Colonia Copia Claudia Augusta Lugdunum (modern: Lyon) was an important Roman city in Gaul. It was founded in 43 BC by L. Munatius Plancus, served as the capital of the Roman Province Gallia Lugdunensis and was for 300 years the most important city in north-western Europe.

The city was situated west of the confluence of the Rhone and Saone, on the Fourviere heights.

History

After the founding of the city it soon became the centre for much of Roman Gaul and Germany. In 10 BC the future Emperor Claudius was born there. The imperial mint established a branch in the city and its large and cosmopolitan population made it the commercial and financial heart of the provinces. In 177 its Christian community suffered one of the earliest persecutions.

After 250 Roman attention shifted to the Rhine frontier and Lugdunum lost its prominence to Trier. However, after the demise of the Roman Empire the city became the centre of the Burgundian kingdom.