Editing Syphax (section)

==Second Punic War==
When [[Second Punic War|a second war]] broke out between [[Ancient Carthage|Carthage]] and [[Ancient Rome|Rome]] in 218 BC, Syphax was initially sympathetic to the [[Roman Republic|Romans]]. In 213{{nbsp}}BC, he concluded an alliance with the Romans and they sent [[:es:Quinto_Estatorio|Quintus Statorius]] as a military advisor to help Syphax train his troops. He then attacked the rival tribe of eastern Numidians, the [[Massyli]]ans, ruled by King [[Gala (Numidian king)|Gala]], who at that time were allied to the Carthaginians. When Gala died in 206{{nbsp}}BC, his sons [[Masinissa]] and {{Interlanguage link|Oezalces|fr|Oezalcès}} quarreled about the inheritance, and Syphax was able to conquer considerable parts of the eastern Numidian kingdom.

===Negotiations with Rome and Carthage===
After the Roman general [[Scipio Africanus|Publius Cornelius Scipio]] was victorious in the [[Battle of Ilipa]] (206{{nbsp}}BC), he sent his friend [[Gaius Laelius]] to visit Syphax to ratify the treaty with Rome. Syphax, however, refused to ratify any treaty except with Scipio, so Scipio sailed with two [[quinquereme]]s to meet with Syphax, taking a considerable risk in doing so. In fact he arrived at the Numidian harbor at exactly the same time as [[Hasdrubal Gisco]] (who had fled from Spain) anchored there on his way back to Carthage. Scipio's ship managed to make harbor before Gisco's seven [[triremes]] could make out to intercept them, and in a neutral harbor, Gisco dared not act against the Romans. Syphax invited both to dinner, where both Syphax and Gisco were taken in by Scipio's charm.<ref name=Livy28/>{{rp|p77}}