Ursacinus See valens (bishop of mursa).
Ursicinus (fl. mid-fourth century c. e.) Magister equi-tum from 349 to 359 and magister peditum from 359 to 360 Ursicinus served during the reign of Constantine and was appointed master of the cavalry in 349 by constan-TIUS II, to help administer the East. He was summoned from the Persian frontier to Antioch by gallus caesar to assist in treason trials. After the fall of Gallus in 354, Ursicinus was recalled by Constantius II, who sent him to the West to crush the usurper silvanus; for a time he remained in Gaul as a magister equitum in the Western provinces. He returned to the East in 357 to face the Persian invasion. Although promoted to master of the infantry in 359, he was unable to prevent the fall of Amida. The details of Ursicinus’s life have survived mainly through the account of the historian ammianus MARCELLINUS, who served on his staff.
Usipetes Germanic tribe closely associated with the Tencteri and occupying the region of modern Metz (in eastern France) in the first century b. c.e. Along with the Tencteri, they felt increasing pressure from the suebi, and were eventually pushed to the Rhine. This migration came at the expense of the Gallic tribes, especially the Menapii and the treveri. The Usipetes battled with the Treveri in 55 b. c.e. until repulsed by Julius caesar. Again on the move, in 16 b. c.e. they resided for a time in the area north of the Lippe and east of the Rhine.
Utica Large city on the African coast just west of CARTHAGE. Founded by Phoenician traders, Utica became a colony that predated nearby Carthage, with which Utica was a logical ally When ROME emerged as the ultimate victor in the Punic Wars, Utica broke its alliance with Carthage and received from Rome extensive land grants in AFRICA. During the Roman civil war the remnant of the Pompeians on the continent retreated to Utica following the battle of thapsus in 46 b. c.e.; and there cato uti-CENSIS killed himself. After Africa was taken by Julius CAESAR, Utica was made a provincial capital and a MUNICIPIUM, probably by Statilius Taurus around 34 B. C.E. Although the provincial administration was moved by Emperor AUGUSTUS (ruled 27 B. C.E.-14 C. E.) to Carthage, Utica was still one of the leading centers of the province. A request was made during the reign of HADRIAN (117-138) for promotion to full status as a colony, but it was not until the time of Septimius severus (ruled 193-211), a native, that Utica enjoyed colonial privilege.
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