Juba I of Numidia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Juba I |
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A coin of Juba I, showing his support for Pompey against Julius Caesar.
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| Died | 46 BC |
| Issue | King Juba II |
| Father | Hiempsal II |
Juba I of Numidia (born around 85 BC, died 46 BC) was a powerful king of Numidia, a kingdom in what is now Algeria. He ruled from 60 BC to 46 BC. Juba I was the son of Hiempsal II, and he took over as king after his father.
Contents
Juba's Life and Alliances
Juba's father, Hiempsal, had been removed from his throne in 81 BC. A famous Roman general named Pompey helped Hiempsal get his kingdom back. Because of this, Hiempsal and later Juba became strong allies of Pompey.
This alliance grew even stronger when Juba visited Rome. During his visit, the famous Roman leader Julius Caesar once insulted Juba by pulling his beard during a court case. This made Juba dislike Caesar. Later, in 50 BC, a Roman politician named Gaius Scribonius Curio even suggested that Numidia should be sold, which angered Juba even more.
Conflicts with Rome
In 49 BC, Julius Caesar sent Curio to take over the Roman province of Africa from Caesar's enemies, the Republicans. Curio was very confident and underestimated the governor of Africa, Publius Attius Varus. Curio brought fewer soldiers than he was given.
In the Battle of the Bagradas that same year, Curio's army won an early victory against Varus. Feeling confident, Curio then attacked what he thought was a small part of Juba's army. But it was actually most of Juba's forces! Juba's military commander, Saburra, led a surprise attack. Curio's army was almost completely destroyed. Curio himself was surrounded and died fighting. Only a few of his soldiers managed to escape by ship. King Juba captured some important Roman leaders and took them back to Numidia.
Juba's Role in the Civil War
When Julius Caesar arrived in Africa, Juba first planned to join forces with Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius Scipio Nasica, another Roman general. However, Juba's own kingdom was attacked from the west by Caesar's ally, Bocchus II, and an adventurer named Publius Sittius. Juba had to leave most of his army to defend his homeland. He only sent 30 war elephants to help Scipio.
Scipio desperately needed more soldiers and asked Juba for help. Juba quickly left the defense of his kingdom to Saburra and joined Scipio. He brought three legions (about 15,000 light infantry soldiers), 1,000 cavalry (horseback soldiers), and 30 elephants for the Battle of Thapsus. However, Juba set up his camp away from Scipio's main army. When Juba saw that Scipio's army was clearly losing the battle, he decided not to join the fight. He fled with his 30,000 men.
Juba's Family
Juba I was the father of Juba II, who later became King of Numidia and then Mauretania. Juba I was also the father-in-law of Juba II's wives: Cleopatra Selene II, a Greek princess from the Ptolemaic dynasty, and Glaphyra, a Cappadocian princess. He was the paternal grandfather of King Ptolemy of Mauretania.
Images for kids
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A coin of Juba I, showing his support for Pompey against Julius Caesar.
See also
In Spanish: Juba I para niños
