Zama Regia
Zama Regia was an important historical city located in present-day Tunisia, notable for its role during the Second Punic War and its status within the Numidian kingdom. The exact site of Zama Regia remains uncertain, with various proposed locations including Sebaa Biar and Sidi Abd-el-Djedidi. The city is famously linked to the decisive Battle of Zama in 202 BC, where Scipio Africanus defeated Hannibal's forces, marking a turning point in the war. Throughout its history, Zama Regia served as a royal residence and maintained significance even after the Roman annexation of Carthage in 146 BC. The city remained prominent under Numidian rule, notably resisting Roman attacks and supporting Julius Caesar during his civil war against Pompey. Zama Regia eventually transitioned into a Roman municipium and possibly gained the title of Julia under Emperor Octavian. Later, it was mentioned in inscriptions related to its development as a veteran colony under Emperor Hadrian. Despite its decline, Zama Regia's historical significance continues to be a subject of interest for scholars and enthusiasts alike.
Subject Terms
Zama Regia
A city in north Africa (Tunisia)
Its site is still undetermined; Polybius places it five days' journey from Carthage, and Sallust described it as a citadel on flat ground protected by artificial defences. It has been suggested that there were two or even four different Zamas, including a `Major’ and `Minor’ city, of which the former may or may not be the same as the Zama known as `Regia’ (royal). Sites proposed for the locations of one or another of these towns include Sidi Abd-el-Djedidi (or Sidi Amor Djedid) northwest of Kairouan—which is now, however, considered too remote for the more important settlement—Jama (which does not suit Sallust's description), and, more plausibly, Sebaa Biar, not far from the road leading northeast to Carthage.
The final engagement of the Second Punic War (202 BC), in which the army of Hannibal (back from Italy) was destroyed by Scipio Africanus, is known as the battle of Zama. But the location of this battle, too, is uncertain; though there is much to be said for its attribution to the plain of Draa-el-Metnan, about halfway between Sebaa Biar and the place described by Livy as Naraggara (Margaron in Polybius).
While the Numidian kingdom was independent, Zama Regia was one of its royal residences, and after Rome's annexation of Carthage (146) it was left outside the new province of Africa and remained one of the principal cities of the Numidian princes. Loyal to Jugurtha in his war against the Romans, it successfully resisted an attack by Quintus Caecilius Metellus, later known as Numidicus (109). During the civil war between Julius Caesar and the Pompeians, the Zamans supported Caesar after his victory at Thapsus and closed their gates to King Juba I of Numidia (46). Numidia was now converted into the province of Africa Nova, of which Zama Regia became the capital and Sallust the first governor.
According to Strabo, either this Zama or another was `cast into ruins’ by the Romans. It appears possible, however, that Zama Regia was made a Roman municipium by Octavian (the future Augustus) with the title of Julia—presumably before Numidia was temporarily allotted to Juba II (30–25 BC)—although the two coins that might seem to justify this supposition only survive in very few and very poorly preserved specimens. An inscription describing Zama `Major’ (or `Minor,’ the text is defective) as a Colonia Augusta may refer to Zama Regia and indicate that the place was elevated to colonial rank by Augustus after its incorporation in the province of Africa in 25. At all events, another inscription shows that a veteran colony was established or reestablished by Hadrian (AD 117–38), under the title of Colonia Aelia Hadriana Augusta.