List of kings of Numidia

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King of Numidia
Numidian coat of arm.png
The Numidian sun, traditionnaly represented as the Numidian coat of arm.
Bust Of Massinissa I (transparent version).png
Bust of King Massinissa
Details
StyleKing of the Numidians, Agellid
First monarch Madghis
Last monarch Ptolemy of Mauretania
Formationc. 400BC
Abolition40/42
Residence Cirta, Siga, and Caesarea in Mauretania

Numidia was an ancient Berber kingdom located in the region of North Africa that today comprises Algeria and parts of today Tunisia, Libya and Morocco. The kingdom existed from the 3rd to the 1st century BC. Numidia was originally composed of two large kingdoms: the Massyles in the east and the Massaessyles in the west, until it was unified into a single kingdom by Massinissa. Rome established it as a client kingdom after the Second Punic War and annexed it, first in 46 BC and again in 25 BC after a brief period of restored independence under King Juba II (30 BC–25 BC).

Contents

After this, the kingdom became the Numidian kingdom of Mauretania, being ruled by Juba II as a client king. The royal line definitely ended in 40 after Juba II's son, Ptolemy was murdered by his cousin, Caligula. The kingdom itself actually ended after the demise of Ptolemy's former slave, Aedemon who had revolted from 40 to 42 against Rome, after this, the kingdom gets completely annexed by the Roman Empire.

Before Massinissa's unification there were two distinct groups:

Massylian and Masaesylian dynasty (c. 400 BC BC - 202 BC)

Semi-legendary

Some Numidian kings are only known though legends, while they could have existed, most of the details about their lives have been either exaggerated or completely invented. Among those kings there is Madghis who is believed to be an ancestor of the Numidians. There is also the mythical founder of the dynasty, Iles whose life is surrounded by mystery and whose existence is heavily debatable, some historians do not even consider him as a king who existed. This is why those kings are semi-legendary.

NameReignSuccessionLife details
Madghis UnknownFounded the kingdom?King of Numidia of which the mosoleum of Medghacen was named after. [9] [10] [11]
Not related to the other Numidian kings.
Zelalsan UnknownPossibly the son of Madghis.Believed to have been a shuphet, nothing else known.
Iles UnknownNot related to the two before. Took the throne after his predecessor's death.Believed to have unified his kingdom and founder of the Massyliian dynasty.

Kings of the Massylii (Eastern Numidia)

The last ruler of the Massylii conquered the Masaesyli and created the unified Numidian kingdom.

NameReignSuccessionLife details
Aylimas c. 344 – c. 310 BCE
(34 years)		Son of Iles.Allied with Agathocles of Syracuse then betrayed him, resulting in his own death after a siege. He was succeeded by his brother Niptasan.
Niptasan c. 310 – c. 274 BCE
(36 years)		Brother of Aylimas Nothing much known, inherited the kingdom after his brother's demise.
Zelalsan II c. 274 – c. 250/260 BCE
(24/34 years)		Brother of Niptasan First king for which there is reliable historical information; vassal for Carthage.
Gaia 260 BC–207BC
(53 years)		son of Zelalsan II.Unknown – 207 BC
Intensified his kingdom's relation with its neighbors, first true king.
Oezalces 207 BC-206 BC
(a year)		Brother of Gaia Unknown – 206 BC
His reign was defined by internal turbulence and instability, after reigning for a year, he wasoverthrown and killed by his own son, Capussa, which created a civil war. [12]
Capussa 206 BC
(few months)		Son of Oezalces, took power after overthrowing him.Unknown – 206
He reigned very briefly and was defeated and killed in a coup d'état by Mazaetullus. He proclaimed as a King, Lacumazes, the youngest son of Oezalces, then set himself as a regent. [13] [14]
Lacumazes 206 BC
(few months)		Brother of Capussa, took power after his brother's murder by Mazaetullus.Unknown lifespan
Reigned as the puppet of Mazaetullus who held all of the true power. Overthrown by Massinissa and forced to flee with his regent. Came back to the court years later and pardoned by Massinissa
Mazaetullus 206 BC
(few months; disputed)		Son of Naravas. Killed his predecessor Capussa in a coup and ruled as de facto ruler.Unknown lifespan
Overthrown by Massinissa, had to take refuge in Syphax's court. Fate unknown.
Massinissa 206 BC – 202 BC
(4 years) 		Son of Gaia, overthrew both Lacumazes and Mazaetullus.238 BC – 148 BC
Reigned for a few years then defeated Syphax and founded the unified kingdom of Numidia.

Fought as an ally for Rome.

Kings of the Masaesyli (Western Numidia)

NameReignSuccessionLife details
Aylimas c. 344 – c. 310 BCE
(34 years)		Believed to be the son and successor of Iles, conquered the kingd om of the Masaesyli.Allied with Agathocles of Syracuse then betrayed him, resulting in his own death after a siege. He was succeeded by his brother Niptasan.
Naravas Unknown
(disputed)		Son of Zelalsan II, believed to have reigned as king.He played a pivotal role in the Mercenary War (241–238 BCE), initially joining the Libyan rebels before later aligning with Carthage, an alliance that significantly shifted the balance of power during the conflict. [15]
Syphax c. 225 – c. 203 BCE
(22 years)		Predecessor uncertain250 BC – 202 BC
He ruled over a territory extending from present day Constantine to Moulouya. [16] [17] The territory from the Moulouya until the Strait of Gibraltar and Tingis were also under the authority of Syphax. [18] [19] [20] He was defeated by Massinissa and captured by the romans. Died in captivity in 202 BC.
Vermina c. 203 – c. ? BCE
(uncertain)		Son of Syphax Unknown lifespan
After arriving late at the Battle of Zama, he was defeated and forced to sue for peace by the romans after escaping. Huge portions of his territories were annexed after this. [21] While Vermina escaped this battle, he was forced to sue for peace with the Romans in 200 BC. [21]
Archobarzane c. ? – c. 175 BCE
(uncertain)		Son of Vermina Unknown lifespan
Contrary to his father, who sought peace with the Romans after the Second Punic War, Archobarzane seems to have been in favor of Carthage. His kingdom was therefore annexed by Massinissa around 157 BC, with the blessing of Rome and his fate after this remains unknown. [22]

Unified Numidia

The three sons of Massinissa originally shared the kingdom, dividing responsibility. Micipsa later tried the same thing with his three heirs, but the result was a civil war. The Roman Republic defeated Numidia during the Jugurthine War. Gauda thus succeeded to a reduced Numidian kingdom. He divided the kingdom geographically between his two sons, establishing two different lines of Numidian kings. They were briefly displaced by a certain Hiarbas, but Roman intervention restored them.

NameReignSuccessionLife details
Masinissa 202 – 148 BCE
(50 years)		First king of unified Numidia after Syphax's defeat, made his kingdom a huge regional power in North Africa.c. 238 BC – 148 BC [23]
(aged 90)
Died of old age.
Micipsa 148 – 118 BCE
(30 years)		Inherited the throne with his two brother but outlived them by almost 30 years and reigned alone from then.c. 198 – 118
(aged 80)
Probably died of old age.
Gulussa 148 – 145 BCE
(3 years)		Chosen as successor with his two brothers, great general and tactician. Nothing else known.Unknown lifespan
Cause of death unknown.
Mastanabal 148 – 140 BCE
(8 years)		Chosen as successor with his two brothers. Won a gold medal at the Athens Hippodrome in a horse-drawn chariot racing event.Unknown lifespan
No mention of him after 139BC, most likely died of illness.
Hiempsal I c. 118 – c. 117 BCE
(less than a year)		Son and successor of Micipsa with his brother Adherbal and his cousin Jugurtha.? – c. 117 BCE
(age unknown)
Murdered with his supporters by Jugurtha's men. [24]

Adherbal

c. 118 – c. 112 BCE
(6 years)		Son and successor of Micipsa with his brother Hiempsal I and his cousin Jugurtha.? – c. 112 BCE (age unknown)

Besieged and murdered by Jugurtha despite being put under protection by the Romans. [25]

Jugurtha 118 – 105 BCE
(13 years)		Son of Mastanabal, overthrew and killed all of his rivals resulting in a war with Rome.c. 160 – 104 BCE
(aged 56)
Defeated and captured by the Romans then thrown into the Tullianum prison, where he was executed by strangulation. [26]
Massiva II 111 – 110 BCE
(a year; disputed) [a] 		Fled to Rome after his cousin's murder where he claimed the Numidian throne and probably was chosen as a rival king by the Roman Senate.? – 110 BC
(age unknown)
Murdered by Jugurtha's men in Rome.
Gauda 105 – 88 BCE
(17 years) 		Brother of Jugurtha, placed as king by the romans after his brother's defeat. Last king of unified Numidia.? – 88 BCE
(age unknown)
Died of unknown causes.

Dynastic conflicts

Eastern Numidia

This was the main Numidian kingdom after 81.

Annexed to Rome as province Africa Nova (46–30).

Annexed to Rome as province Africa Proconsularis (25 BCE - 193 CE).

Western Numidia

This was a much smaller chiefdom than Eastern Numidia

Annexed to Rome as part of province Africa Nova (40–30).

Annexed to the Kingdom of Mauretania (25 BCE - 40 CE).

Massylian-Ptolemaic dynasty of Mauretania (25 BC–40 AD)

NameReignSuccessionLife details
Juba II 25 BC – 23 AD
(47 years)		Son of Juba I, placed as client king of Mauretania by Rome.48/46 BC– 23 AD

Died suddenly of natural causes. [27]

Cleopatra Selene II 25 BC – 5 BC
(20 years)		Daughter of Cleopatra and Mark Antony, was married to Juba II and ruled as co-ruler.40 BC – 5 BC

Died suddenly of unknown causes at the age of 35.

Tacfarinas 17 – 24
(7 years; disputed)		Styled himself as king and revolted against the roman presence in Numidia by allying with local tribes; non-dynastic.Unknown – 24

Killed himself by impaling himself on the spears of roman soldiers to avoid capture. [28]

Ptolemy of Mauretania 20 – 40 AD
(20 years)		Son of Juba II and Cleopatra Selene II, chosen as co-ruler by his father in 20 BC.13~9 BC – 40 AD [29]
Murdered by his cousin Caligula, motivations unclear, possibly jealousy. Last regnant king.

Non-dynastic rebels (40–69)

NameReignSuccessionLife details
Aedemon 40 – 42
(2 years)		Freed servant of Ptolemy who rebelled in his name after his murder. Possibly claimed to be his son. [30] Unknown – 42

Killed during a battle, possibly against Gaius Suetonius Paulinus, kingdom annexed after this.

Sabalus 42 – 44
(2 years)		Succeeded Aedemon as rebel leaderUnknown

Ended up surrendering to Gnaeus Hosidius Geta after being tricked into believing that he had surnatural powers. Fate unknown.

Albinus
(Juba III)		69
(few weeks/months?)		Former roman procurator who revolted and styled himself as king of Mauretania in 69 during the crisis. Possibly claimed Numidian Heritage. [31] Unknown – 69

Rapidly apprehended and executed with his wife, presumably by Otho's forces. [31]

References

  1. ↑ Jamil M. Abun-Nasr (20 August 1987). A History of the Maghrib in the Islamic Period. Cambridge University Press. p. 15. ISBN   978-1-316-58334-0.
  2. ↑ Phillip C. Naylor (7 May 2015). Historical Dictionary of Algeria. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. p. 132. ISBN   978-0-8108-7919-5.
  3. ↑ Jeremy McInerney (2014). A Companion to Ethnicity in the Ancient Mediterranean. John Wiley & Sons. p. 535. ISBN   978-1-118-83438-1.
  4. 1 2 3 Nigel Bagnall, The Punic Wars, p. 270.
  5. ↑ Jeremy McInerney (2014). A Companion to Ethnicity in the Ancient Mediterranean. John Wiley & Sons. p. 535. ISBN   978-1-118-83438-1.
  6. ↑ Good, John (1819). Pantologia. A new (cabinet) cyclopædia.
  7. ↑ Modéran, Yves (2003). Les royaumes d'Afrique du Nord. Publications de l’École française de Rome. Syphax semble exercer rapidement son autorité jusqu'au détroit de Gibraltar
  8. ↑ Desanges, J. (2010-12-29). "Masaesyli / Masaesyles". Encyclopédie berbère (in French) (30): 4630–4631. doi:10.4000/encyclopedieberbere.478. ISSN   1015-7344.
  9. ↑ Khelifa, A. (2010-12-29). "Madghis ou Madghès". Encyclopédie berbère (in French) (30): 4482–4483. doi:10.4000/encyclopedieberbere.404. ISSN   1015-7344.
  10. ↑ Gautier, Émile Félix (1952). Le passé de l'Afrique du Nord: les siècles obscurs (in French). Payot.
  11. ↑ Sprawski 2010, pp. 128–129.
  12. ↑ Eckstein, Arthur M. (2023-04-28). Senate and General: Individual Decision Making and Roman Foreign Relations, 264-194 B.C. University of California Press. p. 237. ISBN   978-0-520-33534-9.
  13. ↑ Camps, Gabriel (1993). "Capussa". Encyclopédie berbère . Vol. 12 | Capsa – Cheval. Aix-en-Provence: Edisud. p. 1770.
  14. ↑ Fage, J. D.; Oliver, Roland Anthony (1975). The Cambridge History of Africa. Vol. 2. Cambridge University Press. p. 180. ISBN   9780521215923.
  15. ↑ Kadra-Hadjadji, Houaria (2013). Masinissa, the Great African (in French). KARTHALA Editions. pp. 35 to 43. ISBN   978-2-8111-0915-8.
  16. ↑ Leen, Anne (2023-06-15). All Things Ancient Rome: An Encyclopedia of the Roman World [2 volumes]. Bloomsbury Publishing USA. ISBN   979-8-216-17080-8.
  17. ↑ The Ancient African Culture: The Ancient History Of African Kingdoms. Evelyn Cabrera. 2022-07-25.
  18. ↑ Modéran, Yves (2003). "Conclusion générale". Les royaumes d'Afrique du Nord. Bibliothèque des Écoles françaises d'Athènes et de Rome. Publications de l’École française de Rome. pp. 213–220. ISBN   978-2-7283-1524-6. Syphax semble exercer rapidement son autorité jusqu'au détroit de Gibraltar
  19. ↑ Mariana, Juan de (1725). Histoire generale d'Espagne, du p. Jean de Mariana, de la Compagnie de Jesus. Traduite en françois; avec des notes et des cartes. Par le p. Joseph-Nicolas Charenton, de la même Compagnie. Tome premier [-5. seconde partie]. p. 178. Les états de Syphax avoient à l'occident Tanger & l'Ocean;
  20. ↑ Askaoui, Zineb (2020). "The Berbers: Constructed Identities by Foreigners on African Soil". the territory from Mulucha to Tingis was under the authority of the Masaesylii king Syphax
  21. 1 2 "A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology, Vermina". www.perseus.tufts.edu. Retrieved 2024-03-06.
  22. ↑
  23. ↑ Law, R.C.C. (1979), "North Africa in the Hellenistic and Roman periods, 323 BC to AD 305", in Fage, J.D. (ed.), Cambridge History of Africa, vol. 2, Cambridge University Press, pp. 148–209, doi:10.1017/CHOL9780521215923.005, ISBN   978-1-139-05456-0
  24. ↑ Sallust, Bellum Jugurthinum
  25. ↑ Sallust, Bellum Jugurthinum 5, 13, 14, 24, 25, 26
  26. ↑ MacKendrick, Paul Lachlan (2000). The North African Stones Speak. p. 330. ISBN   9780807849422.
  27. ↑ King, Arienne (2020-09-01). "Juba II". World History Encyclopedia . Retrieved 2020-09-28.
  28. ↑ Tacitus IV.25
  29. ↑ Roller 2003, p. 244
  30. ↑ Stéphane Gsell, Histoire ancienne de l’Afrique du Nord, vol. VIII, Hachette, p. 155-158.
  31. 1 2 Tacitus, The Histories, Volume II, Section 59
  1. ↑ After Adherbal's murder, Massiva, a son of Gulussa fled to Rome where he claimed the Numidian throne. It is unknown but highly possible that the Roman Senate hailed him as a rival king against Jugurtha
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