Masinissa (or Massinissa) (c. 238–148 BC)

King of the Massyli, the easternmost tribe of ancient Numidia, North Africa. On the outbreak of the second Punic War 218 BC, he supported Carthage, but later transferred his allegiance to Rome. He resisted attacks by the Carthaginians and his neighbour, the Numidian chief Syphax, until the arrival in Africa of the Roman general Scipio Africanus 204, and he commanded part of the Roman cavalry when Hannibal was defeated at Zama (now in Algeria) 202 BC.

After the war, Masinissa received most of Syphax's territory and except for a dispute with Carthage, which led to the third Punic War, he spent the rest of his life in peace, dying at the age of 90.