The Tabula Lugdunensis consists of two matching fragments of a bronze tablet discovered near Lyon in 1528 which contains a significant part – c. 700 words – of a speech delivered by Claudius in the Senate of Rome supporting a petition of some primores Galliarum. These elite representatives of northern and western Gaul requested permission to hold senatorial rank and magistratures in Rome for their provinces’ citizens. The work under review aims to provide an updated edition of the Latin text and an English translation of the Tabula as well as a comprehensive introduction and commentary. The book is rounded off with two appendices and indexes of concepts, proper names, Latin terms and places discussed. Although there is apparently not much room for improvement on the editions by O. Hirschfeld (1899: CIL XIII 1668) and P. Fabia (1929), M. rigorously assesses the lacunae at the top of both columns and identifies the engraver's mistakes based on a direct inspection of the piece in the Musée de Lyon as well as the diplomatic edition published in the CIL.

By doing so, M. provides a manageable and well-contextualised edition that does justice to the importance of the text. As an archaeological monument, the Tabula Lugdunensis is one of the most remarkable Roman epigraphical records on bronze, due to its beautiful workmanship, excellent lettering – more conspicuous than accurate – and the monumentality that the whole piece surely contributed to the context in which it was exhibited. As a first-century ad text directly transmitted, the Tabula also offers a unique source on the policy of integrating provincial elites under the Julio-Claudians, on Claudius’ oratorical skills as well as on Tacitus’ literary technique, since he recreates the emperor's speech in Annals 11.

The introduction is divided into five sections dealing respectively with material aspects, the historical and local contexts, the style of Claudius’ speech, the intertextual connections with Livy and Tacitus and, very briefly, the structure of the preserved text. For its part, the commentary succeeds in balancing linguistic, literary and historical aspects and rightly expands where the remains of Claudius’ speech have long been a matter of discussion. The reader finds detailed information on many specific aspects, but above all gains a clear idea of the ongoing conversations for which the Tabula Lugdunensis is a primary or very relevant source. Among these debates, five are, in my view, particularly worth mentioning.

First, the debate over the location of ancient Lugdunum, where the Tabula was displayed. The archaeological evidence uncovered to date has provided more matter for speculation than reliable information about the topography of the area and the actual placement of the inscription. After reviewing the various opinions, M. concludes that the Tabula would have been engraved by a local craftsman, following the return of the local notables from Rome, and displayed near the point where it appeared, which must have belonged to the sanctuary of the Three Gauls, although it is not possible to determine whether it was on the altar of Rome and Augustus within the area.

Secondly, the integration of provincial elites into the Senate in the first century ad is dealt with at length in the introduction. In this context, M. devotes special attention to Claudius’ argument that Augustus and Tiberius had preceded and foreseen this policy, to endow his innovative measure with authority and framing it as though it belonged to an organic tradition; so, the emperor gives a licence to the inclusion of new provincials before a Roman elite that was reluctant to constitutional changes. In short, M. transcends the literalness of the documentary source and contextualises the scope and effectiveness of Claudius’ measure. As complementary content, a list of provincials who acceded to the Senate from Tiberius to Nero is added in an appendix.

Thirdly, the Tabula is a primary source for assessing Claudius’ style and rhetorical skills. This aspect is treated in the introduction as well as throughout the commentary, referring to specific passages. Beyond identifying rhetorical devices and drawing attention to the complexity of his periods, M. makes a strong case for Claudius’ style: his distinctiveness does not derive from particular circumstances or a supposed lack of elaboration, but shows a feature attested in other texts as well. This point prevents unrealistically measuring the emperor's eloquence against the paradigm of classical oratory.

Fourthly, Claudius’ rhetorical strategy defending the admission of provincials receives detailed and well-deserved attention. The emperor reviews historical cases that attest to the openness that Rome had in the past, starting from monarchical times. In this context, M. clearly explains to what extent and for what purpose Claudius draws on the speech that Livy puts into Canuleius’ mouth (4.1.2–5), both for formulation and argumentation, and argues persuasively that the emperor alluded elaborately to the words of Ab urbe condita, without merely recycling them.

Finally, Claudius’ speech in favour of the notables of Gaul has traditionally been used to analyse how Tacitus handled his sources and how he shaped the discourses embedded in the narrative, following the conventions of classical historiography. In Ann. 11.24 the historian presents his own version of the speech in oratio recta condensing the original. M. situates Tacitus’ chapters in their literary tradition and is right to examine the whole narrative (11.23–25.1), which includes the primores’ petition and the discussion it provokes in the concilium principis. Tacitus may have used a copy of the speech to rework Claudius’ words, while he would have relied on other sources to recreate the arguments presented at the imperial council. Through this reworking, the historian gives an essentially positive view of Claudius’ policy of integrating the provincial elites and presents a detailed rhetorical antithesis between the arguments of the concilium and the emperor's speech.

This volume, concise but clear and rich in information, excellently fulfils its objectives. It offers the reader a reliable text of the Tabula and an up-to-date translation, adding a commentary that balances archaeological, philological, literary and historical viewpoints. It also pays tribute to the scholars who have preceded it, conveniently frames the relevant issues in the ongoing discussions and takes a position on every point in an even-handed manner. M. provides a highly valuable tool for scholars and students interested in the Julio-Claudian period, the integration of Roman provincial elites and the historiography of Tacitus.