Bocchus I facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bocchus I |
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| King of Mauretania | |
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| Reign | c. 110 – c. 80s BC |
| Successor | Mastanesosus |
| Born | Mauretania |
Bocchus I was a powerful king of Mauretania, a kingdom in ancient North Africa. He ruled from around 111 BC to about 80 BC. His kingdom was located in what is now parts of Algeria and Morocco.
Bocchus I was the father-in-law of Jugurtha, who was the king of a neighboring kingdom called Numidia. At first, Bocchus and Jugurtha were allies. They fought together against the powerful Romans in a long war known as the Jugurthine War. However, King Bocchus later changed sides. In 105 BC, he handed Jugurtha over to the Romans. After this, the Romans and Bocchus shared Jugurtha's kingdom.
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What's in a Name?
Historians believe the name Bocchus might come from an ancient Berber word. Some suggest it could be related to the Tuareg word "Aweqqas," which means "lion." This name was sometimes used for boys. You can still find places in North Africa today, like the city of Aokas in Algeria, that might share this ancient root.
Life in Ancient Mauretania
We don't know a lot about King Bocchus I or his kingdom. He was likely related to an earlier king named Baga. Bocchus's kingdom was bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and the Moulouya River.
A Roman historian named Sallust wrote about Bocchus. He said that before the war, the Romans knew very little about King Bocchus or his people.
King Bocchus had many wives, as was the custom in his time. He had four known children:
- A daughter, whose name we don't know, who married King Jugurtha.
- His oldest son, Mastanesosus, who would become king after him.
- Two other sons, Bogud and Volux.
The Jugurthine War
Around 108 BC, a big conflict started between Rome and King Jugurtha of Numidia. At first, King Bocchus wasn't sure which side to join. But Jugurtha promised Bocchus a large part of his kingdom. This made Bocchus decide to become Jugurtha's ally.
Their combined armies fought against the Romans. However, the Roman general Marius defeated them in a major battle. After this defeat, Bocchus started to rethink his alliance with Jugurtha.
Bocchus then met with a rising Roman leader named Sulla. Bocchus sent messengers to Rome to discuss a new alliance. The Roman Senate was interested but wanted Bocchus to show his loyalty. So, Bocchus met with Sulla again. Bocchus then set a trap for Jugurtha, who walked right into it. Bocchus handed Jugurtha over to Sulla.
As a reward, Bocchus and the Romans divided Jugurtha's kingdom between them. General Marius was celebrated in Rome for his victory. Sulla, however, always wore a special gold ring that King Bocchus had given him. This ring showed a picture of Bocchus giving Jugurtha to Sulla.
King Bocchus also helped the Romans by sending them exotic animals from Africa. These included panthers and lions, which were used in Roman shows and spectacles.
Who Ruled Next?
After Bocchus I died, his son Mastanesosus became king. Later, Mastanesosus's sons, Bocchus II and Bogud, ruled the kingdom together, each controlling half.
However, these two brothers took different sides during a Roman civil war. Bocchus II ended up taking over Bogud's half of the kingdom. When Bocchus II died in 33 BC, Mauretania became a "client kingdom" of Rome. This meant it was still a kingdom, but it was under the strong influence and control of the Roman Empire.
Images for kids
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Reliefs in African marble from an Italian site describing Bocchus, King of Mauretania, 68 BC
See also
In Spanish: Boco I para niños
