In the third century, Egypt as part of the Roman empire maintained an all black Christian regiment of soldiers led by General Morris who always carries the spear used in piecing Jesus on the cross of Calvary. They were fierce and excelled in all of their campaign. In 285:AD. They were invited by the emperor of Rome, to protect it’s northern boarders, in Aganum(Switzerland), from the incursion of barbarians or Germanier vandals.
Before they went into battle, they were ordered by power of the emperor to kneel and bow to the Roman heathens god, which they refused. Saying that, they only bow to the one true God. The penalty was death, which the entire regiment of over 300,000 soldiers submitted to without a fight. They were beheaded, Martyred for Christ in 286 AD. That action vibrated all through the realm and empire, leading to the conversion of the emperor himself.
Though seen as a great sacrifice, it left the Afar Latin Christians of north Africa vulnerable. It signaled the beginning of the end, which Africa never recovered from.