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Algeria
/ Annaba / History
Annaba was first
settled by Phoenicians as Hippo Regius and allied with Carthage.
Hippo Regius was a haven for the Numidian kings until it became
a Roman colony in 46BC after Numidia was annexed by Caesar. Under
Roman rule Hippo Regius flourished commercially. It was also a centre
for Christianity until it was sacked by Vandals during the 5th century.
The Byzantines captured the city and rebuilt it during the 6th century.
Following the Arab invasion of the 7th century, the city of Annaba
was built some 2km from Hippo Regius, which was pillaged and neglected.
The French
were repelled by Annaba's citizens for two years, but the city
finally fell in 1832. As an operations base for allied forces
during World War II Annaba was heavily bombarded by the German
air force during the winter of 1942-3.
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