Constantine

 

(kŏn'stəntēn) , ancient Cirta, city (1998 pop. 462,187), capital of Constantine dept., NE Algeria, on the gorge of the Rhumel River. A major inland city, it is the railhead of a prosperous and diverse agricultural area. Constantine is also a center of the grain trade and has flour mills, a tractor factory, and industries producing textiles and leather goods. Products made by local artisans are economically important. Founded by Carthaginians (who called it Sarim Batim), Constantine became the capital and commercial center of Numidia and was named Cirta [the city]. Under Roman rule it was a major grain-shipping point and one of the wealthiest cities of Africa. Destroyed (A.D. 311) during the war preceding the accession of Constantine I, it was rebuilt by Constantine himself and renamed in his honor. The city was pillaged by the Vandals in the 5th cent. and later became an object of contention among various Muslim dynasties. The Turks captured it in the 16th cent. and made it a provincial capital. By the time of the French conquest in 1837 the district governor of Constantine had become virtually independent of the Ottoman Empire. Modern Constantine is the seat of a Roman Catholic bishop, a university, and a Muslim school of higher education.

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Coordinates: 36°21′N, 6°36′E

Constantine or Qusantînah (Arabic: قسنطينة ) is the capital of Constantine Province (ولاية قسنطينة) in north-east Algeria, slightly inland, at about 80 kilometers from the Mediterranean coast.

Regarded as the capital of eastern Algeria, it has a population of over 500,000 (750,000 with the agglomeration) making it the third largest city in the country after Algiers and Oran. Situated in north eastern Algeria, Constantine is the centre of its region. Constantine is placed on a plateau at 640 metres above sea level. The city is framed by a deep ravine and has a dramatic appearance. The city is very picturesque with a number of bridges and a viaduct crossing the ravine. The economical base is the manufacturing of leather, wool and linen. Constantine is the centre of commercial activities and has Algeria and Tunisia as its markets. Constantine has one university, the University of Constantine, which was founded in 1969. There are museums and important historical sites around the city. Constantine can be found on the top of a gorge protecting the city on almost all sides. As so many other places in North Africa, the fortress and the city has been one and the same. Constantine got help from nature's side. The sights of today are spectacular, especially since this is a fairly big city. The gorge cutting the edges of Constantine, can be crossed by one out of four bridges, like Pont Sidi M'Cid, as on the picture. But I'm sad to report that a serious environmental scheme is needed to turn Constantine into what it should be. The gorge serves to a large extent as a dustbin, and is heavily polluted by oil as well. As for the economical side of constantine, it is the railhead of a prosperous and diverse agricultural area. Constantine is also a center of the grain trade and has flour mills, a tractor factory, and industries producing textiles and leather goods.

History

The city was originally settled by Numidian people, and was known as Sarim Batim. Later its name was Cirta, from the Phoenician word for "city". Constantine was capital city of the Numidia, a berber empire that emerged in the 3rd century BC. The city was founded in 203 BC by king Micipsa, with the help of Greek colonists. She distinguished for the splendour of the public buildings and its population overcame that of all other towns of northern Africa. It had an army of 10,000 cavalry and 20,000 infantry. In 113 BC the town was conquered by Jugurtha. Later it served as base of the Roman generals Caecilius Metellus Numidicus and Caius Marius. In 107 BC the latter gained a victory over Jugurtha in the nearby of Cirta. With the suppression of king Juba I and the rest of the supporters of Pompey in Africa (46 BC), Julius Caesar gave special civil rights to a part of Cirta, under the name of Sittlanorum Colonia. It became the head of a confederation of four similar settlements in North Africa.

In 311, during the civil war between emperor Maxentius and usurper Domitius Alexander (former governor of Africa), the city was destroyed. Rebuilt in 313, it was subsequently named after emperor Constantine the Great, who had defeated Maxentius. Conquered by the Vandals in 432, Constantine returned to the Byzantine exarchate of North Africa from 534 to 697. It was conquered by the Arabs in the 7th century, receiving the name of Qusantina.

The city recovered and in 12th century was again a prosperous market, with connection to Pisa, Genoa and Venice. Since 1529 it was intermittently part of Ottoman Empire, ruled by a Turkish bey (governor) subordinate to the dey of Algiers. Salah Bey, who ruled the city in 1770-1792, greatly embellished it and built much of the Muslim architecture still visible today.

In 1826 ,the last Bey, Ahmed Bey ben Mohamed Chérif became the new head of state and led a fierce resistance against French occupation forces. By 13 October 1837 the territory was reconquered by France, and in 1848 it was incorporated into the colony of Algiers (Algeria).

In World War II, during campaign in North Africa (1942-43), Constantine and the nearby city of Sétif were used by the Allied forces as operational bases.

People

Constantine is native city of the Islamic reformator Ben Badis. It is also the hometown of Key people in Algeria and France.

• Ben Badis,(Islamic reformer and philosopher)
• Al Fudhayl Al Wartilani,
• Malek Bennabi, (philosopher)
• Masinissa The first King of Numidia.
• Princess Charlotte, Duchess of Valentinois, the daughter of Louis II, Prince of Monaco, and the mother of Prince Rainier III
• Claude Cohen-Tannoudji, Nobel Prize in Physics
• Hassiba Boulmerka,Athlete World and Olympic Champion she is the first Algerian to win an Olympic title.
• Ahlam Mosteghanemi (writer)
• Ahmed Bey (the Last Bey of Constantine).
• Rabah Bitat (the 5th President of Algeria)
• El Hadj Mohamed Tahar Fergani (The godfather of Malouf music)
• Daniel Lévi, (pianist)
• Enrico Macias, (singer)
• Jean-Michel Atlan (artiste ).
• Cheikh Raymond ( Malouf Singer)
• Benjamin Stora (historian),
• Alphonse Halimi (boxer World champion ),
• Paul Amar (journalist),
• Jacques Derrida (philosopher),
• Françoise Arnoul Actress,
• Smaïn (Artiste),
• Kateb Yacine (Writer ).
• Maurice Boitel, Artiste
• Akim et Hocine Tafer (Boxer ).
• Samir Nasri Soccer Star in France.
• Ali Saidi-Sief (Olympic runner sub Champion in 2000 Summer Olympics for the 5000 m)
• Alfred Nakache swimmer and water polo player,
• France Anglade Actress .
• Najia Abeer Writer
• Taoufik Bestandji Musician
• Nicole Guedj
• Malek Bensmaïl TV Broadcaster , Movie Maker
• Sandra Laoura,Olympic winner
• René Bianco, Opera singer
• Isabelle Adjani, actrice

Main sights

The city is framed by a deep ravine and has a dramatic appearance. The city is very picturesque with a number of bridges and a viaduct crossing the ravine.

• Gustave Mercier Museum (displays of ancient and modern art).
• Ben-Badis Mosque.
• the Casbah.
• Emir Abdel Kader University & Mosque.
• Soumma Mausoleum, at Khroub.
• the Palace of Ahmed Bey.
• ruins of the Antonian Roman aqueduct.

In the nearby are the Roman city of Tiddis and the megalithic monuments and burial grounds at Djebel Mazala Salluste.

Miscellaneous

Constantine is also known for its universities: Mentouri, designed by the Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer., Zerzara, and The Islamic University of El amir Abdelkader, Constantine will have another huge University town under construction in the (nouvelle ville) Constantine's current zip code is 25000.

Constantine was also one of the focal points of the novel Memory in the Flesh by Ahlam Mosteghanemi.

Town twinning

• Grenoble, France
• Sousse, Tunisia
• Istanbul, Turkey

References

• Constantine's website
• WorldStatesmen- Algeria
• Catholic Encyclopedia article

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