Skikda (Arabic: سكيكدة; formerly Philippeville[1] from 1838 to 1962 and Rusicade[1] in ancient times) is a city in northeastern Algeria and a port on the Mediterranean. It is the capital of Skikda Province and Skikda District. Russicada was the Mediterranean port city serving Cirta. It overlooked the straits between Sicily (Europe) and Numidia (Africa), a place of significant relevance in geopolitical strategies at the time. Russicada was mentioned by the medieval chronicler Geoffrey of Monmouth in his pseudo-historical accounts of the mythical kings of Britain and their deeds as "Rusicada". In late antiquity, the port was destroyed during the Vandals' invasion of 530. The Byzantines reconquered the region in 533 and 534, but left large areas under Berber control. The town was overrun by the Umayyad Caliphate at the end of the 7th century.