Description : Illiturgis, also known as Iliturgi, Illurgis was a city in Spain during antiquity, located on the road from Corduba to Castulo. Originally, it was located near the site of Mengíbar, but when it was destroyed the populace was relocated near present-day Andújar. It had the surname of Forum Julium during Roman times. During the Second Punic War, it sided with the Romans, and was besieged by the Carthaginians. However, the sieges were raised. When the two Scipios, Publius and Calvus, were overthrown, Illiturgis and Castulo sided with the Carthaginians. In addition, according to Roman sources, the citizens of Illiturgis are said to have executed the Romans who had fled to the city for refuge during the war. Scipio Africanus stormed the city in 206 BC and burnt the corpses of the slaughtered townspeople. (see below a detailed description of events during the Second Punic War). As a Roman city, Illiturgis was part of the province of Hispania Baetica, and grew in size. Saint Euphrasius of Illiturgis is said to have been its first Christian bishop. In the 7th century, Sisebut built a church over the Euphrasius' sepulcher at Illiturgis, but during the invasion of Spain by the Moors in the 8th century, Euphrasius' relics were translated to Galicia.
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