A Brief Description of the Whole World, Part 23
Of Mauritania and Caesariensis.
A Part of that Countrey, which by a generall name is called at this day Barbary, hath in old time been called Mauritania, which was divided into two parts: The East part whereof next to Africa minor, was called by the Romanes, Mauritania Caesariensis, as the other was called Mauritania Tingitania. In Mauritania Caesariensis was the Countrey of Numidia, the people whereof were used in the warres of the Carthaginians, as Light-horse-men, and for all nimble services were very active.
In the East part of this Countrey standing in the sea, was that famous City of Carthage, supposed toCarthage a famous City be built by Dido, who came from Ty…us.
This City was it, which for the space of some hundred yeares contended with Rome for the Empire of the world. In the Romane histories are recorded the great warres which the people of Rome had with the City of Carthage.
In the first war of the three, the contention … the Iles of Sicilia, Corsica, and Sardinia: when the victory fell to the Romans, and the Carthaginians were glad to redeem their peace with the leaving of those Ilands.
The second warre was begun by Hanniball, who brake the league, and after he had taken same part of Spaine from the Romanes, and sacked Sagantum, a City of their friends, came first over the Pyrena hils to France, then over the Alpes to Italy, where he overthrew the Romanes in three great battels, and much endangered their estate; he continued in Italy with his Army, sixteen yeares, till Scipio attempting on Carthage, forced Hanniball to return to rescue his own Countrey. There was Hanniball overthrowne, and his City put to a great pension by Scipio, who for his victory there, was named Africanus.
In the third warre (because the people of Carthage still brake the league) their City was razed to the very ground by the earnest and continuall counsell of Cato the elder, fearing evermore so dangerous a Neighbour, though Scipio Nasica counselled to the contrary; fearing lest if the dread of that enemy were taken away, the Romanes would grow either to idlenesse, or civill dissention; which after they did. It is reported of Cato, that he never spake his judgement of any thing in the Senate, but his conclusion was thus: Thus I think for this matter, and withall, that Carthage is to be razed down. And Scipio Nasica would reply in his conclusion: Thus I think for this matter, and withall that Carthage is not to be razed down.
Livy reporteth, that the way whereby Cato prevailed that Carthage should be razed down, was this; while the question was very hot, he bringeth into the Senatehouse green Figs, and let the Senators understand, that the same day three weekes, those figs were growing in Carthage Town: whereby he made mannifest unto them, that it was possible that an Army might be conveied from Carthage to Rome in so short a time, as that they would not be able (on a sudden, to resist, and so Rome might be surprized: whereby they all concluded, that it was no safety for their City, to have so bad a neighbour so neare unto them.
In this Countrey toward the West, not farre from Carthage stood Utica, whereof the younger Cato was termed Cato Uticensis, because he killed himself there in the Civill warres betwixt Caesar and Pompey, because he would not come within the hands of his enemy Caesar.
Not far from thence Westward standeth Hippo, which was the City where S. Augustine was B shop.
This whole Countrey (at this day) is called the Kingdome of Tunis; the King whereof, is a kind of stipendary unto the Turke: the people that inhabit there, are generally Saracens, and do profess Mahomet.
Some do write that Tunis standeth in the very place where old Carthage was; which is not so, but is si…ua ed very neare unto the old ruines of the other. Against the King of Tunis, Charles the fifth had some of his warres by Sea.