Vallitanus Explained

Vallitanus or Vallis was an ancient Roman - Berber colonia in Carthage, Tunisia. The town is identified with ruins at Sidi Medien,^{[1] [2]} where are located the remains of a Roman theatre,^{[3] [4]} and a number of Roman inscriptions bearing witness to the town's name, and some local officials of the time can be found near the theatre.^{[5] [6]}

Roman Vallitanus was also the seat of an ancient bishopric under the metropolitan of Cartagine.^[7] Four bishops from antiquity are known.

• Bonifatius (Donatist bishop fl.314)
• Restitutus (Donatist bishop floruit 404)
• Bonifatius (Catholic bishop fl. 411)
• Restitutus (Catholic bishop fl.525)

The bishopric ceased to function in the early 8th century with the arrival of Islam. Since the 1920s the diocese has been reestablished in name as a titular see and bishops have been appointed since.^[8] The current bishop of Vallitanus is José Rafael Palma Capetillo, who replaced Jean-Michel di Falco Léandri.

Notes and References

1. R. Cagnat – A. Merlin, Atlas archéologique de la Tunisie : édition spéciale des cartes topographiques publiées par le Ministère de la Guerre, accompagnée d'un texte explicatif (Paris 1914) Cat. no. 30.107.
2. A. Hanene, A propos de C. I. L., VIII, 23750 provenant de Henchir Bez/Vazi Sarra, CahTun 197/198, 2006, 69;
3. https://translate.google.com.au/translate?hl=en&sl=de&u=http://www.theatrum.de/943.html&prev=search VALLES, Vallis, Henchir Sidi Median (Africa Proconsularis)
4. Frank Sear, Roman Theatres: An Architectural Study (Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2006) p290.
5. Frank Sear, Roman Theatres: An Architectural Study (Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2006) p289.
6. http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/former/t1933.htm Titular Episcopal See of Vallis
7. http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/d2v14.html Vallitanus
8. http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/d2v14.html Vallitanus