Numidia

thumb|upright=1.25|Vandalic gold foil jewellery from the 3rd or 4th century thumb|150px|Vandal, painted by Lucas de Heere, 16th century.|alt=

Numidia () was the ancient kingdom of the Numidians in northwest Africa, initially comprising the northern part of what is now Algeria,Tunisia and Libya. The polity was originally divided between the Massylii state in the east, with its capital at Cirta, and the Masaesyli state in the west, with its capital at Siga. During the Second Punic War (218–201 BC), Masinissa, king of the Massylii, defeated Syphax of the Masaesyli to unify Numidia into the first unified Berber state for Numidians in North Africa. Initially a sovereign state and an ally of Rome, the kingdom later alternated between bein

language spoken in ancient North Africa

Cirta, also known by various other names in antiquity, was the ancient Berber and Roman settlement which later became Constantine, Algeria.

thumb|right|300px|Map of the Roman empire under Hadrian (AD ruled 117–138), showing the rough location of ancient Berber tribes on the fringes of the empire: Mauri, [[Musulamii, Garamantes, and Gaetuli. All four were engaged in bitter conflict with Rome during the rule of Augustus (30 BC – AD 14), and Tacfarinas was able to gain the support of substantial elements of all four tribes for his insurgency.]]

The Massylii or Maesulians (Neo-Punic: , ) were a Berber federation in eastern Numidia (central and eastern Algeria), which was formed by an amalgamation of smaller tribes during the 4th century BC. They were ruled by a king. On their loosely defined western frontier were the powerful Masaesyli. To their east lay the territory of the rich and powerful Carthaginian Republic. Their relationship to Carthage resembled that of a protectorate. Carthage maintained its dominance over the Massylii by skillful diplomatic manoeuvering, playing off local tribal and kingdom rivalries. The principal towns o

thumb|303x303px|right|Statue of Syphax, a Numidian king thumb|400px|right|Numidia of Syphax and Gaïa before the unification

type of light cavalry

Sufax, Syphax, Sufaqs or Sophax () was a hero in Berber and Greek mythology.

thumb|Masaesyli 220 BC, with the Massylii in the east. The Massaesylii (; ; also Masaesyli) were a Berber confederate kingdom of western Numidia (central and western Algeria) and the main antagonists of the Massylii in eastern Numidia. The kingdom of Massaesylia extended all the way west to Mulucha river and under Syphax its authority extended to the Strait of Gibraltar.thumb|Coin of Vermina, King of Masaesyli, . Depicts a galloping horse and the [[Phoenician text , "Vermina the king."]] During the Second Punic War the Massaesylii initially supported the Roman Republic and were led by the king

Naravas (Numidian: ⵏⵔⴱⵙ, Nrbs(h); , ) was a Numidian prince of the 3rd century BCE, occasionally referred to as a king, descending from the Massylian royal dynasty of Eastern Numidia. He played a pivotal role in the Mercenary War (241–238 BCE), initially joining the Libyan rebels before later aligning with Carthage, an alliance that significantly shifted the balance of power during the conflict. Naravas was the son of Zelalsan II, the uncle of the Numidian King Masinissa, and the son-in-law of the Carthaginian general Hamilcar.

work by Sallust

museum in Chemtou, Tunisia

Siga was a Berber, Phoenician and Roman port located near what is now Aïn Témouchent, Algeria. Under the Roman Empire, it was part of western Mauretania Caesariensis, bordering Mauretania Tingitana.

battle between Carthaginians and Numidians in 151 BCE