Mesarfelta

Mesarfelta was located on the "Limes romanus" called Fossatum Africae

Mesarfelta was a town in the Roman province of Numidia and a bishopric that is included in the Catholic Church's list of titular sees.[1]

History

The historic Mesarfelta is believed to be what are now the ruins of El-Outaïa or those of Tolga, Henchir-El-Ksar,[1] or may be Qastilya in Algeria[2] (according to "Three North-African Topographical Notes (Islamic-Roman)").

Probably was built a fortification by the Romans, with annexed "vicus", in the second half of first century near the Aures mountains: it had an amphitheater during Hadrian reign.[3]

A barrier -called Fossatum Africae- marking the frontier between the territory of the Roman Empire and other lands ran through Mesarfelta.[4]

The city disappeared after the Arab conquest in the second half of the seventh century.

There are two Mesarfelta bishops historically remembered: in the Carthago Conference of 411 AD went bishop "Lucianus" and the Donatist "Bennatus".

Actual Titular bishops of Mesarfelta[5]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Annuario Pontificio 2013 (Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2013, ISBN 978-88-209-9070-1), p. 929
  2. ↑ "Three North-African Topographical Notes (Islamic-Roman)". Arabica 1 (3): 343–345. September 1954. JSTOR 4054839.
  3. ↑ Mesarfelta amphitheater
  4. ↑ Wacher, J. S. (2002). The Roman world. Routledge. p. 872. ISBN 0-415-26314-X.
  5. ↑ "Mesarfelta (Titular See)". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. October 12, 2009. Retrieved 20 December 2009.
  6. ↑ Gabriele, Michael C. (October 14, 2009). "Bishop Saltarelli, 77; Son of Archdiocese". The Catholic Advocate. Retrieved 20 December 2009.

Bibliography

See also