Numidian Roster
A berber kingdom divided in numerous nomadic tribes prized for its cavalry, Numidia is a strong ally of Carthage, providing it with fast and effective mounted skirmishers.
Politically unstable, Numidia is actually divided in two different main tribal groups, the Masaesyli in the west and the Massylii in the east.
The two tribal groups are constantly quarrying against one another to obtain total control of Numidia, constantly allying with foreign power in exchange of support, and eventually betraying the former ally if someone more profitable came along.
After changing repeatedly sides during the II Punic War, finally the Massylii allied with Rome and the Masaesyli with Carthage.
This actually granted Massylii to became the true leaders of Numidia, that become a powerful kingdom of north-western Africa, under the protective influence of Rome.
Numidian Noble Cavalry
Numidian Skirmish Cavalry
Numidian Skirmishers
Berber Slingers
Berber Archers
Berber Spearmen
II b.C. Massylian troops
Berber Camel Archer
Berber Camel Riders
Numidian Late Cavalry
Mauri Skirmishers
Numidian Elephants
Numidian Elephants with turret
Iberian caetrati
Gallic Swordsmen
Cohors Numidica
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Numidian nobles were equipped with Hellenistic-like panoply, obtained via Carthage.
In the noble numidian grave of es-Souma have been found an iron Konos helmet, and the Carthaginian-Numidian relief of Chentouf actually displayed a linothorax and an aspis shield.
Numidian noble cavalry
The backbone of Numidian army was composed by light horsemen that fought as skirmishers
Numidian Skirmish Cavalry
Numidians coming from agricultural communities along the Carthaginian border, they fight like skirmishers but on foot, having lost part of their nomadic traditions
Numidian Skirmishers
Berber Slingers
Berber Archers
Berber Spearmen
II b.C. Massylian troops
With the passing of power in Numidia from Massaesyli to Massyli and the alliance with Rome, Numidian kingdom extent his power toward whole Mauretania, taking under control Gaetulian tribes.
Berber Camel Archer
Berber Camel Riders
Numidian Late Cavalry
Mauri Skirmishers
Also Numidians received Roman military counsellor, that helped to form legionary like chosen fighters.
Actually Suetonius states that Juba had a number of "legions" at his disposal, while Tacitus speaks of the Numidian army of Tacfarinas containing “picked men who were armed in Roman fashion” (Annals, 2.50).
Roman Gladius from Numidian Grave in Es-Souma, and Montefortino Helmet with Numidian name inscript on it
Cohors Numidica
Furthermore, king Juba managed to reinforce his army with stable mercenary companies of Iberian caetrati and Gaulish warriors, and also capturing and taming elephants for war purpose.
Iberian caetrati
Gallic Swordsmen
Numidian Elephants
Numidian Elephants with turret