Located on the North African coast, Carthage served at various points as the capital of the Vandal Kingdom—repository of Rome's looted wealth after the sack of 455—and later as an imperial exarchate and the native base of the Heraclian dynasty. Belisarius captured it in 634 during his North African campaign, entering in triumph and instructing his troops to treat the city as liberated rather than conquered, though he was later forced to return to suppress a mutiny there. It remained a significant imperial holding until the Arab conquests overwhelmed the exarchate, and the city was ultimately annihilated as the Muslim advance swept across North Africa.
What each episode says
Episode 6 (3 mentions)
The capital of the Vandal Kingdom of Africa, to which all the looted wealth of Rome was transported after the sack of 455. Brownworth notes the irony of Rome's riches being taken to Carthage, given the historical bad blood between the two cities.
“cities, to the vandal capital of Carthage.”
“shores of Carthage was large enough to wipe the Vandal Kingdom from the face of the earth,”
“Then, showing the same judgment that had won him such infamy and carthage, he appointed”
Episode 8 (4 mentions)
Carthage was the capital of the Vandal Kingdom and the main objective of Belisarius's North African campaign. He entered it in triumph two days after routing Gelimer at the tenth milestone, instructing his soldiers to treat it as a restoration rather than a conquest. Later it was the site of a mutiny he had to return from Italy to suppress.
“march to Carthage. Gelimer, by now aware of the invasion and seriously alarmed, gathered every”
“Vandals. Gelimer and the survivors fled the field, leaving Carthage defenseless. Two days”
“the first of many delays. He was recalled to Africa to deal with a mutiny in Carthage and he”
Episode 10 (1 mention)
The African city described as Heraclius' native home and the seat of his father's governorship. In despair at the Persian advance, Heraclius briefly planned to abandon Constantinople and move the capital here, a plan so horrifying to the populace that they unanimously implored him to stay.
“Heraclius decided to abandon the capital and move it to his native Carthage in Africa.”
Episode 11 (2 mentions)
The exarchate suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of the Saracens early in the Arab conquests, leaving Africa practically defenseless. It was later annihilated completely as the Muslim advance redirected southwest after the failed siege of Constantinople.
“The next year saw the Saracens inflict a crushing defeat on the exarch of Carthage,”
“the excharcad of Carthage, then all of Africa and Spain.”
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