Utica, Tunisia

Utica is an ancient city northwest of Carthage near the outflow of the Medjerda River into the Mediterranean Sea, traditionally considered to be the first colony founded by the Phoenicians in North Africa. [Moscati, Sabatino. "The World of the Phoenicians." New York: Frederick A. Praeger, Publishers, 1968.] Today, Utica no longer exists, and its remains are located not on the coast where it once lay, but further inland because the Medjerda River caused the silting over of its original port. [“Utica (Utique) Tunisia." The Princeton Encyclopedia of Classical Sites. Stillwell, Richard, Macdonald, William L. and McAllister, Marian Holland. Princeton, N.J: Princeton University Press, 1976. 5 May 2007. ]

Utica's beginnings

Utica was founded as a port located on the trade route leading to the Straits of Gibraltar and the Atlantic, thus facilitating Phoenician trade in the Mediterranean. [Aubet, Maria Eugenia. "The Phoenicians and the West, Politics, Colonies, and Trade." Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2001.] The actual founding date of Utica is controversial. Several classical authors date its foundation around 1100 BC. The archaeological evidence, however, suggests a foundation no earlier than the eighth century BC. Although Carthage was later founded about 40 km. from Utica, records suggest “that until 540 BC Utica was still maintaining political and economic autonomy in relation to its powerful Carthaginian neighbor”. [Aubet, Maria Eugenia. "The Phoenicians and the West, Politics, Colonies, and Trade." Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2001.] By the fourth century BC, Utica came under Punic control but continued to exist as a privileged ally of Carthage. [Walbank, F.W., Astin, A.E., Frederiksen, M.W., Ogilvie R.M. and Drummond, A., eds. "The Rise of Rome to 220 BC." Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1989. Vol. VII of The Cambridge Ancient History.]

Mercenary War

This relationship between Carthage and Utica began to disintegrate after the First Punic War, with the outbreak of rebellion among mercenaries who had not received compensation for their service to Carthage. Originally, Utica refused to participate in this rebellion, so that the Libyan forces led by Spendius and Matho laid siege to Utica and nearby Hippocritae. [Polybius. “The Histories.” Book 1. Loeb Classical Library. Vol I. 2 May 2007. ] The Carthaginian generals Hanno and Hamilcar then came to Utica's defense, managing to raise the siege, but "the severest blow of all… was the defection of Hippacritae and Utica, the only two cities in Libya which had…bravely faced the present war…indeed they never had on any occasion given the least sign of hostility to Carthage.” [Polybius. “The Histories.” Book 1. Loeb Classical Library. Vol I. 2 May 2007. ] Eventually, the forces of Carthage proved victorious, forcing Utica and Hippacritae to surrender after a short siege. [Walbank, F.W., Astin, A.E., Frederiksen, M.W., Ogilvie R.M. and Drummond, A., eds. "The Rise of Rome to 220 BC." Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1989. Vol. VII of The Cambridge Ancient History.]

Third Punic War

Utica again defied Carthage in the Third Punic War, when it surrendered to Rome shortly before the breakout of war in 150 BC. After its victory, Rome rewarded Utica by granting it an expanse of territory stretching from Carthage to Hippo. [Walbank, F.W., Astin, A.E., Frederiksen, M.W., and Ogilvie R.M., eds. "Rome and the Mediterranean to 133 BC." Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1989. Vol. VIII of The Cambridge Ancient History.] As a result of the war, Roman created a new province of Africa, and Utica became its capital, which meant that the governor's residence was there along with a small garrison. Over the following decades Utica also attracted Roman citizens who settled there to do business. [“Utica (Utique) Tunisia." The Princeton Encyclopedia of Classical Sites. Stillwell, Richard, Macdonald, William L. and McAllister, Marian Holland. Princeton, N.J: Princeton University Press, 1976. 5 May 2007. ]

=Roman Civil War=

During the Roman Civil War between the supporters of Pompeius and Caesar, the remaining Pompeians, including Cato the Younger, fled to Utica after being defeated at the Battle of Thapsus in 46 BC. Caesar pursued them to Utica, meeting no resistance from the inhabitants. Cato, who was the leader of the Pompeians, ensured the escape of his fellow senators and anyone else who desired to leave, then committed suicide, unwilling to accept the clemency of Caesar. [Walbank, F.W., Astin, A.E., Frederiksen, M.W., and Ogilvie R.M., eds. "Rome and the Mediterranean to 133 BC." Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1989. Vol. VIII of The Cambridge Ancient History.] Displaying their fondness for Cato, “the people of Utica...called Cato their saviour and benefactor…And this they continued to do even when word was brought that Caesar was approaching. They decked his body in splendid fashion, gave it an illustrious escort, and buried it near the sea, where a statue of him now stands, sword in hand”. [Plutarch. “The Parallel Lives.” Loeb Classical Library. Vol VIII. 2 May 2007. ] After his death, Cato was given the name of Uticensis, due to the place of his death as well as to his public glorification and burial by the citizens of Utica. [Cassius Dio. “Roman History.” Book 43. Loeb Classical Library. Vol IV 2 May 2007. ]

Roman status

Utica obtained the formal status of a municipium in 36 BC and its inhabitants became members of the tribe of Quirina. ["Utica (Utique) Tunisia." The Princeton Encyclopedia of Classical Sites. Stillwell, Richard, Macdonald, William L. and McAllister, Marian Holland. Princeton, N.J: Princeton University Press, 1976. 5 May 2007. ] During the reign of Augustus, however, the seat of provincial government was moved by the Emperor Augustus to Carthage. "Although Utica did not lose its status as one of the foremost cities in the province. When Hadrian was emperor, Utica requested to become a full Roman colony, but this request was not granted until Septimius Severus, a native, took the throne." [Bunson, Matthew. “Utica.” Encyclopedia of the Roman Empire. New York: Facts on File, Inc., 1994.]

The fall of Utica

In AD 439, the Vandals captured Utica, in AD 534 the Byzantines captured it once more, and the Arabs were responsible for its ultimate destruction around AD 700. "Excavations at the site have yielded two Punic cemeteries and Roman ruins, including baths and a villa with mosaics". ["Utica, Ancient City, N Africa." Columbia Encyclopedia. Academic Search Premier. EBSCOhost. Northwestern University Library. 1 May 2007. . ]

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