View source for Numidia

{{Short description|Berber kingdom in North Africa from 202 BC to 46 AD}}
{{About|the ancient kingdom|the Roman province|Numidia (Roman province)|the Pennsylvanian CDP|Numidia, Pennsylvania}}
{{Redirect|Numidian|the language|Numidian language}}
{{Not to be confused with|Nubia}}{{Infobox country
| conventional_long_name = Kingdom of Numidia
| common_name            = Numidia
| native_name            =
| image_flag             = MASSINISSA - MAA 23 - 87000716.jpg
| flag_caption           = Numidian coins under Massinissa
| national_motto         =
| image_map              = Kingdom of Numidia-02.png
| capital                = [[Cirta]] (today [[Constantine, Algeria|Constantine]], [[Algeria]])
| official_languages     = [[Punic language|Punic]]{{Efn|Punic and Neo-Punic was especially dominant during the early era of the Numidian kingdom. Several official Punic inscriptions survive, and Numidian coins were minted in Punic at first, likely because it was the most influential language when it came to trade in the area. Some historians even consider it the official language of Numidia during its early/mid eras.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Quinn |first1=Josephine Crawley |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Q09sBQAAQBAJ&dq=punic+was+the+official+language+of+numidia&pg=PA182 |title=The Punic Mediterranean |last2=Vella |first2=Nicholas C. |date=2014-12-04 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-1-107-05527-8 |language=en}}</ref>}}<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Baldauf |first1=Richard B. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Sabe8l9hox0C&dq=zirid+official+language+arabic&pg=PA38 |title=Language Planning and Policy in Africa |last2=Kaplan |first2=Robert B. |date=2007-01-01 |publisher=Multilingual Matters |isbn=978-1-84769-011-1 |pages=38 |language=en |quote=Numidic kings and elites spoke and used Punic as the official language while peasants spoke Berber. The Carthaginian idiom was in use until the third century CE}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Fage |first1=J. D. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZTNTz3POoZUC&dq=punic+official+language+numidia&pg=PA184 |title=The Cambridge History of Africa |last2=Oliver |first2=Roland Anthony |date=1975 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-0-521-21592-3 |pages=184 |language=en |quote=Punic was employed as the official language of the Numidian kingdom, as is shown by monumental inscriptions and coin legends. Numidia even became something of a centre of Punic literary culture. In 146 BC the Romans presented to Micipsa the captured library of Carthage, and in the following century, as has been seen, a Numidian king (Hiempsal II) wrote a history of his country in Punic.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Hoyos |first=B. Dexter |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AbXTBQAAQBAJ&dq=punic+official+language+numidia&pg=PA277 |title=Mastering the West: Rome and Carthage at War |date=2015 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-986010-4 |pages=277 |language=en |quote=The Punic language and religion survived the cataclysm too. Many if not most Libyan communities used Punic for official purposes, as did the Numidian kingdom.}}</ref>
| religion               = [[Traditional Berber religion|Numitheism]], [[Punic religion|Punic Religion]]
| government_type        = [[Monarchy]]
| currency               = Numidian Coinage, [[Carthaginian coinage|carthagenian coinage]]
| status                 =
| year_end               = 25 BC
| year_start             = 202 BC
| image_map_caption      = Map of Numidia after the Punic Wars
| common_languages       = [[Numidian language|Numidian]]{{Efn|Used especially in funerary and votive steles, with a few surviving "official" royal inscriptions.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Boutammina |first=Nas E. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KxFYEAAAQBAJ&q=Numide+latin+langue+officielle |title=Le numide, langue populaire de la Berbérie |date=2022-01-06 |publisher=Books on Demand |isbn=978-2-322-41710-0 |language=fr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Chaker |first=S. |date=2008-01-01 |title=Libyque : écriture et langue |url=https://journals.openedition.org/encyclopedieberbere/344 |journal=Encyclopédie berbère |language=fr |issue=28–29 |pages=4395–4409 |doi=10.4000/encyclopedieberbere.344 |s2cid=161729616 |issn=1015-7344|doi-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Camps |first1=G. |last2=Claudot-Hawad |first2=H. |last3=Chaker |first3=S. |last4=Abrous |first4=D. |date=1996-08-01 |title=Écriture |url=https://journals.openedition.org/encyclopedieberbere/2125 |journal=Encyclopédie berbère |language=fr |issue=17 |pages=2564–2585 |doi=10.4000/encyclopedieberbere.2125 |issn=1015-7344|doi-access=free }}</ref>}}<br>[[Latin language|Latin]]{{Efn|During the later eras of Numidia, Latin started replacing Punic as the dominant secondary language inside Numidia. Coins were minted in Latin, and inscriptions in Latin began appearing,<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Hirst |first1=Anthony |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9AwkDwAAQBAJ&dq=numidia+latin+coins&pg=PT89 |title=Alexandria, Real and Imagined |last2=Silk |first2=Michael |date=2017-05-15 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-351-95959-9 |language=en}}</ref> however, many of those Latin inscriptions may have been from the Roman era itself}}<br>[[Greek language|Greek]]{{Efn|Greek first appeared in the region through trade routes opened up by [[Massinissa]], and gained traction and influence by the end of the kingdom when the Numidian dynasty intermarried and mixed with the [[Ptolemaic dynasty]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Roller |first=Duane W. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1eaBAgAAQBAJ&q=Juba+II+greek |title=The World of Juba II and Kleopatra Selene: Royal Scholarship on Rome's African Frontier |date=2004-02-24 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-134-40296-0 |language=en}}</ref>}}
| title_leader           = [[List of Kings of Numidia|King]]
| year_leader1           = 202–148 BC
| leader1                = [[Masinissa]]
| year_leader2           = 148 – 118 BC
| leader2                = [[Gulussa]]
| year_leader3           = 148–140 BC
| leader3                = [[Mastanabal]]
| year_leader4           = 118–117 BC
| leader4                = [[Hiempsal I]]
| year_leader5           = 118–112 BC
| leader5                = [[Adherbal (king of Numidia)|Adherbal]]
| year_leader6           = 118–105 BC
| leader6                = [[Jugurtha]]
| year_leader7           = 105–88 BC
| leader7                = [[Gauda (king)|Gauda]]
| year_leader8           = 88–81 BC
| leader8                = [[Masteabar]]
| year_leader9           = 84–82 BC
| leader9                = [[Hiarbas (king)|Hiarbas II]]
| year_leader10          = 88–60 BC
| leader10               = [[Hiempsal II]]
| year_leader11          = 60–46 BC
| leader11               = [[Juba I]]
| year_leader12          = 81–46 BC
| leader12               = [[Massinissa II]]
| year_leader13          = 44–40 BC
| leader13               = [[Arabion]]
| event_start            =
| event_end              = Annexed by the [[Roman Empire]]
| p1                     = Ancient Carthage
| s1                     = Numidia (Roman province)
| flag_p1                =
| p2                     = Massylii
| p3                     = Masaesyli
| flag_s1                =
| flag_s2                =
| s2                     = Mauretania
| today                  = {{Plain list|
* [[Algeria]]
* [[Libya]]
* [[Tunisia]]
}}
| era                    = [[ancient history|Antiquity]]
}}
{{History of Algeria}}
'''Numidia''' was the ancient kingdom of the [[Numidians]] in northwest Africa, initially comprising the territory that now makes up [[Algeria]],<ref name="livius">{{cite web | title=Numidia | website=Livius | date=23 Sep 2020 | url=https://www.livius.org/articles/place/numidia/ | access-date=2 Aug 2024}}</ref> but later expanding across what is today known as [[Tunisia]] and [[Libya]]. The polity was originally divided between the [[Massylii]] state in the east (Capital: [[Cirta]]) and the [[Masaesyli]] state in the west (Capital: [[Siga]]).<ref name=":3" /> During the [[Second Punic War]] (218–201 BC), [[Masinissa]], king of the Massylii, defeated [[Syphax]] of the [[Masaesyli]] to unify Numidia into the first unified [[Berbers|Berber]] state for [[Numidians]] in present-day Algeria.<ref name="Thomas M. Leonard">{{cite book|author=Thomas M. Leonard|title=Encyclopedia of the Developing World |year=2013|publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-135-20508-9|pages=169}}</ref> The kingdom began as a sovereign state and an ally of [[Roman Empire|Rome]] and later alternated between being a [[Roman province]] and a Roman [[client state]].
Numidia, at its foundation, was bordered by the [[Moulouya River]] to the west,<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |title=Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography |url=https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.04.0064:entry=mulucha-geo |access-date=16 February 2020}}</ref> [[Africa (Roman province)|Africa Proconsularis]] and [[Cyrenaica]] to the east.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5" /> the [[Mediterranean Sea]] to the north, and the [[Sahara]] to the south so that Numidia entirely surrounded Carthage ([[Appian]], ''Punica'', 106) except towards the sea.<ref name=":6" /> before Masinissa expanded past the Moulouya and vassalizing Bokkar, and reaching the [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic]] ocean to the west.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />
==History==
===Independence===
[[File:Tomb of Massinissa 01.jpg|thumb|The Numidian mausoleum of [[El-Khroub]] photographed in 2000]]
The Greek historians referred to these peoples as "Νομάδες" (i.e. Nomads), which by Latin interpretation became "Numidae" (but cf. also the correct use of ''Nomades'').<ref>[https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0059%3Aentry%3DNumida Numida] and [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0059%3Aentry%3DNomas Nomas]</ref> Historian [[Gabriel Camps]], however, disputes this claim, favoring instead a local African origin for the term.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Camps |first=Gabriel |title=Les Numides et la civilisation punique |url=http://www.persee.fr/doc/antaf_0066-4871_1979_num_14_1_1016 |journal=Antiquités africaines |year=1979 |volume=14 |issue=1 |pages=43–53 |language=fr-FR |doi=10.3406/antaf.1979.1016}}</ref>
The name appears first in [[Polybius]] (second century BC) to indicate the peoples and territory west of [[Carthage]] including the entire north of Algeria as far as the river [[Mulucha]] ([[Muluya]]), about {{convert|100|mi|km|order=flip}} west of [[Oran]].<ref name="EB1911">{{cite EB1911 |wstitle=Numidia |volume=19 |pages=868–869}}</ref>
The Numidians were composed of two great tribal groups: the [[Massylii]] in eastern Numidia, and the [[Masaesyli]] in the west. During the first part of the [[Second Punic War]], the eastern Massylii, under their king [[Gala (King of the Massylii)|Gala]], were allied with Carthage, while the western Masaesyli, under king [[Syphax]], were allied with Rome. The Kingdom of Masaesyli under Syphax extended from the Moulouya river to Oued Rhumel.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=WGUz01yBumEC&dq=masaesyli+kingdom&pg=PA289 History of Humanity: From the seventh century B.C. to the seventh century A.D.] Sigfried J. de Laet, Joachim Herrmann, UNESCO,</ref>
However, in 206&nbsp;BC, the new king of the eastern Massylii, [[Masinissa]], allied himself with Rome, and Syphax of the Masaesyli switched his allegiance to the Carthaginian side. At the end of the war, Numidia was under the rule of Masinissa of the Massylii.<ref name="EB1911" /> At the time of his death in 148 BC, Masinissa's territory extended from the Moulouya to the boundary of the Carthaginian territory, and also southeast as far as [[Cyrenaica]] to the gulf of [[Sirte]], so that Numidia entirely surrounded Carthage ([[Appian]], ''Punica'', 106) except towards the sea.<ref name=":6">[https://books.google.com/books?id=glgzDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA111 Historical Dictionary of Morocco]
Aomar Boum, Thomas K. Park
Rowman & Littlefield</ref> Furthermore, after the capture of Syphax the king of the Masaesyli (West Algeria) with his capital based in [[Siga]]<ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last=Abed |first=Bakhta Moukraenta |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GNoWswEACAAJ |title=Les villes de l'Algérie antique Tome I: Au travers des sources arabes du Moyen Âge (Province de la Maurétanie Césarienne) |date=2015 |publisher=Presses Académiques Francophones |isbn=978-3-8381-7852-3 |pages=226 |language=fr}}</ref> and after losing Siga had relocated to a temporary capital in Tinga, Bokkar, had become a vassal of Massinissa.<ref name=":0">[https://books.google.com/books?id=nS1FAAAAYAAJ&q=il+devint+le+vassal+de+Massinissa Villes et tribus du Maroc: documents et renseignements, Volume 7]
Morocco. Direction des affaires indigènes: “Les rois indigènes . Bokkar . Au début du troisième siècle avant JésusChrist , le Maroc obéissait à Bokkar , qui résidait à Tanger , capitale du royaume , et qui était un lieutenant du roi de Numidie Syphax. En 202 avant Jésus - Christ , après la capture de Syphax , il devint le vassal de Massinissa”
H. Champion</ref><ref name=":1">[https://books.google.com/books?id=rmUcAAAAMAAJ&q=bokkar+vassal+massinissa Histoire du Maroc]
Coissac de Chavrebière
Payot: “ La guerre tourna à l'avantage de Massinissa , allié des Romains . Syphax fut fait prisonnier ( 202 ) et Bokkar devint le vassal du vainqueur . « Massinissa , dit St. Gsell , rêvà d'être pour la civilisation punique ce que le Macédonien...”</ref><ref name=":2">[https://books.google.com/books?id=3TYMAQAAIAAJ&q=bokkar+vassal+massinissa Le Maroc]
Prosper Ricard
Hachette: “En 202 avant J.-C. , elle était la résidence , disent les Anciens , de Bokkar , roi du Maroc , lieutenant de Syphax le numide , vassal de Massinissa . En 105 avant J.-C. , Bokkus [ er , allié de Sylla , livre aux Romains son gendre”</ref>
Massinissa had also penetrated as far south beyond the Atlas to the [[Gaetuli]] and [[Fezzan]] was part of his domain.<ref name=":4">[https://books.google.com/books?id=XlxMAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA127 Histoire des Romains depuis les temps les plus reculés jusqu'à la fin du règne des Antonins: Depuis les Gracques jusqu'à la fin du règne de Claude]. Victor Duruy. Hachette et cie</ref><ref name=":5">[https://books.google.com/books?id=yecDAQAAIAAJ&q=massinissa <nowiki>Storia della Libia dai tempi piu' [i.e. più] remoti ad oggi: compendio</nowiki>]. Muḥammad Masʻūd Fushaykah. Stabilimento poligrafico editoriale Maggi.</ref>
After the death of the long-lived Masinissa around 148 BC, he was succeeded by his son [[Micipsa]]. When Micipsa died in 118 BC, he was succeeded jointly by his two sons [[Hiempsal I]] and [[Adherbal (king of Numidia)|Adherbal]] and Masinissa's illegitimate grandson, [[Jugurtha]], who was very popular among the Numidians. Hiempsal and Jugurtha quarrelled immediately after the death of Micipsa. Jugurtha had Hiempsal killed, which led to open war with Adherbal.<ref>[[Sallust]] (c. 40 BCE), ''Jugurthine War'' XI–XIII.</ref>
=== Agriculture ===
The Numidian kingdom was very famous for its agricultural yield; besides [[lettuce]], [[Legume|beans]], and other [[Cereal|grains]] already consumed by Berbers since the dawn of time, Numidia was very productive when it came to its famously high-quality [[wheat]], very similar to the wheat farmed along the banks of the Egyptian [[Nile]]. According to Roman historian [[Pliny the elder]]:
{{blockquote|Among the wheat imports of Rome, is light wheat imported from Gallia which does not surpass the weight of a bushel (Boisseau) 20 livres. The weight of the wheat of Sardinia surpasses that of Gallia by half a livre, the wheat of Biossia surpasses that of Gallia by an entire livre, wheras the wheat of Africa surpasses the weight of wheat of Gallia by a whole livre and three fourths.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Erdkamp |first1=Paul |title=The Grain Market in the Roman Empire: A Social, Political and Economic Study |date=3 November 2005 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-1-139-44768-3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IIj9uvGtJFEC&dq=pliny+the+elder+wheat+imports+africa&pg=PA207 |language=en}}</ref>}}
[[Image:GM Massinissa.png|thumb|upright|[[Masinissa]] (c. 240-148 BC), first king of Numidia]]
In 179 BC, King [[Masinissa]] of Numidia received a golden crown from the inhabitants of [[Delos]], as he had offered them a shipload of grain. A statue of Masinissa was erected in Delos in his honor, with an inscription by a native from [[Rhodes]]. His sons, too, had statues erected on the island of Delos; the King of Bithynia, Nicomedes, had also dedicated a statue to Masinissa.<ref name="Edward Lipiński">{{cite book|author=Edward Lipiński|title=Itineraria Phoenicia |year=2004|publisher=Peeters Publishers |isbn=978-90-429-1344-8|pages=168–169}}</ref> By 143 AD, the export of olive oil from Numidia rivaled its grain export throughout the Roman Empire.
In 200 BC, the Roman Army stationed in [[Macedonia (ancient kingdom)|Macedonia]] received 17,508 hectoliters of Numidian wheat; in 198 BC, the Roman Army in Greece was sent, once again, the same amount of wheat. In 191 BC, Rome received 26,262 hectoliters of wheat and 21,885 hectoliters of [[barley]]; Greece, the same year, received 43,770 hectoliters of wheat and 26,262 hectoliters of barley. Then, in 171 BC, the Roman army in Macedonia received 87,540 hectoliters of wheat.
[[File:Egypt,_Rome,_Carthage_and_Numidia.jpg|thumb|Numidia (in blue) at its largest extent after capturing Syphax in Tingitania and vassalizing Bokkar.<ref name="Bokkar2">Historical Dictionary of Morocco Aomar Boum, Thomas K. Park Rowman & Littlefield</ref> surrounding Carthage (Yellow) and neighoring Ptolemaic Egypt (deep purple) and the Roman Republic (Red)]]
In total Rome received:<ref>{{Cite book |last=Livius |first=Titus |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=V6R0zQEACAAJ |title=Oeuvres de Tite-Live: Histoire romaine avec la traduction en français. Livres XXVII à XLV |date=1882 |publisher=Firmin-Didot |language=fr}}</ref>
* in 200 BC: 14,000 tonnes of wheat and 10,500 tonnes of barley.
* in 198 BC: 14,000 tonnes of wheat.
* in 191 BC: 56,000 tonnes of wheat and 28,900 tonnes of barley.
* in 170 BC: 70,000 tonnes of wheat.
These numbers only represent a fraction from the reserves of the kingdom of Massinissa. His contributions to the Romans in 170 BC appear to be only a fraction of the kingdom's total production, as he was upset by Rome's decision to pay for the provided wheat that year. Massinissa hadn't laid his hands yet on the fertile lands of the Emporia (North West [[Ancient Libya]]) nor the great plains full of fertile soil yet; generally, barley was his kingdom's main produce, as they grew barley in light, mountainous and hilly soil which is suitable for its cultivation.
===War with Rome===
{{main|Jugurthine War}}
By 112 BC, Jugurtha resumed his war with Adherbal. He incurred the wrath of Rome in the process by killing some Roman businessmen who were aiding Adherbal. After a brief war with Rome, Jugurtha surrendered and received a highly favourable peace treaty, which raised suspicions of bribery once more. The local Roman commander was summoned to Rome to face corruption charges brought by his political rival [[Gaius Memmius (proconsul of Macedonia)|Gaius Memmius]].<ref>[[T. Mommsen]], ''The History of Rome'', (The Colonial Press, Massachusetts, 1958), ch. III, p. 94</ref><ref>[[J. A. Froude]], ''Caesar- A Sketch'', ([[A. L. Burt]] Company, New York, 1903), ch. IV, pp. 35</ref> Jugurtha was also forced to come to Rome to testify against the Roman commander, where Jugurtha was completely discredited once his violent and ruthless past became widely known, and after he had been suspected of murdering a Numidian rival.
War broke out between Numidia and the [[Roman Republic]] and several legions were dispatched to North Africa under the command of the Consul [[Quintus Caecilius Metellus Numidicus]]. The war dragged out into a long and seemingly endless campaign as the Romans tried to defeat Jugurtha decisively. Frustrated at the apparent lack of action, Metellus' lieutenant [[Gaius Marius]] returned to Rome to seek election as Consul. Marius was elected, and then returned to Numidia to take control of the war. He sent his Quaestor [[Sulla]] to neighbouring Mauretania in order to eliminate their support for Jugurtha. With the help of [[Bocchus I]] of Mauretania, Sulla captured Jugurtha and brought the war to a conclusive end. Jugurtha was brought to Rome in chains and was placed in the [[Tullianum]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Telford |first=Lynda |title=Sulla: A Dictator Reconsidered |publisher=Pen and Sword |year=2014 |isbn=9781473834507}}</ref>
Jugurtha was executed by the Romans in 104 BC, after being paraded through the streets in Gaius Marius' Triumph.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Connolly |first1=Peter |title=The Hutchinson Dictionary of Ancient and Medieval Warfare |last2=Gillingham |first2=John |last3=Lazenby |first3=George |publisher=Routledge |year=2016 |isbn=9781135936747 |pages=171}}</ref>
===Divided kingdom===
[[File:Juba i.jpg|thumb|upright|Roman marble bust of [[Juba I]] from [[Cherchell]], Algeria. [[Louvre|Louvre Museum]]]]
After the death of Jugurtha, the far-west of Numidia was added to the lands of [[Bocchus I]], [[List of Kings of Mauretania|King of Mauretania]].<ref name="EB1911"/> A [[Rump state|rump kingdom]] continued to be governed by native princes.<ref name="EB1911"/> It appears that, on the death of King [[Gauda (king)|Gauda]] in 88 BC, the kingdom was divided into a larger, eastern land and a smaller, western kingdom (roughly the [[Petite Kabylie]]). The kings of the east minted coins, while no known coins of the western kings survive. The western kings may have been vassals of the eastern.<ref>{{citation |author=Duane W. Roller |title=The World of Juba II and Kleopatra Selene: Royal Scholarship on Rome's African Frontier |location=New York |publisher=Routledge |year=2003 |page=25}}.</ref><ref name=Camps>{{citation |author=Gabriel Camps |author-link=Gabriel Camps |year=1989 |title=Arabion |encyclopedia=Encyclopédie berbère, 6: Antilopes–Arzuges |issue=6 |location=Aix-en-Provence |publisher=Edisud |pages=831–34 |doi=10.4000/encyclopedieberbere.2569 |url=http://encyclopedieberbere.revues.org/2569 |access-date=13 February 2017 |orig-year=published online 2012|doi-access=free }}.</ref>
The [[Caesar's Civil War|civil war between Caesar and Pompey]] brought an end to independent Numidia in 46 BC.<ref name="EB1911"/> The western kingdom between the Sava ([[Oued Soummam]]) and Ampsaga ([[Oued-el-Kebir]]) rivers passed to [[Bocchus II]], while the eastern kingdom became a Roman province. The remainder of the western kingdom plus the city of [[Cirta]], which may have belonged to either kingdom, became briefly an autonomous principality under [[Publius Sittius]]. Between 44 and 40 BC, the old western kingdom was once again under a Numidian king, [[Arabio]], who killed Sittius and took his place. He involved himself in Rome's civil wars and was himself killed.<ref name=Camps/>
===Roman provinces===
{{main|Numidia (Roman province)}}
[[File:Roman Africa.JPG|thumb|Northern Africa under Roman rule]]
''Eastern Numidia'' was annexed in 46 BC to create a new Roman province, ''[[Africa Nova]]''. ''Western Numidia'' was also annexed as part of the province ''Africa Nova'' after the death of its last king, [[Arabio]], in 40 BC, and subsequently the province (except of ''Western Numidia'') was united with province ''[[Africa Vetus]]'' by Emperor [[Caesar Augustus|Augustus]] in 25 BC, to create the new province ''[[Africa Proconsularis]]''. During the brief period (30–25 BC) [[Juba II]] (son of [[Juba I]]) ruled as a client king of Numidia on the territory of former province ''Africa Nova''.
In AD 40, the western portion of Africa Proconsularis, including its legionary garrison, was placed under an imperial ''legatus'', and in effect became a separate province of Numidia, though the ''legatus'' of Numidia remained nominally subordinate to the proconsul of Africa until AD 203.<ref name="FageOliver1975">{{cite book |last1=Fage |first1=J.D. |last2=Oliver |first2=Roland Anthony |title=The Cambridge History of Africa |url=https://archive.org/details/cambridgehistory05fage |url-access=registration |publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] |year=1975 |page=[https://archive.org/details/cambridgehistory05fage/page/199 199] |isbn=978-0-521-21592-3}}</ref> In 193 AD, under [[Septimius Severus]], Numidia was separated from Africa Proconsularis, and governed by an imperial [[procurator (Roman)|procurator]].<ref name="EB1911"/>
In the reorganization of the empire by [[Diocletian]], Numidia was divided in two provinces: the north became [[Numidia Cirtensis]], with capital at [[Cirta]], while the south, which included the [[Aurès Mountains]] and was threatened by raids, became [[Numidia Militiana]], "Military Numidia", with capital at the legionary base of [[Lambaesis]].
[[File:Cherchell_Neopunic_inscriptions_(141).jpg|thumb|Marble with [[Punic]] inscription mentioning king [[Micipsa]] found in [[Caesarea in Mauretania|Iol]].]]
Subsequently Emperor [[Constantine the Great]] reunited the two provinces into a single one, administered from Cirta, which was now renamed ''Constantina'' (modern [[Constantine, Algeria|Constantine]]) in his honour. Its governor was raised to the rank of ''[[consularis]]'' in 320, and the province remained one of the six provinces of the [[Diocese of Africa]] until the invasion of the [[Vandals]] in 428, which began its slow decay,<ref name="EB1911" /> accompanied by [[desertification]]. It was restored to Roman rule after the [[Vandalic War]], when it became part of the new [[Praetorian prefecture of Africa]].{{citation needed|date=December 2014}}
==Architecture==
[[File:20141114- DSC0003-3 (15265143694).jpg|thumb|The Royal Mausoleum of Mauretania]]
[[File:TUNISIA DOUGGA MAUSOLEE LIBYCO PUNIQUE 001.jpg|thumb|Mausoleum of Thugga]]
The term “Royal Numidian Architecture” was coined for the monuments that were constructed by the Numidian kings.<ref name=Quinn>Quinn, J. (2013). Monumental power: ‘Numidian Royal Architecture’ in context. In J. Prag & J. Quinn (Eds.), The Hellenistic West: Rethinking the Ancient Mediterranean (pp. 179-215). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. doi:10.1017/CBO9781139505987.008</ref> These monuments consist of tombs, tumuli and sanctuaries. Some examples of these structures are the [[Libyco-Punic Mausoleum of Dougga|mausoleum of Thugga]], the tomb of Beni Rhenane, a tomb at Henchur Burgu in Djerba as well as two tumulus tombs known as the [[Madghacen]] and the [[Royal Mausoleum of Mauretania]].<ref name=Quinn /> There are also altars that were built at [[Chemtou|Simitthus]] and Kbor Klib. All of these monuments were built within the area ruled by Massinissa and his descendants.<ref name=Quinn />
[[File:Mausolée des Rois numides dit le Medracen -1.JPG|thumb|Madghacen]]
==Navy and trade==
Numidia took over most of the famous Carthaginian ports which were one of the most important in the mediterranean, the famous Roman orator and historian [[Cicero]] tells us that the Numidian king had a war navy to protect his trade, in one story, the fleet of Massinissa sailed to Malta and confiscated large ivory elephant pillars from the temple of [[Juno (mythology)|Juno]] and returned to Numidia and gave it as a prize to Massinissa. When the king knew about the origin of the gift, he prepared a nimble fleet of five ships and sent it back to where it came from. This funny story tells us that not only Massinissa had enough ships to perform tasks at will but also these fleets were functioning outside of African shorelines towards the central mediterranean.
[[File:Amphorae Cirta Museum.jpg|thumb|Rhodean Greek amphora that dates to circa 180 B.C. in Cirta Museum]]
Unlike the Carthaginians who closed trade in face of the Greeks to large parts of North africa, Massinissa opened trade with the Greek, Egyptian, Syrian as well as Italic merchants, Massinissa used to provide to the population of Rhodes Toja wood and Ivory,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Gsell |first=Stéphane |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IV_5GgAACAAJ |title=Histoire d'Algérie: S[tephane] Gsell-G. Marçais-G. Yver. Ouvrage illustré de grav. hors texte |date=1929 |publisher=Boivin |language=fr}}</ref> in [[Cirta]] multiple Rhodian amphorae from the 2nd century B.C were found in burial sites and one of them carries the inscription (Sodamos).<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GlByAAAAMAAJ&q=d%C3%A9couverte+%C3%A0+constantine+de+deux+s%C3%A9pultures |title=Antiquités africaines |date=2005 |publisher=Editions du Centre national de la recherche scientifique |isbn=978-2-271-06342-7 |language=fr}}</ref>
== Major cities ==
Numidia  became highly romanized and was studded with numerous towns.<ref name="EB1911" /> The chief towns of Roman Numidia were: in the north, [[Cirta]] or modern [[Constantine, Algeria|Constantine]], the capital, with its port [[Russicada]] (Modern [[Skikda]]); and [[Hippo Regius]] (near [[Annaba|Bône]]), well known as the [[Episcopal See|see]] of St. [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustine]]. To the south in the interior military roads led to [[Theveste]] (Tebessa) and [[Lambaesis]] (Lambessa) with extensive Roman remains, connected by military roads with Cirta and Hippo, respectively.<ref name="EB1911" /><ref>[http://www.cassiciaco.it/navigazione/africa/tavole_geografiche/numidia.html Detailed map of Roman Numidia]</ref>
Lambaesis was the seat of the [[Legio III Augusta|Legio III ''Augusta'']], and the most important strategic centre.<ref name="EB1911"/> It commanded the passes of the [[Aurès Mountains]] (Mons Aurasius), a mountain block that separated Numidia from the [[Gaetuli]] Berber tribes of the desert, and which was gradually occupied in its whole extent by the Romans under the Empire. Including these towns, there were altogether twenty that are known to have received at one time or another the title and status of Roman colonies; and in the 5th century, the ''[[Notitia Dignitatum]]'' enumerates no fewer than 123 sees whose bishops assembled at Carthage in 479.<ref name="EB1911"/>
== Episcopal sees ==
See [[Numidia (Roman province)#Episcopal sees]].
==See also==
* [[Africa (Roman province)]]
* [[List of Kings of Numidia]]
* [[Numidian cavalry]]
* [[Numidians]]
* [[Roman Libya]]
* [[Shawiya language]]
== Explanatory notes ==
{{notelist}}
==References==
{{reflist}}
==Further reading==
*{{cite book |last1=Daho |first1=Keltoum Kitouni |last2=Filah |first2=Mohamed El Mostéfa |year=2003 |title=L'Algérie au temps des royaumes numides ["Algeria at the time of the Numidian kingdoms"] |publisher=Somogy Editions d'Art |language=fr |isbn=2850566527}}
*{{cite book |last1=Horn |first1=Heinz Günter |last2=Rüger |first2=Christoph B. |title=Die Numider. Reiter und Könige nördlich der Sahara ["The Numidians. Horsemen and kings north of the Sahara"] |year=1979 |publisher=Rheinland |language=de |isbn=3792704986}}
*{{cite book |last=Kuttner |first=Ann |year=2013 |chapter=Representing Hellenistic Numidia, in Africa and at Rome |editor=Jonathan R. W. Prag, Josephine Crawley Quinn |title=The Hellenistic West. Rethinking the Ancient Mediterranean |publisher=Cambridge University |pages=216–272 |isbn=978-1107032422}}
*{{cite book |last=Quinn |first=Josephine Crawley |year=2013 |chapter=Monumental power: 'Numidian Royal Architecture' in context |editor=Jonathan R. W. Prag, Josephine Crawley Quinn |title=The Hellenistic West. Rethinking the Ancient Mediterranean |publisher=Cambridge University |url=https://josephinecrawleyquinn.files.wordpress.com/2017/12/quinnmonunmentalpower.pdf |pages=179–215 |isbn=978-1107032422}}
{{Authority control}}
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