Numidia

, ^{, , , ,} , which was discovered the tomb of Massinissa ).

It is located on the northern edge of Algeria modern, bordered by the Roman province of Mauretania (present-day Algeria and Morocco ) to the west, the Roman province of Africa ( Tunisia modern) east the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the desert of Sahara to the south. Its inhabitants were the Numidian.

Numidia had several kings, the most famous being Gaia , Massinissa , Micipsa , Jugurtha , Juba ^I. , Juba II and Ptolemy. Berbers sedentary or semi- nomadic , and Numidia was divided into different tribes. The tribes of the eastern part of Numidia were called Massyles (Mis Islands, islands are the great-great-grandfather Massinissa) and those in the western part of the massaesyla.

Numidia Kingdom of Numidia

202 BC. BC - 46 BC. AD

Maps of the kingdoms of Numidia Numidia Eastern and Western before unification Massinissa

Summary 1 Etymology 2 History 2.1 War with Rome 2.2 Province Roman 2.3 The Roman Numidia 3 Society of Numidia 4 Dynasty Numidian 4.1 Dynasty Massaessyles 4.2 Dynasty Massyles 5 Notes and references 6 Bibliography 7 See also 7.1 Related articles External 7.2 Links

/ / Etymology

In Latin Numidia, in Greek Nomadia (), this name evokes the country nomados () that change of pasture that is to say the nomads.

History

In ^the third century BC. AD , North Africa was divided into three Berber kingdoms: that of the Moors with the kingdom of Mauretania , which stretches from the Atlantic to the river Mulucha the center of the Masaesyles of Mulucha the river Amsaga (Rhummel) , over which reigns the king Syphax and finally, to the east near Carthage , the Kingdom of Massyles between Ampsaga River (Oued el Kebir) and the territories of Carthage.

The Masaesyles Massyles and fought in 203 BC. BC ( Battle of the Great Plains ) to the end of the Second Punic War , after which Massinissa , Chief Massyles, contributed decisively to the victory of the Roman Empire in Carthage, Massinissa succeeded therefore to unify Numidia which then spread Moulouya River in the west to Cyrenaica in the east. He succeeded in his conduct to preserve the independence of his kingdom by a clever of regional rivalry that prevailed at the time, while guaranteeing a certain economic prosperity, thanks to the remarkable development of agriculture and livestock. In terms of political organization, Massinissa placed at the head of each province a governor and head of each tribe a "Amokrane" (the leader). Its board, consisting of ten persons, the second effectively in its policy and general administration. Among these ten advisers he had three of his son: Micipsa who made amends in several cases, Gulussa responsible for the conduct of armed Mastanabal charge of the royal treasury. He put into circulation a coin minted in his image, "with regular features, one eye wide open under a fairly thick eyebrows, thick and curly hair, a neatly trimmed beard and elongated. The reign of Massinissa ended when he died in 148 BC. AD.

After the death of the great founding king, a succession crisis, to favorably by Rome took place and who placed the in Numidia political unrest. Micipsa son of Massinissa succeed the throne of his father. During his reign, concerned about the growing popularity of Jugurtha , grand-son of Massinissa, "but not daring to kill him, fearing a revolt of his subjects, he would have sent to Numancia, with the hope that it would kill the victim of his bravery " . Micipsa Gulussa appointed viceroy and Minister of War and Mastanabal Viceroy and Minister of Justice.

When Micipsa died in 118 BC. AD , Numidia was divided between his son, I Hiempsal and Adherbal his nephew and adopted it, Jugurtha, who was very popular among the Numidian. Hiempsal Jugurtha and quarreled immediately after the death of Micipsa. Jugurtha had him murdered in 117 BC. AD to Thirmida, Adherbal book battle but Jugurtha was defeated and driven from the kingdom. He then went to Rome where he sought help from the Senate.

Jugurtha in his entourage allegedly responded that it was something he had learned from the Romans during his stay in Iberia, "Roma urbs is venalia" (trans. "Rome is a city to buy"), making reference to extent of corruption among officials Romans. Thus Jugurtha resolves to buy a break by offering money to members of the Roman politicians for corruption. Rome then agrees to let reign, but only on condition that remains divided Numidia. She gives him diplomatic recognition on the western Numidia, provided he returns to the throne in Adherbal Eastern Numidia. Jugurtha initially accepted the offer of Rome.

War with Rome

However, his intention to restore the unified Numidia remains strong, which led him to invade in 112 BC. BC eastern Numidia, and reuniting again Numidia. Incidentally, he executed several businessmen operating in Numidia Roman East. The Roman government, furious at this development, is about to declare war, when Jugurtha succeeded once again with great ability to corrupt officials in place in Rome. This has the effect of reducing the animosity that had seized the Roman political class against him, and even give him a peace treaty advantageous. However, this treaty will be immediately called into question after the profound changes that gripped the Roman ruling class; exceeded, execute Adherbal Jugurtha made in response to this act. Roman political class is unleashed and will eventually ask the invasion of Numidia. Rome sends the consul Metellus in Numidia to the head of several legions to punish Jugurtha and remove. Jugurtha came with intelligence to resist for years, combining military exercises with the Romans and political ties with its neighbor to the west, King Bocchus ^I of Mauretania. The Deputy Consul Metellus, Gaius Marius, glimpsing an opportunity, returns to Rome to complain about the ineffectiveness of his chief suspect and needs to be elected consul in his place, he obtained. That's when Gaius Marius sent his quaestor, Lucius Cornelius Sulla, a mission to Mauritania to negotiate with Bocchus ist. Bocchus then agrees to betray Jugurtha and the Romans to help capture him in an ambush. Jugurtha is then sent to the notorious prison Tullianum. He was executed immediately following the tradition of Roman triumphs in 104 BC. AD Tullianum to prison.

Roman Province

After the death of Jugurtha of Numidia was divided: the western part is attributed to Bocchus, king of Mauretania, the rest is left under the authority of a vassal king of Rome. The situation lasted until the civil war between Julius Caesar and Pompey. Juba I , a supporter of Pompey , loses his kingdom -46 after the defeat of Thapsus against Caesar. Caesar gives Sittius a vast territory around Cirta ( Constantine ). Numidia became the province of Africa Nova until that Augustus meet the two provinces into a single package, proconsul of Africa. The latter is governed by a proconsul , who led a moment the African army. Augustus makes his kingdom to Juba II , son of the former, after the battle of Actium ( -31 ). In -25 , Juba II receives the throne of Mauretania , and Numidia was divided between Mauretania and the province of Africa. The integrated part to the province of Africa is a region and, in theory, has no administrative autonomy, since it depends on the proconsul assisted legates.

The people rebelled many times especially Zenetes towards the beginning of the first century. The Maghraoua were very numerous in the vicinity of Icosium ( Algiers ) and Ptolemy of Mauretania was to contain them. Ptolemy of Mauretania , will transfer a portion of Maghraoua to chlef . This causes a succession of military action in Rome, sometimes resulted in serious defeats Roman. For seven years, Tacfarinas resistance to the Romans, despite Tiberius who transfers a second legion to support the third legion Auguste (one ensuite).

From 39 AD. AD, Caligula entrusted the leadership of the region of Numidia to a personal representative - "legate of the Emperor" - responsible for controlling the third legion Auguste. Thus he ends a political anomaly that a large army under the command of a proconsul, not a legate. The Senate is losing the last legion which was under his orders. Although still officially incorporated into the province proconsul of Africa, Numidia constitutes a separate region, under the authority of the legate, who leads the third legion Auguste and not accountable to the emperor. It is a province of fact but not of law, relatively unique status in the empire.

The Roman Numidia

From the ^second century , the province is Christianized , but she quickly adheres to the heretical Donatist while knowing men of faith as famous as St. Augustine , Bishop of Hippo and Namphamon the first martyr (archimartyr) in Africa.

After 193 under Septimius Severus , Numidia was officially detached from the province of Africa and is a province in its own right, governed by a legate Imperial. Under Diocletian , it is a mere province in the reorganization tetrarchy then is briefly divided into two Numidian military and Numidia cirtenne.

In 428 , the Vandals began their incursions into Numidia. They even manage to create a kingdom there between 432 and 534 , when the province came under the Byzantine.

The area was finally conquered by armed Muslim between 696 and 708.

Company of Numidia

Following the decoding of some Libyan inscriptions, it appeared that spoke a language Numidian Berber. They had a passion for horses and riders were deemed to be unrestrained (including serving in the army Carthaginian ) origin Numidian equestrian event in some forms existing today Tunisia known as " fantasias "is likely. They were religion animistic and polytheistic , some of their beliefs have persisted until today among the Berbers , like the rites of the rain, the belief in guardian spirits of places.

However, very few traces of them reached us of their religion, lifestyle, habits and traditions, because of various invasions suffered by the people after the collapse of the Roman Empire. Libraries and old books, such as the famous collection of genealogy Numidian kings (mentioned Herodotus ) during the Greek period, disappeared during one of these invasions. Nevertheless, we find an abundance of stories about the people in the literatures of Greek and Roman antiquity.

Dynasty Numidian

Dynasty Massaessyles