Masinissa: king of Numidia and ally of Rome
The first king to unite Numidia was Masinissa, who was born around 240 BC. He is known for participating in the Second Punic War, first on the side of Carthage, and then taking the side of Rome. Under Masinissa, nomadic tribes existed on the territory of Numidia, and all power was concentrated in the hands of the leaders of the tribal unions. One of these leaders was his father, King Gal, who ruled in Eastern Numidia. Galas gave his second son, Masinissa, as a hostage to Carthage to confirm his loyalty to the Phoenician state. While in captivity, the future king received an education, learned Latin and Greek.
During the Second Punic War, Masinissa fought against the ruler of Syphax, the ruler of Western Numidia and a Roman ally. Masinissa defeated the army of Syphax, then led his cavalry against the Roman army in Spain, but was defeated by the Roman general Scipio. After numerous skirmishes with the Romans, Masinissa began to look at the enemy in a new way, and eventually decided to abandon the alliance with Carthage and went over to the side of Rome. Together with his former enemy, Scipio, he captured several Carthaginian cities, and eventually gained power over all of Numidia.
The support of the allied Rome allowed Masinissa to strengthen his position in Numidia by uniting separate parts of the country. The city of Cirta was declared the capital. During this period, the state flourished: the army gained great strength, the cities gradually developed, and trade was successful. And the king at that time took away the Carthaginian lands. When the Third Punic War broke out, Carthage was destroyed in 146 BC. However, Masinissa did not live to see the final fall of the Phoenician state, dying in 149 BC.
During the Second Punic War, Masinissa fought against the ruler of Syphax, the ruler of Western Numidia and a Roman ally. Masinissa defeated the army of Syphax, then led his cavalry against the Roman army in Spain, but was defeated by the Roman general Scipio. After numerous skirmishes with the Romans, Masinissa began to look at the enemy in a new way, and eventually decided to abandon the alliance with Carthage and went over to the side of Rome. Together with his former enemy, Scipio, he captured several Carthaginian cities, and eventually gained power over all of Numidia.
The support of the allied Rome allowed Masinissa to strengthen his position in Numidia by uniting separate parts of the country. The city of Cirta was declared the capital. During this period, the state flourished: the army gained great strength, the cities gradually developed, and trade was successful. And the king at that time took away the Carthaginian lands. When the Third Punic War broke out, Carthage was destroyed in 146 BC. However, Masinissa did not live to see the final fall of the Phoenician state, dying in 149 BC.
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