Rusazu

Map showing Rusazu just northwest of Saldae, in Mauretania

Rusazu (or "Rusazus") was a Roman colony in Berber north Africa. Now it is named Azeffoun, actual Algeria.

History

Rusazu was one of the ten colonies founded by emperor Augustus on or near the coast of ancient Mauretania with veterans of his legions. These roman colonies were created for the retirement of the veterans of his legions, and were: Rusazu, Tubusuctu, Igilgili, Saldae, Thuburnica, Rusguniae, Aquae Calidae, Zuccabar, Gunugu and Cartenna.

Rusazu was one of the cities of Mauretania more romanised [1] in the fourth century, with a Christian Dioceses (that was important until Byzantine times). Indeed the town was even called "Rusadus" [2] and was a strategic military base because of its location, bordered on the north by the Mediterranean Sea, on the south by mountains rising to 500 metres.

The town's bishopric, no longer a residential see, is included in the Catholic Church's list of titular sees.[3]

In the early third century the city was administered by a local romano-berber ruler, named Aurelius Rulasen ex prefectura.[4]

Under Diocletian reform of the empire, Rusazu was added to the new province of Mauretania Sitifensis, and in 374 AD was a center affected by the Romano-berber Firmus revolt.[5] After the Vandal invasion, in the early sixth century Rusazu was occupied by the Byzantines until the Arab conquest, when was probably destroyed and disappeared from registered History.

References

  1. ↑ Salem Chaker: La Kabylie antique (Rusazu)
  2. ↑ Stefano Antonio Morcelli, Africa christiana, Volume I, Brescia 1816, p. 264
  3. ↑ Annuario Pontificio 2013 (Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2013, ISBN 978-88-209-9070-1), p. 960
  4. ↑ Leveau Philippe. L'aile II des Thraces, la tribu des Mazices et les praefecti gentis en Afrique du Nord. In: "Antiquités africaines", 7,1973. pp. 153-191.
  5. ↑ Firmus and Rusazu (in French)

Bibliography

See also