List of kings of Numidia explained

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. 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).

List of kings

All dates are BC.

Kings of the Massylii (Eastern Numidia)

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

• Zelalsen (Unknown, possibly shuphet)^[1]
• Gaia (died 207 BCE)^[2]
• Ozalces (207–206 BCE), brother of Gaia
• Capussa (206–206 BCE), son of Ozalces^[3]
• Lacumazes (206–206 BCE), son of Ozalces (Mazaetullus as regent (a descendant of Metzul))^[4]
• Masinissa (206–202? BCE), son of Gaia^[5]

Kings of the Masaesyli (Western Numidia)

• Syphax (bef. 215–202)^[6]
• Vermina (202–???)^[7]
• Archobarzane (???–c. 157)^[8]

Kings of 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.

• Massinissa I (202–148)
• Micipsa (148–118), son of Massinissa
• Gulussa (148–145), son of Massinissa
• Mastanabal (148–14?), son of Massinissa
• Hiempsal I (118–117), son of Micipsa
• Adherbal (118–112), son of Micipsa
• Jugurtha (118–105), son of Mastanabal
• Gauda (105–88), son of Mastanabal
• Hiarbas (??–81)

Eastern Numidia

This was the main Numidian kingdom after 81.

• Hiempsal II (88–60), son of Gauda
• Juba I (60–46), son of Hiempsal II

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

• Juba II (30–25), son of Juba I

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

Western Numidia

This was a much smaller chiefdom than Eastern Numidia

• Masteabar (88–81)
• Massinissa II (81–46)
• Sittius (46–44), a Roman mercenary leader
• Arabio (44–40)

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

• Juba II (30–25), son of Juba I

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

Notes and References

1. Book: Koch, John T. . Tartessian: Celtic in the South-west at the Dawn of History . John T. Koch . Celtic Studies Publications . 2013 . 218 . 9781891271199.
2. Encyclopedia: The Masaesyli and Massylii of Numidia . Joshua J. . Mark . 27 February 2018 . 25 June 2019 . World History Encyclopedia.
3. Massinissa . P. G. . Walsh . . 55 . 1/2 . 1965 . 149–160 . 10.2307/297437 . 297437.
4. Book: Storm, Elfriede . Massinissa: Numidien im Aufbruch . de . Franz Steiner Verlag . 2001 . 37 . 9783515078290.
5. Book: Oyeniyi, Bukola A. . https://books.google.com/books?id=nvaKDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA25 . Traders, Merchants, and Invaders . The History of Libya . . 22 March 2019 . 25 . 9781440856075.
6. Book: Warden, Michael . Remember To Rule. Book Four. Personalities of the Republic . . 217 . 9780244777333 . 2019.
7. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=5Oe1u1H_OSMC&pg=PA143 . Rome and Chartage . The Cambridge Ancient History. Rome and the Mediterranean to 133 B.C. . 8 . . 1970 . 143 . 9780521234481 . 2nd . A. E. . Astin . F. W. . Walbank . M. W. . Frederiksen . R. M. . Ogilvie.
8. Book: Recueil des notices et mémoires de la Société archélologique de la Province de Constantine . 7 . 1863 . fr . Bibliothèque nationale de France.