Numidia was an ancient Berber kingdom located in the region of North Africa that today comprises Algeria and parts of Tunisia, Libya and Morocco. The kingdom existed from the 3rd to the 1st century BC. Numidia was originally composed of two large kingdoms: the Massyles in the east and the Masaesyles in the west, but it was unified into a single kingdom by Masinissa, the king of Massylii. Rome established it as a client kingdom after the Second Punic War and annexed it, first in 46 BC and again in 25 BC after a brief period of restored independence under King Juba II (30 BC–25 BC).
After this, the kingdom became the Numidian kingdom of Mauretania, being ruled by Juba II as a client king. The royal line ended in 40 AD after Juba II's son Ptolemy was murdered by his cousin Caligula. The kingdom itself ended after the demise of Ptolemy's former slave Aedemon, who had revolted from 40 AD to 42 AD against Rome. After this, the kingdom was completely annexed by the Roman Empire.
Before Massinissa's unification there were two distinct groups:
The Massylii or Maesulians were a Berber confederation in eastern Numidia (central and eastern Algeria), which was formed by an amalgamation of smaller tribes during the 4th century BC. They were ruled by a king. On their loosely defined western frontier were the powerful Masaesyli. To their east lay the territory of the rich and powerful Carthaginian Republic. Their relationship to Carthage resembled that of a protectorate. Carthage maintained its dominance over the Massylii by skilful diplomatic manoeuvering, playing off local tribal and kingdom rivalries. The principal towns of the Massylii were Cirta, Tébessa and Thugga in modern-day Algeria and Tunisia.
The Massaesylii were a Berber confederate kingdom of western Numidia (central and western Algeria) and the main antagonists of the Massylii in eastern Numidia. The kingdom of Massaesylia extended all the way west to the Mulucha river and under Syphax its authority extended to the Strait of Gibraltar.
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Progenitors
Semi-legendary or legendary
A few Berber and Greek mythological figures have been associated as being ancient kings of Numidia. Their existence is more controversial than the semi-legendary ones hence why they are placed in this category.
Massylian and Masaesylian dynasty (c. 400–202 BC)
Semi-legendary
Some Numidian kings are only known though legends: while they could have existed, most of the details about their lives have been either exaggerated or completely invented. Among those kings there is Madghis who is believed to be an ancestor of the Numidians. There is also the mythical founder of the dynasty, Iles, whose life is surrounded by mystery and whose existence is heavily debatable: some historians do not even consider him as a king who existed.
Kings of the Massylii (Eastern Numidia)
The last ruler of the Massylii conquered the Masaesyli and created the unified Numidian kingdom.
Unified Numidia
The three sons of Massinissa originally shared the kingdom, dividing responsibility. Micipsa later tried the same thing with his three heirs, but the result was a civil war. The Roman Republic defeated Numidia during the Jugurthine War. Gauda thus succeeded to a reduced Numidian kingdom. He divided the kingdom geographically between his two sons, establishing two different lines of Numidian kings. They were briefly displaced by a certain Hiarbas, but Roman intervention restored them.
Dynastic conflicts
Eastern Numidia
This was the main Numidian kingdom after 81.
Hiempsal II (88–81), son of Gauda
Hiarbas (81–79), unknown lineage, usurper
Hiempsal II (79–60), second reign
Juba I (60–46), son of Hiempsal II
Massintha (62 BC), ancestor of Jugurtha who served as a pretender against Hiempsal II. (existence debated)
Annexed to Rome as province Africa Nova (46–30).
Juba II (30–25), son of Juba I
Annexed to Rome as province Africa Proconsularis (25 BCE – 193 CE).
Western Numidia
This was a much smaller chiefdom than Eastern Numidia
Masteabar (88–81)
Massinissa II (81–46)
Sittius (46–44), a Roman mercenary leader
Arabio (44–40)
Annexed to Rome as part of province Africa Nova (40–30).
Juba II (30–25), son of Juba I
Annexed to the Kingdom of Mauretania (25 BCE – 40 CE).