Numidian (215 BC-25 AD) (DBA 53)
Moorish (25AD-700AD) (DBA 65)

By Stephen Montague and Tony De Lyall

• Introduction
• Numidian history
• Moorish history
• Numidian Enemies
• Moorish Enemies
• Numidian Army Composition
• Moorish Army Composition
• Numidian Variant Lists
• Tactics
• DBA Camp Suggestions
• Painting guide
• Possible Use in Other Armies
• Historical Resources
• DBx Related Resources

To Juba's standard: Moors of swarthy hue
As though from Ind; Numidian nomads there
And Nasamon's needy hordes; and those whose darts
Equal the flying arrows of the Mede:
Dark Garamantians leave their fervid home;
And those whose coursers unrestrained by bit
Or saddle, yet obey the rider's hand
Which wields the guiding switch.
--- Lucan, The Civil War

Here are two armies, with a large number of interchangeable figures, that allows you to fight the Roman Empire from inception to its fall  and a few others as well. These are the armies of the peoples of that part of north west Africa that abuts the Mediterranean. The lands were known to the Romans as Numidia and Mauretania, and the peoples as the Numidians, Gaetulians and Moors (Mauri).

Numidia suffers from being one of history's extra's, only being noticed when they are dragged into the spotlight by the star. This explains why they are ignored until the second Punic war by most reference works. The following is therefore a brief and biased history of Numidia and Mauretania from 215 BC to 700 AD. 1000 years in 100 seconds.

Numidia at the start of the Second Punic War (219-202 BC) was part of the Carthaginian empire. The Romans tried to persuade them to change sides including sending a mission to train their infantry in 213 BC. They failed initially but in 206 BC the king of east Numidia Masinissa became an ally of Rome. Syphax king of eastern Numidia stayed allied to Carthage. When the Second Punic war came to an end the Romans rewarded their ally by making him king of all Numidia. Later expansion by Numidia gave the Romans the excuse they needed to start the third Punic war (149-146 BC).

During the power struggle over who would rule Numidia in 118 BC some Italians were murdered. This lead to Rome declaring war upon the winner of the struggle Jugurtha. This lasted until 111 BC when peace was made, however while visiting Rome to explain his actions Jugurtha had a rival murdered and this caused the war to resume. The war lasted until 105 BC after Jugurtha had been betrayed by his father-in-law and handed over to the Romans.

During the Roman civil wars of the first century BC the King Juba I sided with Pompey. Since he had backed the loosing side Numidia lost its independence and became a Roman province in 46 BC. Caesar did have some support in Numidia from Bogud, and from King Bocchus of Mauretania who received the western part of Numidia as a reward.

At the death of King Bocchis in 33 BC Mauretania was bequeathed to Rome. Augustus set up Juba II, the son of the last Numidian king, as the client ruler in 25 BC. (Trivia: Juba II married Cleopatra Selene the daughter of Mark Anthony and Cleopatra.)

Around this time the Third Augustan Legion moved to North Africa which it permanently garrisoned for the next three hundred years. The less important Mauretania was defended by 13,000 auxiliaries. A frontier of 1500 miles from the Atlantic to the Libyan desert was held by some 30,000 troops.

Constant frontier and internal revolts continued until 6 AD. The period 17 AD - 24 AD saw the revolt of Tacfarinas in Numidia. Fighting flared up again in AD 23 when Juba I died and Mauretania did not take to the rule of his son Ptolemy. The Moors united in rebellion with Tacfarinas's Musulammii tribe. The rebellion ended with Tacfarinas's defeat and death during a surprise dawn attack on his camp at Auzea (Aumale) by Publius Dolabella.
In 40 AD Ptolemy was murdered on orders of the emperor Caligula (his cousin). He left no heir and Mauretania was annexed to the Roman Empire as the two provinces - Mauretania Caesariensis and Mauretania Tingitana. A rebellion lead by Aedemon a freedman loyal to Ptolemy followed which took four years to put down.

During the next two hundred years there was peace except for raids from the desert. Carthage become the 2nd largest city in the western Mediterranean after Rome with a population of perhaps 250,000 people. The Third century saw the mass conversion of the peoples of North Africa, especially the poor, to Christianity. Numidia and Mauretania become the strongholds of the Donatist schism from 312 AD.

In 372 the depredations of the Roman administrator Count Romanus leaded to a rebellion of the Jubaleni tribe (perhaps descendants of King Juba) under Firmus. Firmus received support from the Donatist peasantry and was declared king. The revolt failed although one of his brothers held Caesarea for four years until defeated by Count Theodosius. In 397 another revolt of the Jubaleni broke out under Firmus's brother Gildo supported by the Donatist again. Gildo was declared an enemy of the state and was defeated by his own brother at Theveste (Tebessa). The Donatist now discredited, were assailed by St Augustine bishop of Hippo, and Donatism declared a heresy in 405 AD

In AD 429 Africa was invaded by the Vandals under Gaiseric. In AD 439 he took Carthage and with it control of the North African provinces. In a sea borne raid in AD 455 Gaiseric with an army of Vandals and Moors looted Rome. Booty included the seven branch candle stick of the Jews bought to Rome after the sack of Jerusalem by Titus and the bronze tiles from the temple of Jupiter on the Capitol. After Gaiseric's death the Vandals lost control of Mauretania Caesarionsis. Subsequently the Vandals fought incursions of horse riding Moors in Numidia and Mauretania and camel borne nomads from the south leading to a gradual shrinking of the area under Vandal control and its surrounding by semi-independent Moorish tribal principalities. Procopius records how Vandal army under Thrasamund was defeated by a desert tribe who stood behind a barricade of their camels which the Vandal horse would not approach and showered the Vandals with javelins.

In AD 533 the Eastern Roman Empire on orders of the Emperor Justinian was able to reconquer the African province around Carthage (Africa Proconsularis) when a small Byzantine army under Count Belisarrius defeated the last Vandal king Gelimer. Belisarrius's successor Solomon then moved into Numidia to bring the tribes there under control. Most of Mauretania, except the coastal towns, remained independent and tribal. In AD 543 Solomon was killed in battle near Theveste (Tebessa) during a tribal insurrection. The AD 546-8 period saw the Byzantine Commes Africae, John Troglita, subdue the province which remained at peace for the next 15 years. In AD 563 the new governor murdered the main tribal ally of the Byzantines, Cutzinas, resulting in more warfare until the end of the century. During this period at least three Byzantine generals met their death in battle against Moorish king Garmul who was defeated and killed in AD 579 by Gennadius. Little is known of Africa in the late Sixth and early Seventh century but the area was sufficiently prosperous and peaceful that the Byzantine Emperor Heraclius considered moving the capital of the empire to Carthage.

North Africa was conquered by the Islamic Arabs in the Seventh century. Caliph Othman authorized the governor of Egypt Abdallah ibn Saad to invade the area in AD 647. The Arabs defeated and killed the Byzantine exarch Gregory and his Moorish allies outside his capital at Sufetula (Sbeitla). The Arabs, unable to conduct sieges and bribed, returned to Egypt. The Arabs returned in AD 669 under Okba supposedly with a force of just 10 thousand cavalry. They conquered around the Gulf of Syrte and build a fortress at Kairouan as a base of operations. During this time many of the tribes converted to Islam.

Meanwhile a strong Moorish kingdom arose in Mauretania under Koseila. Okba was severely mauled in a series of battles near Bagai, Lambaesis (Lambese) and Tiaret by the Moors as he pushed to the Atlantic in AD 683. On the way back he and his army was destroyed by Koseila supported by Byzantine reinforcements near Thabudoes (Thouda). Kairouan was abandoned. The Moorish alliance fell apart when Koseila died.

The next invasion occurred under Hassan in AD 695 who with 40 thousand men captured Carthage. Opposition came from "The Kahena" Queen of the Aures in Numidia. The Byzantines recaptured Cathage in AD 697 and lost it again to Hassan in AD 698 along with province. Kahena called upon the tribes to fight to the death from her stronghold in the Aures mountains but her insistence on a scorched earth policy lost her support and many defected to Hassan. Somewhere between the Aures and the Gulf of Syrte in AD 700 a long and bloody battle was fought where she was defeated and lost her life. Legend had it that the Roman amphitheatre at Thysdrus (El Djem) was her last citadel. So ended Romanised Africa. Some small communities of Christianity and Latin speaking survived until the 12th Century.

Later Carthaginian (36), Polybian Roman (46b), Numidians (53), Marian Roman (59), Early Imperial Roman (64).

I would also like to suggest Later Libyan (14b). The only reason for this is they were neighbours.

Early Imperial Roman (64), Middle Imperial Roman (69), Late-Roman (West) (77a), African Vandal (84), Early Byzantine (86).

To this I would add Moorish (65) to cover internecine strife, Arab Conquest (96) and maybe Maurikian Byzantine (91).

(53a) Early Punic wars and before, up to 213 BC

• 8x2LH
• 4x2Ps

(53b) Syphax army 213-203 BC also Masinissa 206-202 BC

• 6x2LH
• 4x2Ps
• 2x4Aux (Roman trained Infantry)

(53c) Jugurtha 118-105 BC

• 2x2LH
• 1x2LH or 1x2LH (Thracian deserters)
• 4x2Ps
• 2x4Aux (Gaetuli)
• 1x2LH or 1x3Aux (Ligurian deserters)
• 1x2LH or 1x4Bd (Roman deserters)
• 1x2LH or El

(53d) Juba 55-46 BC

• 4x2LH
• 4x2Ps
• 1x3Cv (Spanish/Gaul)
• 1xEl
• 2x4Bd (Imitation legionaries)

(53e) Bogud 47 BC

• 5x2LH
• 4x2Ps
• 2x4Bd (imitation legionaries)
• 1x2LH or 1x3Aux (Spanish foot)

(53f) Tacfarinas

• 6x2LH
• 4x2Ps
• 2x4Bd (imitation legionaries)

Notes on Army Lists and Variants

After 213 BC there was usually less cavalry than infantry so I would suggest being allowed to replace up to two Light Horse elements with Psiloi after that date if the player wishes.

One Psiloi element can be slingers or archers.

Elephants: "He [Juba] himself followed on more slowly with the rest of his forces and sixty elephants." -- Caesar, The Civil War (describing Curio's annihilation by Juba's Numidians). Elephants were not used until the second century BC so are not allowed before that. The elephants are the African forest elephant species which were smaller than Indian Elephants used in the East and stood 7-8 feet (2.15m - 2.45m) tall at the shoulder.

Spanish/Gallic Cavalry: "When Juba was informed by Saburra of the battle during the night he sent him as reinforcements two thousand Spanish and Gallic cavalry, whom he was accustomed to keep by him as a personal bodyguard together with the most reliable part of the infantry" -- Caesar, The Civil War (describing Curio's annihilation by Juba's Numidians). The Spanish/Gallic cavalry in Juba's army represent his bodyguard. They are therefore the general's element. I would suggest you represent this element by having a Numidian prince figure flanked by Gallic and/or Spanish cavalry figures. Similarly the Cavalry element in the Moorish army represents the bodyguard and therefore should be the general's element.

Jugurtha's list is based upon the DBM list and is obviously very different to the standard DBA list so consult your opponent before you use it.

Immitation Legionaries: "In this same year a war broke out in Africa, where the enemy was led by Tacfarinas. A Numidian by birth, he had served as an auxiliary in the Roman camp, then becoming a deserter, he at first gathered round him a roving band familiar with robbery, for plunder and for rapine. After a while, he marshalled them like regular soldiers, under standards and in troops. The army was so divided that Tacfarinas kept the picked men who were armed in Roman fashion within a camp, and familiarized them with a commander's authority, while Mazippa, with light troops, spread around him fire, slaughter, and consternation." --- Tacitus, Annuals, Book 2. At various times Numidian/Moorish armies had Roman like troops, either because they were trained by Romans such as by the Roman mission to the Numidians in 213 BC sent by Scipio Africanus and headed by the centurion Quintus Statorious, or because they deliberately adopted Roman practice as did Tacfarinas. These troops are treated Auxilia or Blade depending amour and training.

"For it was remarkable to what extent the enemy light infantry had occasioned worry and anxiety among our men [Caesar's Romans]. Their constant javelin fire caused casualties among the horses and kept the cavalry from engaging while their speediness wore out the legionaries; for as soon as any of the heavy infantry, under pursuit, halted and attacked them, they easily ran out of danger. Consequently, Caesar was seriously worried; for whenever there was an engagement he found himself totally unable to match the enemy cavalry and light infantry with his own cavalry unsupported by legionaries.... And yet another source of anxiety was the persistent feeling of panic engendered in his men by the size and numbers of the elephants" -- Pseudo-Caesar, The African War.

Float like a butterfly, sting like a Bee. OK so it's more of a case of float like a butterfly, sting like a butterfly. Yes this is a very mobile army but one that lacks punch. If your preferred tactics are a screaming charge or to sit and let your opponent come to you, then this is not the army for you. If you prefer lots of manoeuvring whilst waiting to make the decisive move then this is the army for you.

Classic tactics for this army are to send your infantry forward to keep the enemies infantry occupied whilst your Light Horse hover about the flanks. These wait to make a dash for the enemy camp or to try and sandwich enemy elements that are being engaged from their front. As has been noted by others Light Horse hovering about the flanks can have a psychological impact on your opponent out of all proportion to the actual threat.

The classic response to these tactics would be to put lots of bad terrain down to hamper the Light Horse. It could also be used to anchor one end of your line to stop you being out flanked. Against Numidians this would not be such a good idea. The Psiloi and Auxilia are right at home in bad terrain and even the blades are pretty good in bad terrain. Meanwhile the Light Horse are be fast enough to get around the obstacles in time to support the infantry (assuming you don't keep rolling one on your pip dice). If your opponent tries to anchor his flanks try reversing the usual tactics and pin him down with Light Horse while the infantry go for a flank.

Of the historical opponents the above tactics should work well against Polybian and Marian Romans. Against Early and Middle Imperial they will be less successful as their Auxilia can be used to counter your infantry and a sensible Roman will take all the cavalry he can get. Against Carthaginians you will have problems. The reason for this is they have a good amount of cavalry and apart from the Gauls good infantry. They should therefore be able to hold off your infantry and parry any out flanking manoeuvres with their cavalry. If you decide to take on the Libyans my advice would be to take as much cavalry as you can and charge straight at them.

The historical strategy the Romans used is the typical response of a heavy regular army fighting a campaign against a light irregular enemy: use similarly armed allies to do the dirty work, destroy the enemy food sources, contain the enemy's ability to move with outposts and forts, and attempt to catch them in a position from which they can't retreat. So as Tacitus records: "Dolabella. then fortified suitable positions, and at the same time beheaded some chiefs of the Musulamii, who were on the verge of rebellion. Next, as several expeditions against Tacfarinas had proved the uselessness of following up the enemy's desultory movements with the attack of heavy troops from a single point, he summoned to his aid King Ptolemaeus [of the Moors] and his people, and equipped four columns, under the command of his lieutenants and tribunes. Marauding parties were also led by picked Moors, Dolabella in person directing every operation." Annuals, Book 4.

The Numidians and Moors were mainly pastoralists in the Punic period. Initially under the Numidian kings and to a much greater degree under the Roman empire the North African provinces were given over to extensive grain production. The area became a granary for Rome and later for the Byzantines. Many of the nomads become peasants. Nomadism (sheep, horses, mules) continued on the frontiers and wilder areas. This gives a choice of possible camps. A Numidian/Moorish camp could be represented by pack animals - horses and mules and, from the late 5th Century, camels. (Camels were rare in North Africa before then.) Alternatively the camp could be a small hamlet of mid-walled huts (gourbis) or of less permanent straw huts (mappalia).

In the painting guide to the Carthaginian army, Jonathan Lim says describes the Numidian cavalry thus, "They wore brown clothes, had brown hair and brown ponies....even their shields were covered in brown cow hide, Very boring to look at". The only thing I have to add to that is that the clothes were unbleached wool so would be a variety of off white colours ranging from grey to brown.

The above description applies to the Light Horse and Psiloi. Armies of the Macedonian and Punic wars has a figure that may be a Roman trained Auxilia; he would have looked similar to the above types but may have had a helmet and carried an oval thureos. Whether the thureos would be brown like the normal shield or coloured I don't know but Roman or Carthaginian styles of shield decoration may not be unreasonable.

Numidian/Moorish horses were ridden bareback ridden either without bridles or with very primitive bridles. The rider held a rope passed around the horse's neck and guided it by tapping with a small stick.

What the imitation legionaries look like is not clear. Given that they could be Roman deserters or trained in Roman fighting, depending on the period, using late republican or early imperial Roman legionaries to represent the Blades would seem reasonable.

Finally we come to the general. Armies of the Macedonian and Punic wars has an illustration of a Numidian prince. He wears a long robe and a cloak has his hair tied back by a diadem and carries a sword and shield. The diadem is a symbol of kingship, which looks like a strip of white cloth tied around the head. The cloak could be red or purple, which suggests allegiance to Rome. The colour of the robe isn't mentioned, however since it is the upper class version of commoners clothing, it would be bleached wool and therefore white. It would also be reasonable to use a Roman or Carthaginian general figure to command your army but remember to make the skin colour darker.

Possible Use in Other Armies

Numidians and Moors fought in other people's armies. So there is a chance to recycle your Numidians/Moors and save on some extra painting. Here are the Numidian contingents:

• Later Carthaginian -- 2x 2Lh, 1x 2Ps, 1x EL (at a pinch).

• Polybian Roman -- 1x 2Lh (The Polybian DBA list does not have a LH element but Numidians were used in small numbers and are included in the DBM army list).

• Marian Roman -- 1x 2Lh, 2x 2Ps (The Marian DBA list does not have a LH element but it is appropriate to include such along with Numidian Ps if you representing the Roman Civil War armies in Africa.)

• Early Imperial Roman -- 1x 2Lh

• Middle Imperial Roman -- 1x 2Lh

• African Vandal -- 1x 2Lh, 3x 2Ps

• Early Byzantine -- 1x 2Lh, 1x 2Ps

• Polybius' Histories and Livy's War with Hannibal cover the Second Punic War.

• The Roman historian Sallust's book, The Cataline Conspiracy and the Jugurthine War, records Rome's war with Jugurtha.

• Julius Caesar's The African Wars include descriptions of his campaigns in Numidia against Juba.

• Tacitus' Annuals covers the various Roman campaigns against Tacfarinas.

• Procopius' History of the Wars: The Vandalic War covers the Byzantine period. See his The Secret History for the behind the scenes sex and gossip.

• Barker, Phil. and Scott, Richard Bodley. DBM Army Lists, Book 2 & Book 3

• Barker, Phil. The Armies and Enemies of Imperial Rome, WRG

• Head, Duncan. Armies of the Macedonian and Punic Wars, WRG.

• Osprey men-at-arms, No121 Armies of the Carthaginian Wars 265-146 BC. This has a small section on Numidians, a nice picture and a useful map.

• Raven, Susan. Rome in Africa, Evans Brothers, 1969.

• Warry, John. Warfare in the Classical World, Lansdowne Press, 1980.

• Frederic Bey's The Revolt of Tacfarinas (Great Battles of History scenario originally published in Vae Victis #6, translated by David Townsend).

• Tony De Lyall's Numidian and Moorish Conversions using 20mm plastics.

• Ian Pain's Ancient Numidian Army Notes for DBM.

• Richard Bodley Scott on Wargaming With Numidians.

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Last Updated: Sept. 22, 1999

My thanks to Stephen Montague and Tony De Lyall for contributing this detailed essay. Comments, questions or suggested additions to this page can be sent to Chris Brantley, brant@erols.com.