Utica's beginnings
Utica was founded as a port located on the trade route leading to the Straits of Gibraltar and the Atlantic, thus facilitating Phoenician trade in the Mediterranean. The actual founding date of Utica is controversial. Several classical authors date its foundation around 1100 BC. The archaeological evidence, however, suggests a foundation no earlier than the eighth century BC. Although Carthage was later founded about 40 km. from Utica, records suggest �that until 540 BC Utica was still maintaining political and economic autonomy in relation to its powerful Carthaginian neighbor�. By the fourth century BC, Utica came under Punic control but continued to exist as a privileged ally of Carthage.
Mercenary War
This relationship between Carthage and Utica began to disintegrate after the First Punic War, with the outbreak of rebellion among mercenaries who had not received compensation for their service to Carthage. Originally, Utica refused to participate in this rebellion, so that the Libyan forces led by Spendius and Matho laid siege to Utica and nearby Hippocritae. The Carthaginian generals Hanno and Hamilcar then came to Utica's defense, managing to raise the siege, but "the severest blow of all� was the defection of Hippacritae and Utica, the only two cities in Libya which had�bravely faced the present war�indeed they never had on any occasion given the least sign of hostility to Carthage.� Eventually, the forces of Carthage proved victorious, forcing Utica and Hippacritae to surrender after a short siege.
Third Punic War
Utica again defied Carthage in the Third Punic War, when it surrendered to Rome shortly before the breakout of war in 150 BC. After its victory, Rome rewarded Utica by granting it an expanse of territory stretching from Carthage to Hippo. As a result of the war, Rome created a new province of Africa, and Utica became its capital, which meant that the governor's
