9-th, 2004 - 09: 2   (Posted By: Webmaster)
Massinissa

Massinissa
KING OF NUMIDIA AND ARBITER OF THE DESTINY OF TWO WORLD EMPIRES (238-149 B.C.)

MASSINISSA, King of Numidia, may be compared to the feather that tipped the scale. When two great nations were struggling for the mastery of the world, he threw himself on one side and it won. There seems nothing extraordinary in that. But at the time he was a fugitive with only five followers. And all for the love of a woman. Massinissa's love affair is one of the most poignant in history.

The leading figures of this mighty drama are: Hannibal, the Carthaginian, renowned military genius, and himself an African. Scipio, foremost Roman general of his day, calm in judgment, cultured, ruled by his head. Syphax, king of Numidia, the kingpin of the situation--both Rome and Carthage were trying hard to win him over. Sophonisba, the most beautiful woman of her time, the daughter of Hasdrubal, Carthaginian general, and niece of Hannibal. Massinissa, son of Gala, king of Massylia, a petty kingdom in southern Numidia, Africa.

The Numidians were of mixed Berber and Ethiopian ancestry. The Berbers claimed descent from the Mazoi, the Negro soldiers of ancient Egypt. Their numbers, like others of the peoples of northern Africa, were continually reinforced by Negro peoples from the south brought in as captives and slaves. The great strength of both Carthage and Numidia was the renowned Numidlan cavalry. As a lad Massinissa had been sent to Carthage to study military tactics and while there had fallen in love with Sophonisba. Hasdrubal, her father, disliked Numidians but had consented largely because of Massinissa's exceptional ability. A giant in size and strength, none could equal him on horseback or with the sword. At the lyceum he excelled in Latin, Greek, and military tactics.

At the age of seventeen Massinissa was so greatly in love with Sophonisba that he felt he must do something to impress her and the world. Accordingly he induced her father to declare war on Syphax, and marching against the latter, defeated him in two battles after which he went with Hasdrubal to Spain where Carthage was fighting Rome for mastery of that land. This was at the time when Hannibal had overrun Italy and was winning brilliant battles not far from the walls of Rome.
Arriving in Spain, Massinissa, not yet eighteen, attacked Scipio, Rome's foremost leader, and defeated him. Another Roman general, Gneus, sent against him met the same fate. With his black cavalry, Massinissa seemed invincible. But while Massinissa was trying to distinguish himself in the eyes of Sophonisba, events at home were shaping themselves against him. Syphax, an old ally of Rome, had rallied his forces and was threatening Carthage. To make peace, the Carthaginians forced Sophonisba to marry Syphax.

Massinissa heard the news in Spain. In a great rage he went to the tent of Hasdrubal, her father, to demand an explanation. The latter, indignant at the thought that his daughter was being forced by the state to marry, found himself having to choose between the national welfare and his private feelings. He finally decided in favor of Syphax. Massinissa thereupon resigned his command to return to his own country. Before leaving Spain, however, he went secretly to Scipio's camp and pledged himself to Rome. Henceforth Carthage would find him an implacable foe. Syphax now invaded Massinissa's country and ravaged it. Badly Wounded, Massinissa was forced to hide in a cave and to give out that he was dead. Hearing that Scipio had landed in Africa, he joined him with all that remained of his army: five men. Aided by the Romans, he now rallied his people, and joining his forces with those of Scipio, marched to meet the allied Numidian and Carthaginian armies under Hasdrubal. Finding themselves greatly outnumbered, Massinissa and Scipio resorted to strategy. Camping not far from the Numidian army, they sent Hasdrubal an offer of peace, and while this was being considered, stole in at night and set the Numidian camp afire. The Numidians, suddenly awakened, thought the fire was accidental and ran out unarmed to fight it, on which Scipio and Massinissa cut them

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