Hippo

Hippo, ancient port on the coast of North Africa, located near the modern town of Annaba (formerly Bône) in Algeria. Hippo was probably first settled by Carthaginians in the 4th century bce. It later became the home of Numidian rulers. Under Roman control it was first made a municipium (a community that exercised partial rights of Roman citizenship) and later a colonia (Roman settlement with full rights of citizenship). St. Augustine, one of the city’s most important personages and later a Father of the Church, served as bishop there from 395 ce until his death during the Vandal siege of the city in 430. According to St. Augustine, the city contained numerous sacred edifices, including the Basilica Major and churches devoted to Saints Leontius and Theogenes as well as to numerous martyrs.