th, propagation or extinction
(see CARTHAGE, SYNODS OF). The labours of Delattre have filled the St
Louis museum at Carthage with memorials of the early Church. From the
end of the 2nd century there was a bishop of Carthage; the first was
Agrippinus, the second Optatus. At the head of the apologists, whom the
persecutions inspired, stands Tertullian. In 202 or 203, in the
amphitheatre, where Cardinal Lavigerie erected a cross in commemoration,
occurred the martyrdom of Perpetua and Felicitas. Tertullian was
succeeded (248) by a no less famous bishop Cyprian. About this time the
proconsul Gordian had himself proclaimed (239) emperor at Thysdrus (El
Jem). Shortly afterwards Sabinianus, aspiring to the same dignity, was
besieged by the procurator of Mauretania; the inhabitants gave him up
and thus obtained a disgraceful pardon (R. Cagnat, _L'armee romaine
d'Afrique_ p. 52; Audollent, op. cit. p. 73). Peace being restored, the
persecution of the Christians was renewed by an edict of the emperor
Decius (250). Cyprian escaped by hiding, and subsequently caused the
heresy of Novatian to be condemned in the council of 251. In 257, in a
new persecution under Valerian, Cyprian was beheaded by the proconsul
Galerius Maximus.

About 264 or 265 a certain Celsus proclaimed himself emperor at
Carthage, but was quickly slain. Probus, like Hadrian and Severus,
visited the city, and Maximian had new baths constructed. Under
Constantius Chlorus, Maxentius proclaimed himself emperor in Africa;
this caused great excitement in Carthage, and the garrison, which was
hostile to the pretender, compelled L. Domitius Alexander to assume the
purple. Domitius was, however, captured by Maxentius and strangled at
Carthage. About 311 there arose the famous Donatist heresy, supported by
270 African bishops (see DONATISTS and CONSTANTINE I.). At the synod of
Carthage in 411 this heresy was condemned owing to the eloquence of
Augustine. Two years later the Carthaginian sectaries even ventured upon
a political rebellion under the leadership of Heraclianus, who
proclaimed himself emperor and actually dared to make a descent on Italy
itself, leaving his son-in-law Sabinus in command at Carthage. Being
defeated he fled precipitately to Carthage, where he was put to death
(413). Donatism was followed by Pelagianism (see PELAGIUS), also of
Carthaginian origin, and these religious troubles were not settled when
in May 429 the Vandals, on the appeal of Count Boni