Tunisia Way

Later history

By the mid-7th century it was under Arab control, and had again been renamed, this time as Sūsa. During the next 200 years it became the main sea port of the Aghlabid dynasty, being 60km east of their capital Kairouan ('al-qayrawān in Arabic). The 'ribat', which they began building in 821, as a fortress against the Christians of Sicily, still stands, and contains what is considered to be the oldest mosque in North Africa; nearby, the town's main mosque, also founded in the 9th century, has a similarly fortress-like appearance. In 827 the Aghlabidsinvasion of Sicily from this port (the first move in a campaign which was to last until 902). launched their

During the 12th century Sūsa was briefly occupied by the Normans (from their territory in Sicily, which they conquered between 1060–1090); in the 16th century it was occupied by Spain. The city was bombarded by French and Venetian forces during the 18th century. Tunisia had become a French protectorate in 1881, and in the late 19th century, France added to the port's facilities, increasing the importance of Sousse, as it had become by then.

Susa under French rule had 25,000 inhabitants, of whom 1,100 French and 5,000 other Europeans, mainly Italians and Maltese. It was a government centre in the Province of Tunis. It has a few antiquities and some curious Christian catacombs. The native portion of the town has hardly altered. It has a museum, a garrison, an important harbour and many oil wells in the neighbourhood.

Ecclesiastical history

It remains a Roman Catholic titular see in the former Roman province of Byzacena. Between 255 and 551 there were nine bishops of Hadrumteum who are still known, the last of whom was Primasius, whose works are to be found in P.L., LXVIII, 467.