v49_0340 - NUMIDIA - KINGDOM OF NUMIDIA - MASINISSA or MICIPSA Unité, (MB, Æ 27)

NUMIDIA - KINGDOM OF NUMIDIA - MASINISSA or MICIPSA

(203-148 BC)

The Numidians were nomads. Their leader, Massinissa made his appearance in history at the time of the second Punic war. He betrayed the Carthaginians and became an ally of the Romans and Scipio. Great winner in Africa after the battle of Zama in 202 BC, he carved out a kingdom in North Africa at the gates of Carthage. He spent the next fifty years consolidating his kingdom and challenging Carthage using the Romans. He died at the start of the Third Punic War (149-146 BC). His eldest son, Micipsa succeeded him with his two brothers and reigned for thirty years.