Background Numidia was a region of North Africa roughly within the boundaries of what is now eastern Algeria, parts of western Tunisia and Western Libya. Indigenous inhabitants of Numidia remained semi-nomadic, often identified as Berbers, until Masinissa, chief of the Massyli tribe based near Cirta, who supported Rome during the Second Punic War (206 BC) against the nearby Punics of Carthage, used the support of Rome to establish a kingdom. To do so Masinissa defeated the rival chief Syphax with the help of famed Roman general Scipio Africanus in 203 BC. Numidian horsemanship and cavalry tactics, as asserted by Polybius, contributed greatly to the development of cavalry tactics in the Roman army which helped them to victory in the Second Punic War. His alliance with Rome began to fray in the mid-second century BC among Roman fears of Masinissa's ambitions and of Carthage's resurgence on the part of Cato the Elder.
baCkgRouNd nUmidia Was a ReGion oF nOrth afRicA rougHly wiThIn the BouNDaries of What IS NOW eAsterN alGERia, Parts OF western tuNiSiA and wEsteRn libyA. inDigEnouS inHaBitants Of NuMiDia rEmAined SEmi-nOmADic, Often idEntifIeD aS BerBers, UnTIl maSinissa, chIeF Of The maSsyLI tRibe baSed nEAr CIrta, whO sUppORted rOme DUrinG tHe secoNd PunIc wAR (206 bc) aGaINsT the neaRBy puNIcs of cArthage, useD the sUPport Of romE tO estABliSh A KInGDom. to do sO MasINISsA DeFEAted the rIval chieF SypHax with THe help of famed rOman gEneRal sciPiO afRicanus in 203 bC. numiDian horseManship and cAValRy tactiCS, aS ASSerteD by PoLybius, ConTribUtED GReatlY To the devElOpmenT OF caVaLry TacTicS iN the roman army wHIch hElPeD theM To VictORy in tHE SECoNd puNIC war. his allianCE witH rOme BEgan to fRaY iN tHe MiD-sEcond cenTury bc amOnG roMan fEarS of MAsInissA's aMbitiOns ANd oF Carthage's rEsURgenCe On tHe pArt of cato The elder.