A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. By various writers. Ed. by William Smith. Illustrated by numerous engravings on wood.

MASINISSA. MASINISSA. 969
horse which Hannibal had opposed to him, and Micipsa, to demand the restoration of the exiles.
pursuing them for. a considerable distance, he But the adverse party at Carthage, at the head of
returned to the field in time to co-operate with which was Hasdrubal, the general (bof'tharch) of
Laelius in the decisive charge that finally broke the republic, refused to admit the ambassadors
the main body of the Carthaginian infantry. He within the gates of the city, and even attacked
was now foremost in the, pursuit, and pressed so them on their return, and slew some of their folclosely with his Numidian horsemen upon the lowers. Hereupon Masinissa invaded the Carfugitives, that it is said. Hannibal himself with thaginian territory, anid laid siege to the city of
difficulty escaped falling into his hands. (Polyb. Oroscapa. Hasdrubal immediately took the field
xv. 4, 5, 9, 12-15; Liv. xxx. 29, 33-35; against him with a considerable army, which was
Appian, Pun. 37, 41, 44-47.) His zealous co- soon swelled by the desertion of some of the Nuoperation on this occasion was rewarded the fol- midian chiefs, and by other reinforcements, to the
lowing year (B. c. 201), on the conclusion of the amount of 58,000 men. The first general engagefinal peace between Rome and Carthage, when he ment, though favourable to the Numidians, led to
was not only included in the protection of the no decisive result; and Scipio Aemilianus, who
treaty as an ally of the former, but obtained from had accidentally arrived at the camp of Masinissa,
Scipio the possession of Cirta and the greater part interposed his good offices to bring about a reconof the territories which had belonged to Syphax, ciliation between the two parties. These, however,
in addition to his hereditary dominions, (Polyb. proved of no effect, Masinissa insisting on the
xv. 18; Liv. xxx. 44.) surrender of the Numidian deserters, to which the
From this time till the commencement of the Carthaginians peremptorily refused to accede.
third Punic war there elapsed an interval of more Hostilities were consequently renewed, and Mathan fifty years, during the whole of which period sinissa so effectually surrounded the army of HasMasinissa continued to reign with undisputed au- drubal, in a position where he was cut off from all
thority over the countries thus subjected to his supplies, that after the greater part of his troops
rule. Ample as those dominions were, he appears had perished by famine and pestilence, he was
to have already cast a longing eye upon the fertile compelled to save the rest by an ignominious caprovinces still retained by his neighbours the Car- pitulation. Even- this was shamefully violated,
thaginians: the certainty of support from the and many of the Carthaginians were put to the
Romans encouraged his covetousness, and the his- sword while retreating unarmed and defenceless,
tory of this whole period presents nothing but a so that a very small part of their army returned inl
continued series of aggressions on the part of safety to Carthage. (Appian, Pun. 70-73.)
Masinissa, ineffectual remonstrances on that of the This blow had effectually humbled the reviving
Carthaginians, and embassies repeatedly sent from power of Carthage, and the Romans now deterRome to adjust their disputes, and nominally to mined to seize the opportunity of crushing for ever
enforce the observance of the treaty and regulations their once formidable rival. The negotiations
imposedhby Scipio; but these deputies had always which ensued, and which ultimately led to the
secret instructions to favour the cause of the Nu- commencement of the third Punic war (B. c. 149),
midian king, and where the injustice of his pre- cannot be here related. The part which Masinissa
tensions were too flagrant, they in several instances took in them is not distinctly mentioned, but it is
quitted Africa without coming to any decision at clear that he was by no means satisfied that the
all. The great object of dispute was the fertile Romans should take the matter into their own
district called Emporia, which Masinissa at length hands; and however much he might wish to see
proceeded to occupy with an armed force, but this his old enemies the Carthaginians humbled, was
exceeded the limits of even the Roman indulgence, far from desiring to see the Romans established in
and he was this time compelled to withdraw his Africa in their stead. Hence when hostilities had
troops. (Liv. xxxiv. 62, xl. 17, 34, xlii. 23, 24; actually commenced, and the Romans called on
Appian, Pun. -67 —69; Polyb. xxxii. 2.) But him for assistance, he hesitated, and delayed to
while thus presuming on the favour of his powerful send the required auxiliaries. The following year
allies, he was careful to secure a continuance of (B.C. 148) the reverses sustained by the Roman
their support by renewed services; and we find armies compelled the senate to send a fresh embassy
him assisting them with an auxiliary force of to Masinissa, with a more urgent demand for reNumidian'horse and elephants, as well as with inforcements, but before the ambassadors arrived
large supplies of corn in their wars with Philip, at Cirta the aged monarch was no more. (Appian,
Antiochus, and Perseus. In the last of these, Pun. 94, 105.) On his deathbed he had sent for
especially -the Numidian auxiliaries, which were Scipio, at that time serving in Africa as a military
commanded by Misagenes, a son of Masinissa, tribune, but expired before his arrival, leaving it
rendered the most important services. (Liv. xxxi. to the young officer to settle the affairs of his
11, 19, xxxii. 27, xxxvi. 4, xlii. 29, 35, xlv. 13, kingdom. He died at the advanced age of ninety,
14; Eutrop. iv. 6; Appian, lMac. 9. ~ 2.) having retained in an extraordinary degree his
Meanwhile, Masinissa did not neglect to main- bodily strength and activity to the last, so that in
tain a party favourable to his views in Carthage the war against Hasdrubal, only two years before,
itself. But the reviving prosperity and power of he not only commanded his army in person, but
that republic appears to have given increased in- was able to go through all his military exercises
fluence to the party opposed to the Romans and with the agility and vigour of a young man.
their ally, and at length, in B. C. 150, the principal (Polyb. xxxvii. 3; Appian, Pun. 71, 106; Liv.
partisans of Masinissa were driven into exile by Epit. 1.; Eutrop. iv. 11; Val. Max. viii. 13, ext.
the democratic faction. Hereupon the Numidian ~ 1-; Cic. de Sen. 10; Frontin. Strat. iv. 3. ~ 11;
king at once prepared for war; but before taking Lucian. Macrob. 17; Diod. Exc. Phot. p. 523;
any open steps he sent an embassy to Carthage, at Plut. [foral. p. 791, f.) His character in other
the head of which were his two sons, Gulussa and respects has been extolled by the Roman writers