Numidia

Numidia (Gr. Nomadia, 'land of Nomads'), the name given by the Romans to a part of the north coast of Africa, corresponding to some extent with the modern Algiers, and lying between Mauritania and the Roman province of Africa; on the south it reached to the chains of Mount Atlas. The inhabitants of Numidia, as of Mauritania, belonged to the race from which the modern Berbers are descended. They were a warlike race, and excelled as horsemen, but were proverbially faithless and unscrupulous. Of their tribes the Massyli in the east and the Massæsyli in the west were the most powerful. In the grand struggle between the Carthaginians and the Romans they at first fought on the side of the former, but subsequently the king of the Eastern Numidians, Massinissa, joined the Romans, and rendered them effectual service in the war with Hannibal. Favoured by the conquerors, he united all Numidia under his sway. Of his successors in this kingdom Jugurtha and Juba are the most famous. After the victory of Cæsar over Juba I. in the African war Numidia became a Roman province (46 B.C.); but Augustus afterwards gave the western part, with Mauritania, to Juba II., and the name Numidia became limited to the eastern part. Among important places were Hippo Regius, Zama, and Cirta (the residence of the Numidian kings), afterwards called Constantina, a name still preserved in Constantine. For the modern history of Numidia, see ALGIERS.