Oezalces

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Oezalces
King of Eastern Numidia
King of the Massylli
Reign206 BC
Predecessor Gaia
Successor Capussa
Born3th century BC
Eastern Numidia.
Died206 BC
Eastern Numidia, possibly Cirta.
Spouse Hannibal's niece [1]
Issue
Lacumazes
House Massylii
Dynasty Massyllian
FatherZelalsan II [2]

Oezalces was a king of the Massylii realm of Eastern Numidia, ascending the throne as the successor to his brother Gaia, for a brief period around 206 BCE. [3] This reign was defined by internal turbulence and instability, which eventually precipitated a civil war. [4] he was the brother-in-law of the Carthaginian general Hannibal. [5]

Contents

Biography

Oezalces is considered one of the Numidian kings whose reigns were remarkably brief, lasting only a few months. [6] His tenure was characterized by instability, primarily due to his advanced age; Livy described him as being 'Very aged man' (admodumsenex). [7] He ascended to the throne in 206 BCE, the same year Gaia passed away. [8] Livy further confirms that according to Numidian custom, succession followed a collateral system passing from brother to brother before reverting to the eldest son of the deceased monarch. [9] Consequently, upon Gaia's death, the crown passed to Oezalces, to whom Masinissa was initially loyal. [4]

Barnaby Rogerson notes that Oezalces maintained an alliance with Syphax the king of the Masaesyli, a relationship that caused significant apprehension among Roman commanders during the Second Punic War, therefore Gaius Laelius was fully cognizant of the potential political repercussions of the daring incursion he was leading across the mountains of Numidia. [10]

Family and Lineage

Oezalces descended from the Massylian Numidian royal lineage; he was the son of King Zilalsan II and the younger brother of Gaia, alongside Naravas. [11] [12] He enjoyed the highest honors and esteem within his brother's court. [7] He was the father of Capussa and Lacumazes. [13] ​Furthermore, Oezalces married a noblewoman, who was a young niece of the general Hannibal and the granddaughter of Hamilcar. [14] Perhaps she was also the daughter of Salammbo, the wife of Naravas. [12] Dexter Hoyos suggests the possibility of her being the sister of Hanno, son of Bomilcar. [14] This union continued the tradition of forging strategic ties between the Barcid family and the Numidian royal dynasty. [14] As the head of the Barcid family, it was Hannibal who sanctioned this marriage; indeed, it is highly probable that he initiated it to ensure the continuity of the Massylian alliance despite the recent Punic setbacks. [14]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Fage, J. D.; Oliver, Roland Anthony (1975). The Cambridge History of Africa. Cambridge University Press. p. 180. ISBN   978-0-521-21592-3.
  2. ↑ Hoyos, B. Dexter (2007). Truceless War: Carthage's Fight for Survival, 241 to 237 Bc. BRILL. p. 148. ISBN   978-90-04-16076-7.
  3. ↑ Sommer, Michael (2021). Black Days: Rome’s Wars Against Carthage (1 ed.). Verlag C.H.Beck. ISBN   978-3-406-76720-3.
  4. 1 2 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.
  5. ↑ Roller, Duane W. (2004-02-24). The World of Juba II and Kleopatra Selene: Royal Scholarship on Rome's African Frontier. Routledge. ISBN   978-1-134-40295-3.
  6. ↑ Livadiotti, Umberto; Melchiorri, Valentina (2018). Encyclopaedic Dictionary of Phoenician Culture I: Historical Characters. Vol. 1. Peeters Publishers. ISBN   978-90-429-3680-5.
  7. 1 2 Livy (2009-06-25). Hannibal's War: Books 21-30. Oxford University Press. ISBN   978-0-19-162330-1.
  8. ↑ Camps, Gabriel (1998-02-01). "Gaia". Encyclopédie berbère (in French) (19): 2954–2955. doi:10.4000/encyclopedieberbere.1984. ISSN   1015-7344.
  9. ↑ Lassère, Jean-Marie (2013-06-01). "Oezalces". Encyclopédie berbère (in French) (35): 5719. doi:10.4000/encyclopedieberbere.2804. ISSN   1015-7344.
  10. ↑ Rogerson, Barnaby (2018-03-15). In Search of Ancient North Africa: A History in Six Lives. Haus Publishing. ISBN   978-1-909961-55-5.
  11. ↑ Hoyos, B. Dexter (2007). Truceless War: Carthage's Fight for Survival, 241 to 237 Bc. BRILL. p. 148. ISBN   978-90-04-16076-7.
  12. 1 2 War, Warlords, and Interstate Relations in the Ancient Mediterranean. BRILL. 2017-12-05. p. 160. ISBN   978-90-04-35405-0.
  13. ↑ Fage, J. D.; Oliver, Roland Anthony (1975). The Cambridge History of Africa. Cambridge University Press. p. 180. ISBN   978-0-521-21592-3.
  14. 1 2 3 4 Hoyos, B. Dexter; Hoyos, Dexter (2005). Hannibal's Dynasty: Power and Politics in the Western Mediterranean, 247-183 BC. Psychology Press. p. 153. ISBN   978-0-415-35958-0.
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