DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.18096#0073
Africa under the Caesars
35
P. Cornelius Dolabella, proconsul of Africa ; and, finding his
forces decimated and no hope of retreat, he rushed fearlessly
into the fight and died like a true Numidian. The war was
over, and a cry of deliverance went through the land : is demum
annus populum Romanum longo adversum Numidam Tacfari-
natem bello absolvit.
To encourage growth of population and to promote assimi-
lation of the Roman with native races, the first Emperors
established on the old Carthaginian highways colonies of
veterans, as they were called, all men of approved military
experience. They were exempt from taxation and had many
privileges, but held themselves in readiness to bear arms in
times of war or local disturbance. Some of the native towns,
which had been partly deserted after the overthrow of the
Carthaginians, were peopled with Italians, and fortified villages
were built at points of vantage near the frontiers. There are
records of nearly fifty such towns at this period, many of which
had been Punic or Numidian. These were renamed by order
of the Emperors. It may be assumed that the principal ones
were occupied by colonies of soldiers who had done good
service in battle, or had lost their substance in the service of the
State. Among the most noticeable were Uthina (Oudena),
Maxula (Mascula), Thuburbo major (Tebourba), and Sicca
Veneria (El-Kef). Their monumental remains bear ample testi-
mony to the prosperity they attained at this remote period.
The constitutional difference between municipia and colonics
has given rise to much controversy, and it is only by a com-
parison of the opinions expressed by able authorities that a
clue can be found to a fairly accurate interpretation of these
terms. Suetonius says that municipia were foreign towns which
had obtained the rights appertaining to Roman citizens. They
were of different kinds. Some enjoyed all the rights of Roman
citizens, except those which could not be held without residing
in Rome, while others were invested with the right of serving
in the Roman legions, but could not hold civil office, nor had
they the privilege of voting. The municipia had their own
laws and customs, and they were not obliged to accept Roman
laws unless they chose. Gibbon is quite explicit on the subject,
He tells us that 'a nation of Romans was gradually formed in
the provinces, by the double expedient of introducing colonies,
D 2
35
P. Cornelius Dolabella, proconsul of Africa ; and, finding his
forces decimated and no hope of retreat, he rushed fearlessly
into the fight and died like a true Numidian. The war was
over, and a cry of deliverance went through the land : is demum
annus populum Romanum longo adversum Numidam Tacfari-
natem bello absolvit.
To encourage growth of population and to promote assimi-
lation of the Roman with native races, the first Emperors
established on the old Carthaginian highways colonies of
veterans, as they were called, all men of approved military
experience. They were exempt from taxation and had many
privileges, but held themselves in readiness to bear arms in
times of war or local disturbance. Some of the native towns,
which had been partly deserted after the overthrow of the
Carthaginians, were peopled with Italians, and fortified villages
were built at points of vantage near the frontiers. There are
records of nearly fifty such towns at this period, many of which
had been Punic or Numidian. These were renamed by order
of the Emperors. It may be assumed that the principal ones
were occupied by colonies of soldiers who had done good
service in battle, or had lost their substance in the service of the
State. Among the most noticeable were Uthina (Oudena),
Maxula (Mascula), Thuburbo major (Tebourba), and Sicca
Veneria (El-Kef). Their monumental remains bear ample testi-
mony to the prosperity they attained at this remote period.
The constitutional difference between municipia and colonics
has given rise to much controversy, and it is only by a com-
parison of the opinions expressed by able authorities that a
clue can be found to a fairly accurate interpretation of these
terms. Suetonius says that municipia were foreign towns which
had obtained the rights appertaining to Roman citizens. They
were of different kinds. Some enjoyed all the rights of Roman
citizens, except those which could not be held without residing
in Rome, while others were invested with the right of serving
in the Roman legions, but could not hold civil office, nor had
they the privilege of voting. The municipia had their own
laws and customs, and they were not obliged to accept Roman
laws unless they chose. Gibbon is quite explicit on the subject,
He tells us that 'a nation of Romans was gradually formed in
the provinces, by the double expedient of introducing colonies,
D 2