Hippo Regius facts for kids
Saint Augustin Basilica overlooking the ruins of Hippo Regius
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 Location in Algeria
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| Location | Algeria |
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| Region | Annaba Province |
| Coordinates | 36°52′57″N 07°45′00″E / 36.88250°N 7.75000°E |
Hippo Regius (also known as Hippo or Hippone) is the old name for the modern city of Annaba, Algeria. This city was very important for different groups throughout history. These included the Phoenicians, Berbers, Romans, and Vandals. Hippo was even the capital city of the Vandal Kingdom for a few years, from 435 to 439 AD. Later, the capital moved to Carthage after the Vandals took that city.
Hippo Regius was also a key place for early Christian meetings. It was home to Augustine of Hippo, a very important leader in Western Christianity. He is known as a Church Father.
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What is the History of Hippo Regius?
The name Hippo comes from an old word, ʿpwn (Punic: 𐤏𐤐𐤅𐤍). This word probably means "harbor." The city was first settled by Phoenicians from Tyre around 1200 BC. The Romans later called it Hippo Regius, which means "the Royal Hippo." They did this to tell it apart from another city called Hippo Diarrhytus. It was called "Royal" because it was a home for the kings of Numidia.
Hippo was a city by the sea, near the mouth of the Ubus river. It grew into a rich and important city in Roman Africa. It became the home of Saint Augustine, who was a bishop there.
How Did the Vandals Affect Hippo?
In 430 AD, the Vandals moved along the coast of North Africa. They began to attack and surround the walled city of Hippo Regius. Inside the city, Saint Augustine and his priests prayed for help. They knew that if the city fell, many Christians might be harmed or forced to change their beliefs.
On August 28, 430, Saint Augustine, who was 75 years old, died. This happened three months into the siege. He may have become very ill due to the difficult conditions. After 14 months, people inside the city and the Vandal soldiers outside were suffering from hunger and sickness. The city finally fell to the Vandals. Their leader, King Geiseric, made Hippo Regius the first capital of the Vandal Kingdom. This lasted until they captured Carthage in 439 AD.
Later History of the City
The Eastern Roman Empire took over Hippo in 534 AD. It stayed under Roman rule until 698 AD, when Muslim armies conquered it. The Arabs rebuilt the town in the eighth century. The city's later history is known by its modern names.
About three kilometers away, in the 11th century, the Berber Zirids built a new town called Beleb-el-Anab. The Spanish occupied this town for some years in the 16th century. The French also took it later, during the time of Louis XIV. France took the town again in 1832. It was renamed Bône or Bona and became a government center in Algeria.
What is Hippo's Church History?
Hippo was an old bishopric, which means it was a main area for a bishop. It was one of many such areas in the Roman province of Numidia. Today, you can still see some ancient ruins there. There is also a hospital and a beautiful basilica dedicated to St. Augustine. During St. Augustine's time, there were at least three monasteries in the area, besides the bishop's own monastery.
The bishopric was started around 250 AD. We know of six bishops who served in Hippo:
- Saint Theogenes (around 256 – died as a martyr around 259)
- Saint Leontius (died around 303)
- Fidentius (died as a martyr around 304)
- Valerius (around 388–396), who made St. Augustine a priest
- Saint Augustine (354 – August 28, 430), who became a bishop in 396
- Heraclius (became a bishop in 430)
The bishopric ended around 450 AD.
What Were the Councils of Hippo?
Three important church meetings, called councils, were held in Hippo (in 393, 394, and 426). More meetings, called synods, also took place there in 397 and 401. All these meetings were led by a bishop named Aurelius.
Most of the early church meetings in North Africa happened in Carthage. Bishops in Africa usually met at least once a year in the spring. Sometimes they met again in the autumn. For example, under St. Cyprian, six or seven synods were held. Under Aurelius, more than fifteen were held.
The Synod of Hippo in 393 decided that a general meeting should happen every year. But this was too hard for the bishops. So, in the Synod of Carthage in 407, they decided to hold a general synod only when needed for all of Africa. It would be held in the most convenient place. Not all bishops had to attend. At the Synod of Hippo (393), they decided that important representatives should be sent from each church province.
At the Synod of Hippo (393) and again at the Synod of Carthage (397), a list of books for the Holy Scripture was created. These books are still part of the Catholic Bible today.
See also
- Auzia
- Caesarea of Mauretania
- Cirta
- Chullu
- Mauretania Caesariensis
- Milevum
- List of cultural assets of Algeria
