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The Antiquity saw the emergence of several Amazigh kingdoms in North Africa. During the Punic wars, those kingdoms profited from the rivalry between Carthage and Rome to strengthen their position. After the fall of Carthage, King Massinissa of Numidia unified the Amazigh people who had been freed from Carthaginian domination, by taking over much of the fallen Carthaginian Empire. However, Numidia, as well as its neigbour, Mauretania, also had to face Roman imperialist ambitions.
The first Amazigh kingdoms in North Africa were probably formed between the 4th and 3rd Century BCE. The Amazigh kings were called aguellid, plural iguelliden. Originally, they were warlords, heading a confederation of villages or tribes, for self-defense or to attack other villages/tribes. Their authority was acknowledged only for the time of the war. Later, the most powerful iguelliden came to dominate the conquered regions, even in times of peace.
In the West of the continent, the Kingdom of Mauretania was supposedly founded by the mythical King Atlas. According to legend, Atlas was changed into stone as a punishment for his inhospitality, turning into the mountain chain that still carries its name today. The capital of Mauretania was Volubilis (Oualili, in the Moroccan province of Meknès). The Mauretanians traded with the Phoenicians, and then the Carthaginians, via the Punic ports of Tingis (Tangier) and Lixus (Larache).
Closer to Carthage, there were two related, but rival kingdoms: the Massaesyles, whose capital was first Siga (Oulhaça El Gheraba, in the Algerian wilaya of Ain Temouchent), then Cirta (Constantine); and the Massyles, with their capital in Hippo (Annaba). The Massaesyles controlled a larger territory and enriched themselves through commerce with Spain, while the Massyles possessed more cities and were more strongly attached to their lands. The borders between both kingdoms changed regularly, after each war between them.
The Greek historian Polybius mentions two other older Numidian Kingdoms: the Lergetes and the Maccaeans. We know nothing more about them.
During the Second Punic War, Syphax, king of the Massaesyles, became an ally of the Carthaginians, while Massinissa, king of the Massyles, fought alongside the Romans. After the defeat of Carthage, Massinissa took control of the whole Massaesyle territory, and founded the united Kingdom of Numidia. After that, he went forth conquering the Punic possessions in Libya, as he believed that Carthage was occupying his ancestral lands. He also extended his Kingdom towards the South. The reign of Massinissa is considered as the golden age of the Kingdom of Numidia.
Baga, King of Mauretania, allied with Rome and Massinissa during the Second Punic War. After their victory, Mauretania took control of the Punic port cities on its coasts. The border between Numidia and Mauretania was the river Moulouya.
After Massinissa’s death, his grandson Jugurtha waged war against the Romans to drive them out of North Africa. After his defeat, a major part of his kingdom was attached to Mauretania. The last kings of Numidia and Mauretania were clients clients of Rome, until Juba II and his son Ptolemy. Their kingdom was then annexed by the Roman Empire.
