Qui est le Lyonnais le plus célèbre?

Karim Benzema?

Paul Bocuse?

Les freres Lumieres?

Parlons de l’empereur Claudius.

I only learnt recently that the Roman Emperor Claudius – of I Claudius fame – was born in Lyon – or Lugdunum as it was known then.

Hence la Rue des Tables Claudiennes in La Croix Rousse in Lyon.

And what’s this lurking just below that street?

A second Roman amphitheatre – this one is the Amphitheatre of the Three Gauls.

It used to be next to the Sanctuary of the Three Gauls – a monumental structure where the representatives of the 60 Gallic peoples met each year.

That was founded by Claudius’ dad in 12BC and it became the first national parliament.

So:

• the fourth Roman emperor

• the first to be born outside Italy

• tutored by Livy

• began the invasion of Britain in 43 which eventually established a new Roman province, Britannia, which was part of the empire until the early 5th century AD.

• Inspiration for books by Robert Graves that became an award-winning BBC series.

Yes, that should do it – le Lyonnais le plus célèbre.