Gildo

Gildo (died 398) was a Berber-Roman general and the prince son of King Nubel, regulus (kinglet) of the nation of the Jubaleni (Jubalenses) in the province of Mauretania Caesariensis. He is best known for having participated in the suppression of his brother Firmus' revolt alongside the general Theodosius the Elder, which allowed him to rise through the ranks and be named Count of Africa in 385, He revolted against Honorius and the Western Roman Empire (Gildonic war), but was defeated and possibly killed himself or was assassinated.

Corbita, a sailing merchant ship used to supply Rome, bas-relief found at Carthage, c. 200.

Etymology The name "Gildo" may have been the Ancient and Modern Berber root "GLD" or "agellid" which means chief or king.

History Mosaic of Gildo's tomb with the Christian cross, found in Tabarka, late 4th-early 5th century. Gildo was probably born in the 340s in Mauretania Caesariensis, a Romanised Berber by birth. Being a son of King Nubel (regulus per nationes Mauricas), he was brother to Firmus. His other brothers were called Mascezel, Mazuca, Sammac, and Dius. He had a sister named Cyria. According to a hypothesis of Stéphane Gsell that was later resumed and developed by Gabriel Camps, Nubel should indeed be identified with Flavius Nuvel, officer of the Roman army, commander of a cavalry unit, the equites Armigeri junior, who with his wife Nonnica (or Monnica) had a basilica built around the middle of the fourth century, housing a relic of the True Cross. Landed with his few troops in Africa, he camped in front of a large Moorish camp. Despite its superiority, Gildo's army melted in front of the superior discipline of Mascezel's army.

After the defeat, Gildo was obliged to flee in a small boat, hoping to reach the friendly shores of the Eastern Roman Empire. However, unfavourable winds drove the vessel back to the harbour of Tabraca, where the inhabitants were eager to display their new loyalty by throwing Gildo into the dungeons. But taken over by Mascezel's forces, he was arrested and died on July 31, 398, executed or forced to commit suicide.