--- title: Caesarea (North Africa) author: Donald L. Wasson source: https://www.worldhistory.org/Caesarea_(North_Africa)/ format: machine-readable-alternate license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/) updated: 2024-06-25 --- # Caesarea (North Africa) _Authored by [Donald L. Wasson](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/DWasson/)_ [Caesarea](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Caesarea/) was actually the name of three separate [cities](https://www.worldhistory.org/city/): one in [Palestine](https://www.worldhistory.org/palestine/), one in Cappadocia ([Asia Minor](https://www.worldhistory.org/Asia_Minor/)), and one in [Mauretania](https://www.worldhistory.org/Mauretania/), present-day Algeria. The first [city](https://www.worldhistory.org/city/), [Caesarea Maritima](https://www.worldhistory.org/Caesarea_Maritima/), was built by Herod around 25 BCE and, like the other two cities, was named for [Roman emperor](https://www.worldhistory.org/Roman_Emperor/) [Augustus](https://www.worldhistory.org/augustus/) (r. 27 BCE to 14 CE). It served as an administrative capital for the province, and in the 1st century CE, Emperor [Vespasian](https://www.worldhistory.org/Vespasian/) (r. 69-79 CE) made it a *colonia*. The city would later become the capital of Judea. The second city, Caesarea Cappadocia was captured by [Alexander the Great](https://www.worldhistory.org/Alexander_the_Great/) on his quest to [conquer](https://www.worldhistory.org/warfare/) the [Persian Empire](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Persian_Empire/). It was made a province in 17 CE by Emperor [Tiberius](https://www.worldhistory.org/Tiberius/) (r. 14-37 CE). Lastly, originally named Iol, Caesarea Mauretania lay along the northern coast of [Africa](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/africa/) near the present-day city of Algiers. ### [Juba II](https://www.worldhistory.org/Juba_II/) Caesarea Mauretania was originally founded by the [Phoenicians](https://www.worldhistory.org/phoenicia/) in the 5th century BCE to serve as a trading station. During the 3rd century BCE, due to its strategic location, new defenses were built, and in 33 BCE [Rome](https://www.worldhistory.org/Rome/) annexed the area, placing it in the hands of a Nubian prince named Juba II. Although his father was once an ally of [Pompey](https://www.worldhistory.org/pompey/), Juba had lived in Rome under the tutelage of [Julius Caesar](https://www.worldhistory.org/Julius_Caesar/), learning to read and write [Greek](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/greek/) and Latin. As he was considered too [Roman](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Roman/) to rule, Juba and his wife, [Cleopatra Selene II](https://www.worldhistory.org/Cleopatra_Selene_II/) (the daughter of [Mark Antony](https://www.worldhistory.org/Mark_Antony/) and [Cleopatra VII](https://www.worldhistory.org/Cleopatra_VII/)), were at the mercy of civil unrest when Emperor Augustus intervened. Juba made the city into a typical Graeco-Roman city, complete with street grids, a [theatre](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/theatre/), an art collection, and a lighthouse similar to the one at [Alexandria](https://www.worldhistory.org/alexandria/). It was Juba who named the city Caesarea after Augustus. ### Later History Considered to be one of the more loyal provinces, Caesarea Mauretania began to grow under Roman rule, eventually reaching a population of over 20,000. In 44 CE during the reign of Emperor [Claudius](https://www.worldhistory.org/claudius/) (r. 41-54 CE), it became the capital of the imperial province of Mauretania Caesarensis. Later, the emperor made it a *colonia*, Colonia Claudia Caesarea. As with many other cities throughout the [Roman Empire](https://www.worldhistory.org/Roman_Empire/), he and his followers further Romanized the area, building monuments, enlarging the bathhouses, adding an amphitheater, and improving the [aqueducts](https://www.worldhistory.org/aqueduct/). Later, under the Severan Dynasty, a new [Roman forum](https://www.worldhistory.org/Roman_Forum/) was added. Although it would recover, the city was sacked by Moors during a revolt in 371/372 CE. The area was finally overtaken by the [Vandals](https://www.worldhistory.org/Vandals/) in 429 CE, however, in 533 CE the city was seized by the [Byzantine emperor](https://www.worldhistory.org/Byzantine_Emperor/) Justinian (r. 527-565 CE). Earthquakes have since ravaged many of the ancient remains. #### Editorial Review This human-authored definition has been reviewed by our editorial team before publication to ensure accuracy, reliability and adherence to academic standards in accordance with our [editorial policy](https://www.worldhistory.org/static/editorial-policy/). ## Bibliography - Bagnall, R.S. et al. *Encyclopedia of Ancient History.* Wiley-Blackwell, London, 2012 - Hornblower, S. *Oxford Classical Dictionary.* Oxfprd University Press, 1996 ## About the Author Donald has taught Ancient, Medieval and U.S. History at Lincoln College (Normal, Illinois)and has always been and will always be a student of history, ever since learning about Alexander the Great. He is eager to pass knowledge on to his students. ## Timeline - **33 BCE**: [Caesarea](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Caesarea/) [Mauretania](https://www.worldhistory.org/Mauretania/) annexed by [Rome](https://www.worldhistory.org/Rome/). - **44 CE**: [Caesarea](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Caesarea/) made capital of imperial province. - **429 CE**: [Vandals](https://www.worldhistory.org/Vandals/) overrun [Caesarea](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Caesarea/). - **523 CE**: Emperor Justinian seizes [Caesarea](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Caesarea/). ## External Links - [Caesarea Maritima – following hadrian photography](https://followinghadrianphotography.com/2016/06/08/caesarea/) ## Cite This Work ### APA Wasson, D. L. (2013, February 24). Caesarea (North Africa). *World History Encyclopedia*. [https://www.worldhistory.org/Caesarea\_(North\_Africa)/](https://www.worldhistory.org/Caesarea_(North_Africa)/) ### Chicago Wasson, Donald L.. "Caesarea (North Africa)." *World History Encyclopedia*, February 24, 2013. [https://www.worldhistory.org/Caesarea\_(North\_Africa)/](https://www.worldhistory.org/Caesarea_(North_Africa)/). ### MLA Wasson, Donald L.. "Caesarea (North Africa)." *World History Encyclopedia*, 24 Feb 2013, [https://www.worldhistory.org/Caesarea\_(North\_Africa)/](https://www.worldhistory.org/Caesarea_(North_Africa)/). ## License & Copyright Submitted by [Donald L. Wasson](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/DWasson/ "User Page: Donald L. Wasson"), published on 24 February 2013. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en). 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