Juba I and the Quest for National Sovereignty During the Roman Factional Conflict

This study explores the historical and military significance of King Juba I of Numidia (85-46 BCE) during the Roman civil war between Julius Caesar and Pompey.Moving beyond traditional Roman-centric narratives, the paper repositions Juba I not as a mere regional ally of the Pompeians but as a sovereign African ruler pursuing national independence.Drawing on classical and modern sources, the research examines Juba I's military strategies, political ambitions, and alliance choices in the context of Rome's expanding colonial interests in North Africa.His calculated resistance-particularly through his role in the Curio campaign and the Battle of Thapsus-demonstrates a nationalist effort to preserve Numidian autonomy and reunite the kingdom envisioned by his grandfather, Masinissa.The paper concludes that Juba I's involvement in the Roman civil war was not submission to Roman factions but a strategic attempt to reclaim Numidian sovereignty in the face of imperial encroachment.