Editing Syphax

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{about|the ancient king of the Masaesyli|the mythological figure|Sufax|the genus of fossil spiders|Syphax (spider)|the Tunisian airline|Syphax Airlines}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name         = Syphax
| image        = Statue of a male in the Vatican museum, SUPHAX NUMIDIAEREX.JPG
| caption      = Statue of a male in the Vatican museum, called "Syphax, King of Numidia"
| birth_date   = 
| birth_place  = 
| death_date   = 
| death_place  = [[Tivoli, Rome|Tivoli]], [[Roman Republic]]
| burial_date  = 
| burial_place = 
| spouse       = [[Sophonisba]]
| issue        = [[Vermina]] <br/>Tanakwa
| full name    = 
| house        = 
| house-type   = 
| father       = 
| mother       = 
| image_size   = 
| succession   = King of the Masaesyli
| reign        = {{circa|225|203{{nbsp}}BCE}}
| predecessor  = 
| successor    = [[Vermina]]
| module       = {{Infobox commander 
| embed = yes
| battles = [[Second Punic War]]
* [[Battle of the Great Plains]]
* [[Battle of Cirta]] {{POW}}
| allegiance = [[Masaesyli]]
}}
}}

'''Syphax''' ({{Langx|grc|Σύφαξ}}, ''Sýphax'';<ref>{{Citation|last=Meißner|first=Burkhard (Halle/Saale)|title=Syphax|date=1 October 2006|url=https://referenceworks.brillonline.com/entries/brill-s-new-pauly/syphax-e1127560#|work=Brill’s New Pauly|publisher=Brill|language=en|access-date=20 January 2022}}</ref> {{Langx|xpu|𐤎𐤐𐤒}}, {{Sc|spq}})<ref>{{Cite book|last=Scullard|first=Howard Hayes|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aWBoAAAAMAAJ&q=spq+syphax|title=Scipio Africanus: Soldier and Politician|date=1970|publisher=Cornell University Press|isbn=978-0-8014-0549-5|pages=44|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|last=Huß|first=Werner (Bamberg)|title=Masaesylii|date=1 October 2006|url=https://referenceworks.brillonline.com/entries/brill-s-new-pauly/masaesylii-e725630|work=Brill’s New Pauly|publisher=Brill|language=en|access-date=20 January 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Akerraz|first=Aomar|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=W8lyAAAAMAAJ&q=spq|title=L'Africa romana: mobilità delle persone e dei popoli, dinamiche migratorie, emigrazioni ed immigrazioni nelle province occidentali dell'Impero romano : atti del XVI Convegno di studio, Rabat, 15-19 dicembre|date=2006|publisher=Carocci|isbn=978-88-430-3990-6|pages=2572|language=fr}}</ref> was a king of the [[Masaesyli]] tribe of western [[Numidia]] (present-day [[Algeria]]) during the last quarter of the 3rd century BC. His story is told in [[Livy]]'s ''[[Ab urbe condita libri (Livy)|Ab Urbe Condita]]'' (written c. 27–25 BC).<ref name=Livy28>[https://archive.org/stream/livywithenglisht08livyuoft#page/72/mode/2up Livy: ''Ab urbe condita'', vol. VIII, bks. xxviii-xxx] Loeb Classical Edn, pp.73-99, 173-225, 405-421 at openlibrary.org</ref> He ruled over a territory extending from present day [[Constantine, Algeria|Constantine]] to [[Moulouya River|Moulouya]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Leen |first=Anne |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NsbKEAAAQBAJ&dq=Syphax+kingdom+moulouya&pg=PT355 |title=All Things Ancient Rome: An Encyclopedia of the Roman World [2 volumes] |date=2023-06-15 |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing USA |isbn=979-8-216-17080-8 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PEV9EAAAQBAJ&dq=Syphax+kingdom+moulouya&pg=PT7 |title=The Ancient African Culture: The Ancient History Of African Kingdoms |date=2022-07-25 |publisher=Evelyn Cabrera |language=en}}</ref>

==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}}

==Alliance with Hasdrubal==
Meanwhile, Masinissa had concluded that Rome was winning the war against Carthage and therefore decided to switch sides. Having lost the alliance with Masinissa, the Carthaginians started to look for another ally, which they found in Syphax.  Hasdrubal Gisco sealed the alliance by offering his daughter [[Sophonisba]] in marriage, although until 206{{nbsp}}BC she had been betrothed to Masinissa.

===Battle of the Great Plains===
{{Main|Battle of the Great Plains}}
With the reversal of alliances, it seemed that Carthage and Syphax were in a strong position in Africa. During the early stages of Scipio's campaign in North Africa, the joined forces of Syphax and Gisco were able to force Scipio to abandon the siege of [[Utica, Tunisia|Utica]]. However, in the 203{{nbsp}}BC [[Battle of the Great Plains]], Scipio overcame Gisco and Syphax and while the Roman general concentrated on Carthage, Laelius and Masinissa followed Syphax to [[Cirta]].

===Battle of Cirta===
{{Main|Battle of Cirta}}
During the pursuit, Syphax was threatened with desertion by his army when Laelius and Masinissa's army approached the Numidian battle line. In a brave attempt to rally his troops, Syphax rode alone, straight towards the Roman cavalry, but in this desperate attempt his badly wounded horse threw him off. Syphax was pounced upon immediately by Roman soldiers and taken to the ecstatic Masinissa.<ref name=Livy28/>{{rp|p405}} Syphax's troops retreated to the capital city which later fell as Masinissa claimed his kingdom. Syphax was delivered to Scipio and was taken back to Rome as a prisoner. He died in Tibur (modern [[Tivoli, Italy|Tivoli]]) in 203 or 202{{nbsp}}BC.

==After death==
In a twist of fate, Sophonisba then married Masinissa. However, Scipio, suspicious of Sophonisba, demanded that she be taken to Rome and appear in the [[Roman triumph|triumphal parade]]. To spare her such humiliation, Masinissa sent her poison, with which she killed herself.

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Reflist|group=Cambridge University}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [https://www.livius.org/su-sz/syphax/syphax.html Livius.org: Syphax] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011064237/http://www.livius.org/su-sz/syphax/syphax.html |date=11 October 2012 }}
{{Authority control}}


[[Category:200s BC deaths]]
[[Category:3rd-century BC monarchs in Africa]]
[[Category:3rd-century BC Berber people]]
[[Category:Kings of Numidia]]
[[Category:Second Punic War commanders]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing]]