Iᵉʳ siècle – IIIᵉ siècle
Southern Numidia and Tripolitania
Traduction non disponible · Original (anglais) · français indisponible
The Roman North African frontier systems were layered military zones designed to secure settled provincial territories against peoples of the interior. In southern Numidia, forts, an earthen wall, a ditch, and advanced outposts formed an organized limes south of the Aures Mountains. In Tripolitania, the later Limes Tripolitanus relied on small forts and isolated interior posts rather than a continuous linear earthwork. Together these installations marked the gradual extension of permanent Roman military occupation into the North African hinterland.
Poursuivre l’exploration
Le récit
Under Trajan, Roman forces organized a fortified line across southern Numidia from Ad Maiores in the east to Vescera in the west. The system protected territory south of the Aures Mountains and was arranged in depth rather than as a single isolated barrier. Its principal feature was an earthen wall and ditch, the fossatum, supported by forts and a network of military positions.
Roman occupation extended beyond the main line through advanced outposts. Gemellae was established on the Wadi Djedi south-west of Vescera in AD 126, while Castellum Dimmidi was placed on the upper Djedi in AD 198. These posts monitored approaches from the Saharan Atlas and represented the outer edge of Roman military presence in the Numidian interior.
Tripolitania followed a different model. Permanent occupation of its interior began only under Septimius Severus. The Limes Tripolitanus did not appear to include a continuous earthwork; instead, numerous small forts occupied the immediate hinterland, while isolated posts at Cydamus, Gheria el-Garbia, and Bu Njem guarded approaches from the Fezzan. The corridor therefore combined a fortified agricultural hinterland with selected deep-desert outposts.
Iᵉʳ siècle – IIIᵉ siècle
Southern Numidia and Tripolitania
Traduction non disponible · Original (anglais) · français indisponible
The Roman North African frontier systems were layered military zones designed to secure settled provincial territories against peoples of the interior. In southern Numidia, forts, an earthen wall, a ditch, and advanced outposts formed an organized limes south of the Aures Mountains. In Tripolitania, the later Limes Tripolitanus relied on small forts and isolated interior posts rather than a continuous linear earthwork. Together these installations marked the gradual extension of permanent Roman military occupation into the North African hinterland.
Poursuivre l’exploration
Le récit
Under Trajan, Roman forces organized a fortified line across southern Numidia from Ad Maiores in the east to Vescera in the west. The system protected territory south of the Aures Mountains and was arranged in depth rather than as a single isolated barrier. Its principal feature was an earthen wall and ditch, the fossatum, supported by forts and a network of military positions.
Roman occupation extended beyond the main line through advanced outposts. Gemellae was established on the Wadi Djedi south-west of Vescera in AD 126, while Castellum Dimmidi was placed on the upper Djedi in AD 198. These posts monitored approaches from the Saharan Atlas and represented the outer edge of Roman military presence in the Numidian interior.
Tripolitania followed a different model. Permanent occupation of its interior began only under Septimius Severus. The Limes Tripolitanus did not appear to include a continuous earthwork; instead, numerous small forts occupied the immediate hinterland, while isolated posts at Cydamus, Gheria el-Garbia, and Bu Njem guarded approaches from the Fezzan. The corridor therefore combined a fortified agricultural hinterland with selected deep-desert outposts.