Massinissa : The first great Amazigh king


Imazighen are the native North African people ; their history began with that of the King Massinissa.

Massinissa was the son of the king Gaia. Historians haven't a deep knowledge about Gaia but we're already aware, under his rule, the Kingdom of Massyle was starting to thrive.

Gaia had an opponent in the name of Syphax who was the king of Massaessyles. The first was sustained by Rome meanwhile the second was sustained by Carthage.
Rome was protecting Gaia who, as a reward, was giving to Romans the military troupes trained by his own son Massinissa in Spain.

After the death of Gaia, the throne was to be ruled, according to the traditions of the Berber kingdoms, to the elder male of the royal family and thus Oezalces ruled the Kingdom of Massyle for a while ; only for a while because he died shorter after his ceremonial chair.
Capusa, the elder son of Oezalces, had to fight Mazetul who was his cousin. Mazetul killed Capusa and let the throne to Capusa's brother Lacumazes.
Some historians say that Mazetul killed Capusa because he was incompetent to fulfil his task but some others agree the crime to be due to the fact that Mazetul would love to avoid the throne to be ruled by Massinissa for whom it belongs by now the right to be the king of Massyle according to the traditions. This was why Massinissa quitted Spain in order to recover his right.
Lucamazes urged the help of the rival Syphax who won over Massinissa and killed Lucamazes so as to rule his kingdom (Massyle).

Massinissa had been continuing to fight for his legal rights until Scipion (who was leading the Roman army that time) decided to finish with the Kingdom of Carthage by coming to fight it on its land (Actual Tunisia) who, with his old friendship with Massinissa, attaqued the important Carthagian city Uttique and thus a great battle was hold between Massinissa and the Roman general Scipion on one side, Carthage and Syphax on the other side. That war was hold on April, 203 BC. Massinissa and Scipion won over Carthage and Syphax.

After a truce, the battle started again and, during a rude wrestling, Syphax fell from his horse and was caught as a prisoner which thing enabled Massinissa to cover the lands of his ancestors.

Hannibal was a brave Amazigh general who lead the Carthagian army until Rome and was on the edge to win over Rome on its home lands ! (by the way, historians are still flabbergasted because of the fact that Hannibal found a mysterious mean to pass through the Alpes with his numerous elephants !!!). Carthage urged the help of Hannibal who come back to fight against Massinissa and Scipion.
Hannibal has allied with Vermina who was the elder son of Syphax.

Again, Carthage and Hannibal lost the war against Massinissa on 202 BC.

Hannibal who was on the edge to invade Rome and who lost a great battle against Massinissa was in a deep psychological depression and then killed himself !

Massinissa, on his side, recovered or the lands of his ancestors and all the lands of the Roman empire on North Africa when he decided his follow his nationalism under his famous citation " Africa is for Africans."

Massinissa had not realized military achievements only : he unified all the Amazigh tribes, had his own currency, and encouraged literature, arts and foreign languages....He had sundry wives and lot of children ( 43 sons !!!!). He lead his last battle against Carthage when he was 88 years old.