Massylii

The Massylii or Maesulians (Neo-Punic: 𐤌𐤔𐤋𐤉𐤉𐤌, MŠLYYM^[1]) were a Berber^[2]^[3] federation in eastern Numidia (central and eastern Algeria),^[4] which was formed by an amalgamation of smaller tribes during the 4th century BC.^[5] They were ruled by a king. On their loosely defined western frontier were the powerful Masaesyli. To their east lay the territory of the rich and powerful Carthaginian Republic. Their relationship to Carthage resembled that of a protectorate.^[5] Carthage maintained its dominance over the Massylii by skillful diplomatic manoeuvering, playing off local tribal and kingdom rivalries.^[5] The principal towns of the Massylii were Cirta, Tébessa and Thugga in modern-day Algeria and Tunisia.

^ Berger, Philippe (1888). "INSCRIPTION NÉOPUNIQUE DE CHERCHELL, EN L'HONNEUR DE MICIPSA". Revue d'Assyriologie et d'archéologie orientale. 2 (2): 36–37, 39. ISSN 0373-6032. JSTOR 23275670. According to Micipsa inscription.
^ Jamil M. Abun-Nasr (20 August 1987). A History of the Maghrib in the Islamic Period. Cambridge University Press. p. 15. ISBN 978-1-316-58334-0.
^ Phillip C. Naylor (7 May 2015). Historical Dictionary of Algeria. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. p. 132. ISBN 978-0-8108-7919-5.
^ Jeremy McInerney (2014). A Companion to Ethnicity in the Ancient Mediterranean. John Wiley & Sons. p. 535. ISBN 978-1-118-83438-1.
^ ^a ^b ^c Nigel Bagnall, The Punic Wars, p. 270.

[1] Berger, Philippe (1888). "INSCRIPTION NÉOPUNIQUE DE CHERCHELL, EN L'HONNEUR DE MICIPSA". Revue d'Assyriologie et d'archéologie orientale. 2 (2): 36–37, 39. ISSN 0373-6032. JSTOR 23275670. According to Micipsa inscription.

[Abun-Nasr1987-2] Jamil M. Abun-Nasr (20 August 1987). A History of the Maghrib in the Islamic Period. Cambridge University Press. p. 15. ISBN 978-1-316-58334-0.

[Naylor2015-3] Phillip C. Naylor (7 May 2015). Historical Dictionary of Algeria. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. p. 132. ISBN 978-0-8108-7919-5.

[Jeremy_McInerney-4] Jeremy McInerney (2014). A Companion to Ethnicity in the Ancient Mediterranean. John Wiley & Sons. p. 535. ISBN 978-1-118-83438-1.

[bagnall1-5] Nigel Bagnall, The Punic Wars, p. 270.

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