 At the time of his birth, his home city of Patavium was the second wealthiest on the Italian peninsula, and the largest in the province of Cisalpine Gaul (northern Italy).Cisalpine Gaul was merged in Italy proper during his lifetime and its inhabitants were given Roman citizenship by Julius Caesar.In his works, Livy often expressed his deep affection and pride for Patavium, and the city was well known for its conservative values in morality and politics.