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List of Byzantine forts and other structures in the Maghreb

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Built in the 8th century, the Ribat of Sousse in Tunisia was inspired by Byzantine fortifications; the tower served as a minaret for the garrison soldiers

The List of Byzantine forts and other structures in the Maghreb lists photos of the fortresses built between 533 and 698 on the territory of the Byzantine Empire in the Maghreb. On one hand, they served to pacify the Berbers within the empire and, on the other hand, to ward off external enemies.

Background

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The Vandals, who had ruled in the heartland of the former Roman Province of Africa since 439, had considerable difficulties defending the national borders against the Berbers or keeping the Berbers under Vandal rule under control.[1] which prompted large landowners and smallholders alike to fortify their farms.[2] After the Eastern Roman reconquest of the areas conquered by the Vandals in the 5th century and renewed subjugation of small Roman-Berber states established in the same period, various fortresses were built there both on the border[3] as well as within the area ruled by the Eastern Romans.[4] Some of the smaller Roman forts were also repaired.

Essentials

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Construction of the fortresses took place mainly during the second term of office of the praetorian prefect Solomon 539 to 544, whereby the substance of older Roman buildings was often used as building material. Most of the fortresses are significantly smaller than their Roman predecessors and mostly classify as forts. Many of these forts were subsequently used and rebuilt by the Arabs and Ottomans. In parts they even served as a stylistic template for the construction of their own fortresses. In addition, building material from Byzantine buildings was used for the construction of a number of Arab fortresses, such as the Fort Sidi Salem Bou Ghara near the Roman city of Gigthis.[5] This makes it considerably more difficult to identify a fortress in the Maghreb as Byzantine.

Overview

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Map
Overview of Byzantine Fortresses in the Maghreb
Name (Latin) Description Location Time of construction Size Bild
Aggar Inland fortress in southern Africa Proconsularis Sidi Amara no data available 0,05 ha
Ammaedara Border fortress in the far west of the Byzacena Haïdra between 534 and 565[6] 2,55 ha
Capsa Border fortress in southern Byzacena Gafsa no data available k. A.
Chusira Inland fortress La Kesra arguably between 534 and 565, more likely before 544[7] 0,28 ha
Civitas Vazitana Sarra Inland fortress in Africa Proconsularis Henchir-Bez no data available[8] 0,06 ha
Clupea Inland fortress protecting the namesake city, modified in Ottoman times Kelibia no data available k. A.
Cuicul Inland fortress protecting the namesake city in Mauretania Sitifensis Djémila no data available[9] 0,03 ha
Gadiaufala Inland fortress in Numidia Ksar Sbahi between 539 and 544[10] 0,16 ha https://www.leguidetouristique.com/ruinesbr/fort-byzantine-gadiovala-ksar-al-sobihi
Iunci Inland fortress on the coast of the Byzacena (Younga) near Sfax during the tenure of Justin II. (566–578)[11] no data available
Lamasba Inland/border fortress in the Belezma range often called Ksar Belezma Mérouana between 536 and 544[12] 1,4 ha
Lambaesis Inland/border fortress south of the Belezma range Tazoult-Lambèse no data available[13] no data available
Leptis Magna Fortified coastal city in Tripolitania Leptis Magna arguably between 533 and 565[14] 28 ha
Limisa Inland fortress in the north of the Byzacena Ksar Lemsa arguably between 585 and 600[15] 0,09 ha
Mactaris Inland fortress in Africa Proconsularis Maktar no data available[16] 0,35 ha
Madauros Inland fortress close to the coast in Mauretania Sitifensis Madauros between 534 and 544[17] 0,24 ha
Musti Inland fortress in Africa Proconsularis Mustis no data available[18] 0,2 ha
? Inland fortress Ksar El Hadid no data available no data available
Oea Fortified coastal city in Tripolitania Tripolis presumably by Phonicians in the 7th century b.C. no data available
Sabratha Fortified coastal city in Tripolitania Sabrata arguably between 533 and 565[19] 9,0 ha
Sicca Veneria Inland fortress to protect the city El Kef arguably between 533 and 565[20] no data available
Sitifis Inland fortress to protect the city Sétif between 539 and 544[21] 1,69 ha
Suas Inland fortress in Africa Proconsularis Chaouach no data available no data available.
Sufetula Inland fortress in the far southwest of the Byzacena Sbeitla no data available no data available
Thamugadi Inland/border fortress in Numidia Timgad 539/540[22] 0,75 ha
Thagura Inland fortress in Numidien close to Souq Ahras 539/or 548 („before the death of Theodora“)[23] 0,53 ha https://www.leguidetouristique.com/ruinesbr/thagura-taoura
Theveste Fortified town in eastern Numidia Tebessa between 536 and 544[24] 7,5 ha
Thignica Inland fortress in Africa Proconsularis Ain Tounga arguably before the death of Justinian I. 565[25] 0,28 ha
Tipasa Basilika an der Küste von Mauretania Prima Tipasa no data available no data available
Tipasa Inland fortress, possibly city fortifications in Numidien Tifech presumably before 553[26] 2,25 ha [27] https://harba-dz.com/annuaire-algerie/41-wilaya-de-souk-ahras/site-de-tiffeche-tipaza-de-numidie/
Tubunae Border fortress in Mauretania Sitifensis Tobna in the 6.th century, no details[28] 0,50 ha https://www.leguidetouristique.com/ruinesbr/tobna
Tubernuc Structure of unknown purpose in Africa Proconsularis close to Grombalia no data available no data available
Vaga inland fortress in Numidia Béja before the death of Empress Theodora in 548[29] no data available
Vescera? Possible border fortress in Numidien Biskra no data available no data available
Zabi Possible border fortress in Mauretania Sitifensis[30] M'Sila, Ortsteil Bechilga no data available no data available
Zaga? Potential inland fortress in Africa Proconsularis[31] Ksar Zaga no data available no data available
Zucchara Inland fortress in southern Africa Proconsularis Ain-Djoukar no data available no data available

References

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  1. ^ Denys Pringle: The Defence of Byzantine Africa from Justinian to the Arab Conquest. British Archaeological Reports, Oxford 1981, ISBN 0-86054-119-3 (reprint 2001), p. 97.
  2. ^ compare Averil Cameron: Vandal and Byzantine Africa in: Averil Cameron, Bryan Ward-Perkins, Michael Whitby (editor): The Cambridge Ancient History. Volume 14: Late Antiquity. Empire and Successors. AD 425–600. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 2000, ISBN 0-521-32591-9, p. 556.
  3. ^ Denys Pringle: The Defence of Byzantine Africa from Justinian to the Arab Conquest. British Archaeological Reports, Oxford 1981, ISBN 0-86054-119-3 (reprint 2001), p. 28 f.
  4. ^ Susan Raven: Rome in Africa. 3rd edition, Routledge, London,1993, ISBN 0-415-08150-5, p. 214 f.; also compare Gabriele Crespi: Die Araber in Europa. Sonderausgabe, Belser, Stuttgart 1992, ISBN 3-7630-1730-5, p. 27 about the reasons given.
  5. ^ D. Pringle: The Defence of Byzantine Africa from Justinian to the Arab Conquest, Oxford 1981, p. 295.
  6. ^ D. Pringle: The Defence of Byzantine Africa from Justinian to the Arab Conquest, Oxford 1981, p. 180; François Baratte, Fathi Bejaoui: Les fortifications byzantines d’Ammaedara. In: Comptes rendus des séances de l'Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres 2010, p. 513–538 (Digitalisat).
  7. ^ D. Pringle: The Defence of Byzantine Africa from Justinian to the Arab Conquest, Oxford 1981, p. 193., p. 320.
  8. ^ D. Pringle: The Defence of Byzantine Africa from Justinian to the Arab Conquest, Oxford 1981, p. 303.
  9. ^ D. Pringle: The Defence of Byzantine Africa from Justinian to the Arab Conquest, Oxford 1981, p. 294.
  10. ^ D. Pringle: The Defence of Byzantine Africa from Justinian to the Arab Conquest, Oxford 1981, p. 198.
  11. ^ D. Pringle: The Defence of Byzantine Africa from Justinian to the Arab Conquest, Oxford 1981, p. 202.
  12. ^ D. Pringle: The Defence of Byzantine Africa from Justinian to the Arab Conquest, Oxford 1981, p. 204.
  13. ^ D. Pringle: The Defence of Byzantine Africa from Justinian to the Arab Conquest, Oxford 1981, p. 282.
  14. ^ D. Pringle: The Defence of Byzantine Africa from Justinian to the Arab Conquest, Oxford 1981, p. 208.
  15. ^ D. Pringle: The Defence of Byzantine Africa from Justinian to the Arab Conquest, Oxford 1981, p. 212.
  16. ^ D. Pringle: The Defence of Byzantine Africa from Justinian to the Arab Conquest, Oxford 1981, p. 264
  17. ^ D. Pringle: The Defence of Byzantine Africa from Justinian to the Arab Conquest, Oxford 1981, p. 216; Bernd Päffgen: Das justinianische Kastell von Madauros in Ost-Algerien. In: Kölner Jahrbuch 43, 2010, p. 515–530.
  18. ^ D. Pringle: The Defence of Byzantine Africa from Justinian to the Arab Conquest, Oxford 1981, p. 266
  19. ^ D. Pringle: The Defence of Byzantine Africa from Justinian to the Arab Conquest, Oxford 1981, p. 226.
  20. ^ D. Pringle: The Defence of Byzantine Africa from Justinian to the Arab Conquest, Oxford 1981, p. 226.
  21. ^ D. Pringle: The Defence of Byzantine Africa from Justinian to the Arab Conquest, Oxford 1981, p. 227.
  22. ^ D. Pringle: The Defence of Byzantine Africa from Justinian to the Arab Conquest, Oxford 1981, p. 232f.; Jean Lassus: La forteresse byzantine de Thamugadi. Edition du Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris 1981, ISBN 2-222-02676-8.
  23. ^ D. Pringle: The Defence of Byzantine Africa from Justinian to the Arab Conquest, Oxford 1981, p. 232f.
  24. ^ D. Pringle: The Defence of Byzantine Africa from Justinian to the Arab Conquest, Oxford 1981, p. 239.
  25. ^ D. Pringle: The Defence of Byzantine Africa from Justinian to the Arab Conquest, Oxford 1981, p. 40.
  26. ^ D. Pringle: The Defence of Byzantine Africa from Justinian to the Arab Conquest, Oxford 1981, p. 274.
  27. ^ D. Pringle: The Defence of Byzantine Africa from Justinian to the Arab Conquest, Oxford 1981, p. 274.
  28. ^ D. Pringle: The Defence of Byzantine Africa from Justinian to the Arab Conquest, Oxford 1981, p. 275.
  29. ^ D. Pringle: The Defence of Byzantine Africa from Justinian to the Arab Conquest, Oxford 1981, p. 250.
  30. ^ doubtful for instance D. Pringle: The Defence of Byzantine Africa from Justinian to the Arab Conquest, Oxford 1981, p. 252.
  31. ^ doubtful for instance D. Pringle: The Defence of Byzantine Africa from Justinian to the Arab Conquest, Oxford 1981, p. 304.

Literature

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  • Denys Pringle: The Defence of Byzantine Africa from Justinian to the Arab Conquest. An Account of the Military History and Archaeology of the African Provinces in the Sixth and Seventh Century (= British Archaeological Reports. International Series 99). British Archaeological Reports, Oxford 1981, ISBN 0-86054-119-3 (reprint 2001).
  • Averil Cameron: Vandal and Byzantine Africa. In: Averil Cameron, Bryan Ward-Perkins, Michael Whitby (editor): The Cambridge Ancient History. Volume 14: Late Antiquity. Empire and Successors. AD 425–600. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 2000, ISBN 0-521-32591-9, p. 552–569.
  • Susan Raven: Rome in Africa. 3rd edition, Routledge, London, 1993, ISBN 0-415-08150-5, p. 209–230.
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