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The Roman conquest of North Africa took place very gradually, over almost two centuries, between 146 BCE and 40 CE. In this article, we will review the stages of the Roman conquest.
Africa (around Carthage)
The first Roman possession on the African continent was the province of Africa, made of what was left from the former territory of the Carthaginian Empire after Carthage was destroyed in 146 BCE. Its first capital was Utica, until Carthage was rebuilt in 44.
Tripolitania
During the Jugurthine Wars, the city of Leptis Magna took the Roman side. After the end of the war, in 105, Rome took control of Tripolitania, and attached it to the province of Africa. In reward for its support, Leptis Magna became a free city.
Cyrenaica
Ptolemy Apio, the last King of Cyrenaica, died without a heir in 96. His kingdom was legated to Rome. However, the first Roman governor only arrived in Cyrene in 74.
Africa Nova
In 46, after the Roman Civil War, Julius Caesar took over the Eastern part of Numidia, around Zama. It became the Roman province of Africa Nova (New Africa), as opposed to Africa Vetus (Old Africa).
The region would be shortly reintegrated into the Kingdom of Numidia, under King Juba II, from 30 to 25, becoming the only Roman territory in North Africa to take back its independence after being under Roman sovereignty. The Kingdom of Numidia was abolished in 25: the former Africa Nova became Roman again, while Western Numidia was attached to Mauretania. The province of Africa Nova was abolished: both African provinces were integrated into the new province of Proconsular Africa.
Egypt
Cleopatra, the last Queen of Egypt (51-30), supported Julius Caesar’s side in his war against Pompey. After Caesar died, she sided with Mark Antony against his rival Octavian (future Emperor Augustus). Octavian invaded Egypt in 31. Marl Antony and Cleopatra were defeated and both committed suicide in 30. Octavian took control of Egypt as a personal possession. In 27, after the Roman Empire was proclaimed, Egypt became a Roman province.
Western Numidia and Mauretania
Juba II and his son Ptolemy, the last kings of Mauretania, reigned over a large territory, extending all the way from former Western Numidia (around Cirta) to historical Mauretania (around Volubilis and Tingis). After Ptolemy died in 40 CE, this last independent kindgom of North Africa was also taken over by Rome. Western Numidia was integrated into the province of Africa, while Mauretania was split into two provinces: Mauretania Caesariensis and Mauretania Tingitana.
| What were the borders of Roman Mauretania? Officially, the Roman Empire took over all the former Kingdom of Mauretania. However, effective Roman control was actually limited to the North of modern-day Morocco. It is even likely that most Moors remained free from Roman domination. The border was probably somewhere between Rabat and Casablanca. Sala (Sale) was the last city indisputably under Roman administration. The Romans also built a port in Anfa (Casablanca), but is is uncertain to what extent they really held control over the city and its surroundings. |
Provisional conquests
In 202, the Roman Emperor Septimius Severus conquered the Garamantian territory. Roman control on the region however remained week and wouldn’t last long.
