Following Masinissa — the Second Punic War

Masinissa (c. 238 – 148 BC), Carthage. Massylian prince who fought for Carthage in Spain, met Scipio in secret near Gades, lost his kingdom to Syphax, hid with forty horsemen, and rode back at the head of the Numidian cavalry that won Zama.

King of the Massylii; King of Numidia.

King of a united Numidia for fifty years; the peace of 201 gave him his first slice of Carthaginian land.

The itinerary — 14 stops, Winter 212 BC to Winter 201 BC

  1. The Massylian country — Winter 212 BC: Beats Syphax for Carthage before crossing to Spain. (Livy 24.48–49)
  2. The Upper Baetis, from Castulo — Summer 212 BC: His Numidians harass and destroy Publius Scipio. (Livy 25.34)
  3. The Punic armies in Spain — Summer 211 BC (Livy 27.20; 28.13)
  4. Ilipa — Spring 206 BC (Livy 28.13)
  5. Near Gades — Summer 206 BC: The secret meeting with Scipio: the ring changes colour here. (Livy 28.35)
  6. Cirta — Summer 206 BC: King Gaia dies; Masinissa claims the kingdom. (Livy 29.29–30)
  7. The Massylian hills near Hippo — Summer 205 BC: A fugitive with forty horsemen, wounded, hidden in a cave — Hippo stands for a year of wandering. (Livy 29.31–33)
  8. Scipio’s camp before Utica — Summer 204 BC: Rides into the Roman camp with two hundred horse. (Livy 29.29; 30.5)
  9. The Great Plains — Spring 203 BC (Livy 30.8)
  10. Cirta — Spring 203 BC: Syphax captured; Sophonisba; the cup of poison. (Livy 30.11–15)
  11. Tunis — Summer 203 BC (Livy 30.15–17)
  12. Numidia — Summer 203 BC: Rebuilding a kingdom; returns with 6,000 foot and 4,000 horse. (Livy 30.29)
  13. Zama — Autumn 202 BC: The right wing; the cavalry return decides the day. (Polybius 15.9–14; Livy 30.33–35)
  14. Cirta — Autumn 202 BC (Livy 30.44)

Battles fought

  • Battles of the Upper Baetis — Spring 211 BC — victory
  • Burning of the Camps — Spring 203 BC — victory
  • Capture of Syphax and Cirta — Spring 203 BC — victory
  • Battle of Zama — Autumn 202 BC — victory