Mesarfelta

Mesarfelta was located on the "Limes romanus" called Fossatum Africae

Mesarfelta was a town in the Roman province of Numidia and a bishopric that is included in the Catholic Church's list of titular sees.

History

The historic Mesarfelta is believed to be what are now the ruins of El-Outaïa or those of Tolga, Henchir-El-Ksar, or may be Qastilya in Algeria (according to "Three North-African Topographical Notes (Islamic-Roman)").

Probably was built a fortification by the Romans, with annexed "vicus", in the second half of first century near the Aures mountains: it had an amphitheater during Hadrian reign.

A barrier -called Fossatum Africae- marking the frontier between the territory of the Roman Empire and other lands ran through Mesarfelta.

The city disappeared after the Arab conquest in the second half of the seventh century.

There are two Mesarfelta bishops historically remembered: in the Carthago Conference of 411 AD went bishop "Lucianus" and the Donatist "Bennatus".

Actual Titular bishops of Mesarfelta

• William Edward McManus 1967-1976
• Louis-Albert Vachon 1977-1981
• Basile Tapsoba 1981-1984
• Joseph Paul Pierre Morissette 1987-1990
• Michael Angelo Saltarelli 1990-1995
• Antonio Menegazzo, M.C.C.I. 1995-

See also

• Mauretania Caesariensis
• Caesarea
• Vescera
• Thamugadi
• Lambaesis
• Castellum Dimmidi
• Roman 'Coloniae' in Berber Africa
• Christian Berbers

Bibliography

• J. Baradez (1949). Gemellae. Un camp d’Hadrien et une ville aux confins sahariens aujourd’hui ensevelis sous les sables. Revue Africaine v. 93 p. 1-24.
• P. Trousset (2002). Les limites sud de la réoccupation Byzantine. Antiquité Tardive v. 10, p. 143-150.