Polity Numidia (Rome)

This article is about the specific polity Numidia (Rome) and therefore only includes events related to its territory and not to its possessions or colonies. If you are interested in the possession, this is the link to the article about the nation which includes all possessions as well as all the different incarnations of the nation.

If you are looking for the page with the statistics about this polity you can find it here: All Statistics

Numidia was a polity in northwest Africa. It was created as a vassal territory of Carthage, but the peace imposed by the Romans made Numidia an independent Kingdom. From the period of the Jugurthine wars it fell under the influence of Rome, alternating between the status of client or full province of the Roman state.

Establishment

  • January 105 BC: Ultimately, Marius reached a deal with Bocchus whereby Sulla, who was friendly with members of Bocchus's court, would enter Bocchus's camp to receive Jugurtha as a hostage. In spite of the possibility of treachery on the Mauritanian's part, Sulla agreed; Jugurtha's remaining followers were treacherously massacred, and he himself handed over in chains to Sulla by Bocchus.

Chronology

Interactive Chronologies with maps are available in the section Changes Navigation

1. Jugurthine War

Was an armed conflict between the Roman Republic and king Jugurtha of Numidia, a kingdom on the coast of modern Algeria.

  • January 105 BC: Ultimately, Marius reached a deal with Bocchus whereby Sulla, who was friendly with members of Bocchus's court, would enter Bocchus's camp to receive Jugurtha as a hostage. In spite of the possibility of treachery on the Mauritanian's part, Sulla agreed; Jugurtha's remaining followers were treacherously massacred, and he himself handed over in chains to Sulla by Bocchus.

2. Further events (Unrelated to Any War)

  • January 39 BC: After the death of Arabio, Numidia became the Roman province of Africa Nova.
  • January 29 BC: After defeating Mark Antony and Cleopatra at the Battle of Actium in 31 BC, Augustus restored Juba II, son of Juba I, as a client king of Numidia from 30-25 BC. Juba II was a well-educated and cultured ruler, known for his patronage of the arts and sciences.

Disestablishment

  • January 24 BC: After the defeat of his father Juba I in the Battle of Thapsus, Juba II was taken to Rome as a prisoner. However, Augustus later restored him as a client king of Numidia in -25 BC, allowing him to rule with some autonomy under Roman authority. Juba II was known for his patronage of the arts and sciences, and his reign was marked by prosperity and cultural development in Numidia.