Siege of Cirta

Numidia was a kingdom located in North Africa (roughly corresponding to northern modern day Algeria) adjacent to what had been Rome's arch enemy, Carthage.

King Masinissa, who was a steadfast ally of Rome in the Third Punic War, died in 149, and was succeeded by his son Micipsa, who ruled from 149 to 118 BC.

[3] Rome dispatched a commission, led by the ex-Consul Lucius Opimius, to deal with the matter, but the senators who comprised it were bribed by Jugurtha into acquitting him of his crime, and equally dividing the disputed kingdom between him and Adherbal.

The Senate failed to make any effectual response, and in 113 Jugurtha finally decided to invade his cousin's kingdom in force.

[5] The Senate sent a more senior deputation headed by Marcus Scaurus, one of the most prestigious and influential Roman politicians, to threaten Jugurtha into submission.

[6] After a furious but unsuccessful attempt to carry the walls of Cirta before this group's arrival, Jugurtha went to receive the deputation at Utica.

[7] A lengthy but inconclusive negotiation ensued, in which Jugurtha went to great lengths to protract the discussions by vague protestations, without actually making any concessions.

Adherbal was put to death by slow torture, and every man who had joined in the city's defense, Roman or African, was executed.