Français – عربي – ⵜⴰⵎⴰⵣⵉⵖⵜ – English
Translation: Ibrahim Karmoum
After unifying the Kingdom of Numidia, King Massinissa reigned for more than fifty years. After his death, at the age of about 90, his three sons shared royal power: Micipsa, the eldest, was in charge of administering the kingdom, Gulussa commanded the army and Mastanabal administered justice.
Massinissa died in 148. His succession, in the middle of the Third Punic War, was a matter of great concern to the Romans, who were worried about the instability that a conflict over his succession could cause among their first ally in Africa. Then the Roman general Scipio Aemilianus, whom Massinissa had entrusted with the management of his estate after his death, divided the royal powers among his three sons. This solution may be inspired by an old Amazigh custom of power sharing between three chiefs.
Micipsa, the eldest son of Massinissa, received as inheritance the palace of his father in Cirta, with the administration of the kingdom and management of the royal treasury. It was to him that Massinissa had given his ring, a symbol of power.
Gulussa, his second son, was given command of the army. Having participated in the campaigns of his father against Carthage, he already had a solid experience of war. After the death of Massinissa, Gulussa’s troops participated in the siege and destruction of Carthage.
Mastanabal, the youngest son, became known in his youth by winning the chariot race at the Panathenaic Games. He is the only brother who has received a Greek education. Having studied law, he was given the administration of justice. He was also in charge of relations with the vassal chiefs.
Mastanabal died of disease a few years after this power-sharing agreement. It is not known when Gulussa died, but the dedication of the temple of Massinissa in Dougga, in 139, mentions only Micipsa, which shows that he already reigned alone at this time. There is no evidence that there was ever a conflict between the three brothers, nor that Micipsa had eliminated the other two.
Micipsa and his brothers maintained their father’s alliance with Rome, but with less enthusiasm than Massinissa. They continued to send troops to support the Roman wars. Their reign is marked by the installation in Numidia of several thousand Carthaginians, who fled Carthage after its destruction by the Romans. These newcomers contributed to the enrichment of Numidia. The capital of the kingdom was still Cirta (Constantine), but Iol (Cherchell) was established as the seat of justice. Once he reigned alone, Micisca, peacefully settled in Cirta, devoted himself to art and culture.
Towards the end of his life, Micipsa made arrangements for his kingdom to be divided after his death between his two sons, Hiempsal and Adherbal, and his nephew Jugurtha, a son of Mastanabal. As part of this succession agreement, Micipsa apparently adopted Jugurtha.
