Constantine (, , also spelled Qacentina or Kasantina, Arabic: Blad el-Hawa) is the capital of Constantine Province in north-eastern Algeria. During Roman times it was called Cirta and was renamed "Constantina" in honor of emperor Constantine the Great. It was the capital of the same-named French département until 1962. Slightly inland, it is about from the Mediterranean coast, on the banks of the Rhumel river.