Numidians
Encyclopedia
The Numidians were Berber
tribes who lived in Numidia
, in Algeria
east of Constantine and in part of Tunisia
. The Numidians were one of the earliest natives to trade with the settlers of Carthage. As Carthage grew, the relationship with the Numidians blossomed. Carthage's military used the Numidian cavalry
as mercenaries. Numidia provided some of the highest quality cavalry of the Second Punic War
, and the Numidian cavalry played a key role in a number of battles, both early on in support of Hannibal and later in the war after switching allegiance to the Roman Republic
.
During the Second Punic War, Syphax
was the chief of the largest Numidian tribe, the Masaesyli
. In 213 BC, Syphax ended his alliance with Carthage. In 208 BC, he rejoined after marrying Sophonisba
, daughter of Hasdrubal Gisco
.
Syphax tried to get Hannon Barca and Publius Cornelius Scipio
to bring peace between the two nations after the Romans had landed in Africa. With the help of Masinissa
, Publius Scipio's troops set fire to Syphax's camp.
Publius Scipio placed Masinissa in charge of much of Syphax's former territory in recognition for Massinissa's aid against Carthage. After the Second Punic War, Masinissa started combining the tribes. Massinissa wanted to combine the nomadic tribes into a united nation with an agricultural industry.
The peace treaty between Carthage and Rome
prevented Carthage from entering any wars without Rome's permission. Masinissa exploited the treaty by taking Carthaginian land. He used various tricks to get land including stating that Carthage was rebuilding their Navy despite the treaty which prohibited a Navy. Rome continually ruled in favor of Masinissa. When Carthage asked for an appeal Cato the Elder
was sent with a commission to mediate a settlement. The commission insisted that both sides agree to their final decision. Masinissa agreed but because of how unfavorable previous Roman decisions had been Carthage refused. Cato had served in the Roman Legion during the Second Punic War. Carthage's refusal to accept the commission convinced him that the Third Punic War
was needed. Cato made a series of speeches to the senate all of which ended with "Ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam
" (Moreover, I advise that Carthage should be destroyed).
A group of Carthaginian senators supported a peace treaty with the Numidians. This group was in the majority, in part because the populace of Carthage did not want to submit to a people they had traditionally dominated. The pro-Numidians were eventually exiled. Upon exile they went to Masinissa for help. Masinissa sent two (of his forty-four) sons to ask for the pro-Numidians to be let back in. Carthalo
, who led a democratic group who were against the Numidian encroachment blocked their entry. Hamilcar
, another leader of the same group, sent a party to attack Masinissa's sons.
Masinissa sent a force to siege the Carthaginian city of Oroscopa but they were repelled by a Carthaginian army led by a Hasdrubal
. Among the captured were two of Masinissa's sons. This became the final excuse for Rome to attack Carthage.
In 149 BC, Masinissa died of old age. His death occurred during the Third Punic War. Scipio Africanus
had Masinissa's territory divided between three of his sons thus preventing Masinissa's goal of a unified nation much as Alexander the Great's empire was divided upon his death.
Berber people
Berbers are the indigenous peoples of North Africa west of the Nile Valley. They are continuously distributed from the Atlantic to the Siwa oasis, in Egypt, and from the Mediterranean to the Niger River. Historically they spoke the Berber language or varieties of it, which together form a branch...
tribes who lived in Numidia
Numidia
Numidia was an ancient Berber kingdom in part of present-day Eastern Algeria and Western Tunisia in North Africa. It is known today as the Chawi-land, the land of the Chawi people , the direct descendants of the historical Numidians or the Massyles The kingdom began as a sovereign state and later...
, in Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
east of Constantine and in part of Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
. The Numidians were one of the earliest natives to trade with the settlers of Carthage. As Carthage grew, the relationship with the Numidians blossomed. Carthage's military used the Numidian cavalry
Numidian cavalry
Numidian cavalry was a type of light cavalry developed by the Numidians, most notably used by Hannibal during the Second Punic War. They were described by the Roman historian Livy as "by far the best horsemen in Africa."...
as mercenaries. Numidia provided some of the highest quality cavalry of the Second Punic War
Second Punic War
The Second Punic War, also referred to as The Hannibalic War and The War Against Hannibal, lasted from 218 to 201 BC and involved combatants in the western and eastern Mediterranean. This was the second major war between Carthage and the Roman Republic, with the participation of the Berbers on...
, and the Numidian cavalry played a key role in a number of battles, both early on in support of Hannibal and later in the war after switching allegiance to the Roman Republic
Roman Republic
The Roman Republic was the period of the ancient Roman civilization where the government operated as a republic. It began with the overthrow of the Roman monarchy, traditionally dated around 508 BC, and its replacement by a government headed by two consuls, elected annually by the citizens and...
.
The Punic Wars
Syphax
Syphax was a king of the ancient Algerian tribe Masaesyli of western Numidia during the last quarter of the 3rd century BC. His story is told in Livy's Ab Urbe Condita .-Biography:...
was the chief of the largest Numidian tribe, the Masaesyli
Masaesyli
The Masaesyli were a North African tribe of western Numidia and the main antagonists of the Massylii in eastern Numidia.During the Second Punic War the Masaesyli initially supported the Roman Republic and were led by Syphax against the Massyllii, who were led by Massinissa...
. In 213 BC, Syphax ended his alliance with Carthage. In 208 BC, he rejoined after marrying Sophonisba
Sophonisba
Sophonisba was a Carthaginian noblewoman who lived during the Second Punic War, and the daughter of Hasdrubal Gisco Gisgonis...
, daughter of Hasdrubal Gisco
Hasdrubal Gisco
Hasdrubal Gisco or Hasdrubal son of Gisco was a Carthaginian general who fought against Rome in Iberia and North Africa during the Second Punic War. He should not be confused with Hasdrubal Barca, the brother of Hannibal....
.
Syphax tried to get Hannon Barca and Publius Cornelius Scipio
Scipio Africanus
Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus , also known as Scipio Africanus and Scipio the Elder, was a general in the Second Punic War and statesman of the Roman Republic...
to bring peace between the two nations after the Romans had landed in Africa. With the help of Masinissa
Masinissa
Masinissa — also spelled Massinissa and Massena — was the first King of Numidia, an ancient North African nation of ancient Libyan tribes. As a successful general, Masinissa fought in the Second Punic War , first against the Romans as an ally of Carthage an later switching sides when he saw which...
, Publius Scipio's troops set fire to Syphax's camp.
Publius Scipio placed Masinissa in charge of much of Syphax's former territory in recognition for Massinissa's aid against Carthage. After the Second Punic War, Masinissa started combining the tribes. Massinissa wanted to combine the nomadic tribes into a united nation with an agricultural industry.
The peace treaty between Carthage and Rome
Roman Republic
The Roman Republic was the period of the ancient Roman civilization where the government operated as a republic. It began with the overthrow of the Roman monarchy, traditionally dated around 508 BC, and its replacement by a government headed by two consuls, elected annually by the citizens and...
prevented Carthage from entering any wars without Rome's permission. Masinissa exploited the treaty by taking Carthaginian land. He used various tricks to get land including stating that Carthage was rebuilding their Navy despite the treaty which prohibited a Navy. Rome continually ruled in favor of Masinissa. When Carthage asked for an appeal Cato the Elder
Cato the Elder
Marcus Porcius Cato was a Roman statesman, commonly referred to as Censorius , Sapiens , Priscus , or Major, Cato the Elder, or Cato the Censor, to distinguish him from his great-grandson, Cato the Younger.He came of an ancient Plebeian family who all were noted for some...
was sent with a commission to mediate a settlement. The commission insisted that both sides agree to their final decision. Masinissa agreed but because of how unfavorable previous Roman decisions had been Carthage refused. Cato had served in the Roman Legion during the Second Punic War. Carthage's refusal to accept the commission convinced him that the Third Punic War
Third Punic War
The Third Punic War was the third and last of the Punic Wars fought between the former Phoenician colony of Carthage, and the Roman Republic...
was needed. Cato made a series of speeches to the senate all of which ended with "Ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam
Carthago delenda est
"Carthago delenda est" or the fuller "Ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam" or "Ceterum autem censeo, Carthaginem esse delendam" are Latin political phrases which were popular in the Roman Republic during the latter years of the Punic Wars against Carthage...
" (Moreover, I advise that Carthage should be destroyed).
A group of Carthaginian senators supported a peace treaty with the Numidians. This group was in the majority, in part because the populace of Carthage did not want to submit to a people they had traditionally dominated. The pro-Numidians were eventually exiled. Upon exile they went to Masinissa for help. Masinissa sent two (of his forty-four) sons to ask for the pro-Numidians to be let back in. Carthalo
Carthalo
Carthalo was an officer in Hannibal's army during the Second Punic War. He led the Numidian cavalry in a successful skirmish against Rome. After the Battle of Cannae Hannibal sent Carthalo to Rome. Carthalo's mission was to try to get Rome to consider peace. At the same time he brought a...
, who led a democratic group who were against the Numidian encroachment blocked their entry. Hamilcar
Hamilcar
Hamilcar was a common name in the Punic culture. There are several different transcriptions into Greek and Roman scripts. The ruling families of ancient Carthage often named their members with the traditional name Hamilcar...
, another leader of the same group, sent a party to attack Masinissa's sons.
Masinissa sent a force to siege the Carthaginian city of Oroscopa but they were repelled by a Carthaginian army led by a Hasdrubal
Hasdrubal
Hasdrubal was the name of several Carthaginian generals of the First and Second Punic Wars...
. Among the captured were two of Masinissa's sons. This became the final excuse for Rome to attack Carthage.
In 149 BC, Masinissa died of old age. His death occurred during the Third Punic War. Scipio Africanus
Scipio Africanus
Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus , also known as Scipio Africanus and Scipio the Elder, was a general in the Second Punic War and statesman of the Roman Republic...
had Masinissa's territory divided between three of his sons thus preventing Masinissa's goal of a unified nation much as Alexander the Great's empire was divided upon his death.