Vermina
Encyclopedia
Vermina was the son of Syphax
, king of Masaesyli
ans, the people of western Numidia
. He is mentioned for the first time, 204 BC, as successor to his father at the war against Massinissa, king of Massyles.
In 203 BC at the Battle of the Great Plains
, the armies of Massinissa and Rome
defeated the coalition of Syphax
and Carthage
. After the defeat and capture of his father, Vermina continued to be loyal to the Carthaginians. He joined Hannibal shortly after his arrival in Africa
, but did not participate directly in the Battle of Zama
of 202 BC. He arrived after the battle at the head of a large army, but he was attacked and defeated by the Romans, suffering heavy losses.
Nearly fifteen thousand of his men were massacred and about twelve thousand were taken prisoner. Vermina successfully escaped with some of his horsemen. In 200 BC, he sent an ambassador to Rome
asking for peace. The Senate sent commissioners to establish conditions and conclude the peace
.
Vermina territories, corresponding to the west of Numidia, fell under the control of Massinissa; Numidia was then unified. Vermina was the last massaesylan king.
Syphax
Syphax was a king of the ancient Algerian tribe Masaesyli of western Numidia during the last quarter of the 3rd century BC. His story is told in Livy's Ab Urbe Condita .-Biography:...
, king of Masaesyli
Masaesyli
The Masaesyli were a North African tribe of western Numidia and the main antagonists of the Massylii in eastern Numidia.During the Second Punic War the Masaesyli initially supported the Roman Republic and were led by Syphax against the Massyllii, who were led by Massinissa...
ans, the people of western Numidia
Numidia
Numidia was an ancient Berber kingdom in part of present-day Eastern Algeria and Western Tunisia in North Africa. It is known today as the Chawi-land, the land of the Chawi people , the direct descendants of the historical Numidians or the Massyles The kingdom began as a sovereign state and later...
. He is mentioned for the first time, 204 BC, as successor to his father at the war against Massinissa, king of Massyles.
In 203 BC at the Battle of the Great Plains
Battle of the Great Plains
The Battle of the Great plains was a battle fought between Scipio Africanus of Rome and a combined Carthaginian and Numidian army late in the Second Punic War, designed as diversionary tactic by Rome to disrupt Hannibal's attack on Italy...
, the armies of Massinissa and Rome
Roman Republic
The Roman Republic was the period of the ancient Roman civilization where the government operated as a republic. It began with the overthrow of the Roman monarchy, traditionally dated around 508 BC, and its replacement by a government headed by two consuls, elected annually by the citizens and...
defeated the coalition of Syphax
Syphax
Syphax was a king of the ancient Algerian tribe Masaesyli of western Numidia during the last quarter of the 3rd century BC. His story is told in Livy's Ab Urbe Condita .-Biography:...
and Carthage
Carthage
Carthage , implying it was a 'new Tyre') is a major urban centre that has existed for nearly 3,000 years on the Gulf of Tunis, developing from a Phoenician colony of the 1st millennium BC...
. After the defeat and capture of his father, Vermina continued to be loyal to the Carthaginians. He joined Hannibal shortly after his arrival in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, but did not participate directly in the Battle of Zama
Battle of Zama
The Battle of Zama, fought around October 19, 202 BC, marked the final and decisive end of the Second Punic War. A Roman army led by Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus defeated a Carthaginian force led by the legendary commander Hannibal...
of 202 BC. He arrived after the battle at the head of a large army, but he was attacked and defeated by the Romans, suffering heavy losses.
Nearly fifteen thousand of his men were massacred and about twelve thousand were taken prisoner. Vermina successfully escaped with some of his horsemen. In 200 BC, he sent an ambassador 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...
asking for peace. The Senate sent commissioners to establish conditions and conclude the peace
Peace
Peace is a state of harmony characterized by the lack of violent conflict. Commonly understood as the absence of hostility, peace also suggests the existence of healthy or newly healed interpersonal or international relationships, prosperity in matters of social or economic welfare, the...
.
Vermina territories, corresponding to the west of Numidia, fell under the control of Massinissa; Numidia was then unified. Vermina was the last massaesylan king.