Sabalus
Encyclopedia
Sabalus was a man of Berber
descent from North Africa
who lived in the 1st century. Sabalus was one of the tribal chiefs in the Roman Client Kingdom of Mauretania
. Little is known of Sabalus’ origins.
In late 40, king Ptolemy of Mauretania
was murdered by his unstable second cousin Roman Emperor
Caligula
, while on a visit to Rome
. A former slave of Ptolemy’s Aedemon
, from his outrage and to the loyalty and memory of his former master, wanted to avenge Caligula and started the revolt in the Kingdom of Mauretania
against Rome
. Many people from the kingdom had joined in the revolt. Sabalus became a supporter to Aedemon and was among the chief rebels.
Caligula was murdered on 24 January in the year 41, and his paternal uncle Claudius
became the new Emperor. In 42, Claudius had appointed the skilled Roman Generals Gaius Suetonius Paulinus
and Gnaeus Hosidius Geta
to end the revolt. This was a four-year bloody and violent revolt. The revolt erupted instantly. Sabalus and his fellow rebels were hard skilled fighters. The Berbers were able to survive in the harsh Sahara conditions, while the Romans struggled.
Geta and his troops had defeated Sabalus twice after Geta gathered sufficient water to pursue him in the desert. At one point the water had begun to run out. Geta was doubtful whether to retreat or continue to pursue Sabalus, however a local Berber persuaded him to perform a local rain ritual. When Geta had completed the rain ritual, rain began to fall from the heavens. Sabalus had witnessed this, thinking that Geta had possessed supernatural powers. Sabalus and his men surrendered to Geta. Sabalus’ fate afterwards is unknown.
Berber people
Berbers are the indigenous peoples of North Africa west of the Nile Valley. They are continuously distributed from the Atlantic to the Siwa oasis, in Egypt, and from the Mediterranean to the Niger River. Historically they spoke the Berber language or varieties of it, which together form a branch...
descent from North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
who lived in the 1st century. Sabalus was one of the tribal chiefs in the Roman Client Kingdom of Mauretania
Mauretania
Mauretania is a part of the historical Ancient Libyan land in North Africa. It corresponds to present day Morocco and a part of western Algeria...
. Little is known of Sabalus’ origins.
In late 40, king Ptolemy of Mauretania
Ptolemy of Mauretania
Ptolemy of Mauretania was a prince and the last Roman client King of Mauretania.-Family and early life:Ptolemy was the son of King Juba II and Queen Cleopatra Selene II of Mauretania. He had a younger sister called Drusilla of Mauretania...
was murdered by his unstable second cousin Roman Emperor
Roman Emperor
The Roman emperor was the ruler of the Roman State during the imperial period . The Romans had no single term for the office although at any given time, a given title was associated with the emperor...
Caligula
Caligula
Caligula , also known as Gaius, was Roman Emperor from 37 AD to 41 AD. Caligula was a member of the house of rulers conventionally known as the Julio-Claudian dynasty. Caligula's father Germanicus, the nephew and adopted son of Emperor Tiberius, was a very successful general and one of Rome's most...
, while on a visit to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. A former slave of Ptolemy’s Aedemon
Aedemon
Aedemon was a Freedman from the Roman Africa Province who lived in the 1st century. Aedemon was a loyal former household slave to the client King Ptolemy of Mauretania, who was the son of King Juba II and the Ptolemaic Greek Princess Cleopatra Selene II....
, from his outrage and to the loyalty and memory of his former master, wanted to avenge Caligula and started the revolt in the Kingdom of Mauretania
Mauretania
Mauretania is a part of the historical Ancient Libyan land in North Africa. It corresponds to present day Morocco and a part of western Algeria...
against Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. Many people from the kingdom had joined in the revolt. Sabalus became a supporter to Aedemon and was among the chief rebels.
Caligula was murdered on 24 January in the year 41, and his paternal uncle Claudius
Claudius
Claudius , was Roman Emperor from 41 to 54. A member of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, he was the son of Drusus and Antonia Minor. He was born at Lugdunum in Gaul and was the first Roman Emperor to be born outside Italy...
became the new Emperor. In 42, Claudius had appointed the skilled Roman Generals Gaius Suetonius Paulinus
Gaius Suetonius Paulinus
Gaius Suetonius Paulinus, also spelled Paullinus, was a Roman general best known as the commander who defeated the rebellion of Boudica.-Career:...
and Gnaeus Hosidius Geta
Gnaeus Hosidius Geta
Gaius or Gnaeus Hosidius Geta was a Roman Senator and General who lived in the 1st century. Geta was a praetor some time before 42...
to end the revolt. This was a four-year bloody and violent revolt. The revolt erupted instantly. Sabalus and his fellow rebels were hard skilled fighters. The Berbers were able to survive in the harsh Sahara conditions, while the Romans struggled.
Geta and his troops had defeated Sabalus twice after Geta gathered sufficient water to pursue him in the desert. At one point the water had begun to run out. Geta was doubtful whether to retreat or continue to pursue Sabalus, however a local Berber persuaded him to perform a local rain ritual. When Geta had completed the rain ritual, rain began to fall from the heavens. Sabalus had witnessed this, thinking that Geta had possessed supernatural powers. Sabalus and his men surrendered to Geta. Sabalus’ fate afterwards is unknown.
See Also
- AedemonAedemonAedemon was a Freedman from the Roman Africa Province who lived in the 1st century. Aedemon was a loyal former household slave to the client King Ptolemy of Mauretania, who was the son of King Juba II and the Ptolemaic Greek Princess Cleopatra Selene II....
- Gnaeus Hosidius GetaGnaeus Hosidius GetaGaius or Gnaeus Hosidius Geta was a Roman Senator and General who lived in the 1st century. Geta was a praetor some time before 42...
- Gaius Suetonius PaulinusGaius Suetonius PaulinusGaius Suetonius Paulinus, also spelled Paullinus, was a Roman general best known as the commander who defeated the rebellion of Boudica.-Career:...
- Ptolemy of MauretaniaPtolemy of MauretaniaPtolemy of Mauretania was a prince and the last Roman client King of Mauretania.-Family and early life:Ptolemy was the son of King Juba II and Queen Cleopatra Selene II of Mauretania. He had a younger sister called Drusilla of Mauretania...