History
The city, said to have been founded by the Libyan Hercules. It was in the kingdom of King Jugurtha, who had deposited his treasures there. Capsa was captured by Gaius Marius in 106 BC and destroyed, but later became a Roman colony. When Africa was divided into two provinces by Justinian, it was assigned to Byzacena. Under Justinian the Duke of Byzacena resided there and the town which was protected by a strong citadel, was called Justiniana Capsa.
During the Roman era the city was the seat of an ancient bishopric. Five bishops, one a Donatist, are known from 255 to 484.
In the 11th century after the Arab conquest, more than two hundred flourishing villages stood in the surrounding region.
The modern name of the town is Gafsa; it is situated in a most fertile oasis, about 81 miles west of Gabès and 128 west of Sfax, with which it is connected by a railway. The oasis has about 5000 inhabitants trading in dates, carpets, and wool rugs. It is well watered, has magnificent palm-trees, and is an important centre for French military and civil administration in Tunisia.
List of Titular Bishops
The ancient bishopric survives today as a titular see of the Roman catholic church. known bishops include: