Masinissa
| Masinissa | |
|---|---|
| King of Numidia | |
|
|
| King of Numidia | |
| Reign | 202 BC-148 BC |
| Predecessor | New establishment |
| Successor | Micipsa |
| King of the Massylii | |
| Reign | 206 BC-202 BC |
| Predecessor | Lacumazes |
| Successor | Himself as King of Numidia |
| Born | c. 238 BC |
| Died | c. 148 BC (aged 90) |
| Burial | Mausoleum of Dougga |
| Issue |
Micipsa Gulussa Mastanabal |
| Father | Gala |
Masinissa, or Masensen, (Berber: Masnsen, ⵎⵙⵏⵙⵏ; c.238 BC – c. 148 BC) — also spelled Massinissa and Massena — was the first King of Numidia. During his younger years he fought in the Second Punic War (218-201 BC), first against the Romans as an ally of Carthage and later switching sides. With Roman support, he united the eastern and western Numidian tribes and founded the Kingdom of Numidia. He is most famous for his role as a Roman ally in the Battle of Zama and as husband of Sophonisba, a Carthaginian noblewoman whom he allowed to poison herself to avoid being paraded in a triumph in Rome.
His name was found in his tomb of Cirta, modern-day Constantine in Algeria under the form of MSNSN (which has to be read as Mas'n'sen which means "Their Lord").
Masinissa is largely viewed as an icon and an important forefather among modern Berbers.
Masinissa's story is told in Livy's Ab Urbe Condita (written c. 27–25 BC). He is also featured in Cicero's Scipio's Dream.
Masinissa was the son of the chieftain Gala of a Numidian tribal group, the Massylii. He was brought up in Carthage, an ally of his father. At the start of the Second Punic War, Masinissa fought for Carthage against Syphax, the king of the Masaesyli of western Numidia (present day Algeria), who had allied himself with the Romans. Masinissa, then 17 years old, led an army of Numidian troops and Carthaginian auxiliaries against Syphax's army and won a decisive victory.
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