What does A.C.N.L mean?

[Notascooby]

This acronym is used in the Latin Asterix comics but I can't figure out what it means.

"Gallia a romanis occupata anno a.C.n.L"

It's clearly a date but I can't figure it out. It's written exactly how I've quoted it which is also confusing.

Any help?

Thanks

 

[Matthaeus]

Not sure about the final letter, but to me this stands for ante Christum natum.

 

[Notascooby]

Not sure about the final letter, but to me this stands for ante Christum natum.

If that's the case then L must refer to 50. That's about right for Caesar defeating the Gauls at Alesia?

 

[Matthaeus]

52 BC

 

[Avunculus H]

Based on the French originals of the comics, it's indeed 50 BC, which is spelled out in Arabic numbers there. Ca. 50 BC is supposedly when the comics take place, after Alesia and the final conquest of Gaul by Cesar, although the build-up of Roman infrastucture in the comics would suggest a much longer occupation. But, of course, the action depictured in the comics is all ahistorical.