Micipsa

Micipsa ( Berber ⵎⵉⵙⵉⴱⵙⴰ Misibsa ; † 118 BC , Punic and Numidian mkwsn , ancient Greek Μικίψας ) was from 148 BC. Chr. Until his death King of Numidia massylii .

As the eldest son of Massinissa, he succeeded him, but under pressure from the Roman general Scipio Aemilianus, his brothers Gulussa and Mastanabal had to participate in the government. The alliance between Numidia and the Roman Republic continued, and Micipsa supported the Romans in the 3rd Punic War against Carthage , in the fight against Viriathus and against Numantia . After the death of his brothers, he ruled alone.

Micipsa's tomb

Today it is mostly assumed that the tomb of Micipsa is in Es Soumâa near El Khroub . The grave was previously attributed to Massinissa. News of Micipsa and his rule can be found in scattered sources, including Appian , Sallust, and Plutarch . There are also coins minted by him and an honorary inscription in Punic in Iol (now Cherchell in today's Algeria ).

After his death, his sons Adherbal and Hiempsal and his nephew Jugurtha , whom he had adopted, were to become successors at the same time and divide Numidia into three domains. During negotiations, however, Jugurtha had Hiempsal murdered and Adherbal was able to flee. 116 BC Rome agreed to partition Numidia between Jugurtha and Adherbal, but the peace did not last long.

Individual evidence

↑ Cf. u. a. Ernst Künzel: On the Hellenistic silver of the grave of Es Soumâa near El Khroub. In: Heinz Günter Horn , Christoph B. Rüger (Ed.): Die Numider. Horsemen and kings north of the Sahara. Rheinland-Verlag, Bonn 1979, ISBN 3-7927-0498-6 , pp. 287-304, with a summary of the arguments.

personal data
SURNAME	Micipsa
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	King of Numidia
DATE OF BIRTH	2nd century BC Chr.
DATE OF DEATH	118 BC Chr.

[1] Cf. u. a. Ernst Künzel: On the Hellenistic silver of the grave of Es Soumâa near El Khroub. In: Heinz Günter Horn , Christoph B. Rüger (Ed.): Die Numider. Horsemen and kings north of the Sahara. Rheinland-Verlag, Bonn 1979, ISBN 3-7927-0498-6 , pp. 287-304, with a summary of the arguments.