincum,
Nantes) • (Fanum Martis,
Corseul) • (Darioritum,
Vannes) • (Vorgium,
Carhaix) • (Noviodunum,
Jublains) • • (Agedincum,
Sens) • (Autricum,
Chartres) • (
Auxerre) • (Augustobona,
Troyes) • (Cenabum,
Orléans) • (Lutetia,
Paris) • (Iatinum,
Meaux) ==Governors==