Naravas ( Old Libyan: ''Nrbs(h)''; , ) was a 3rd Century BCE

Numidia Numidia was the ancient kingdom of the Numidians in northwest Africa, initially comprising the territory that now makes up Algeria, but later expanding across what is today known as Tunisia and Libya. The polity was originally divided between ...

n chief who fought in the

Mercenary War The Mercenary War, also known as the Truceless War, was a mutiny by troops that were employed by Ancient Carthage, Carthage at the end of the First Punic War (264241 BC), supported by uprisings of African settlements revolting against C ...

, he first joined the rebels, but changed sides in 239 BCE.

Alliance with Hamilcar Barca

During the Mercenary War, Naravas had joined the army of

Spendius Spendius (died late 238BC) was a former Roman slave who led a rebel army against Carthage, in what is known as the Mercenary War. He escaped or was rescued from slavery in Campania and was recruited into the Carthaginian Army during the Firs ...

. During a critical time, he switched his allegiance to

Hamilcar Barca Hamilcar Barca or Barcas (; – 228BC) was a Ancient Carthage, Carthaginian general and statesman, leader of the Barcid family, and father of Hannibal, Hasdrubal Barca, Hasdrubal and Mago Barca, Mago. He was also father-in-law to Hasdrubal the F ...

of Carthage. In 239 BC, he arrived at Hamilcar's camp with 2,000 horsemen. This probably saved the Carthaginian army from destruction. His troops pushed back the mercenaries of Mathos, the Libyan chief, at the Battle of the Bagradas River (239 BC), Battle of Bagradas River. After the battle, he took possession of the town of Utica, Tunisia, Utica.

Family

Naravas married the third daughter of

, the sister of Hannibal. Her name is unknown, but Gustave Flaubert gave her the name Salammbo in his novel of that name.

References

External links

*
Cannae: the Experience of Battle in the Second Punic War.
3rd-century BC Berber people Ancient mercenaries Numidia Place of birth unknown Year of birth missing Mercenary War {{berber-stub