203 BC
Syphax and Sophonisba
Hasdrubal flees to Carthage, where he is removed from command. Laelius and Masinissa pursue Syphax to his capital, Cirta, defeat him again outside the city and capture him. Cirta surrenders to Masinissa, who takes over Syphax’s kingdom.
A coin with the head of Masinissa, king of the Numidians, Archaeological Museum of SétifWikimedia Commons, Carole Raddato, CC BY-SA 2.0 (Coin depicting Masinissa, the first king of Numidia, who reigned from 202 BCE-148 BC, Archaeological Museum of Setif, Algeria (52651623101).jpg)
Masinissa marries Sophonisba. Livy writes that when Scipio demands her surrender as the wife of an enemy king, Masinissa sends her poison and she drinks it. Scipio moves his army to Tunis, in sight of Carthage. Carthage opens peace talks and recalls Hannibal and Mago from Italy.
Sophonisba receiving the poisoned cup, painting by Simon Vouet, about 1623Wikimedia Commons, Simon Vouet, Public domain (Simon Vouet - Sophonisba Receiving the Poisoned Chalice - WGA25358.jpg)
Sources
- Polybius, Histories, book 14, 9 to 10.
- Livy, History of Rome, book 30, 9 to 16.
- Adrian Goldsworthy, The Fall of Carthage (2006).
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