THE GOLD OF JUGURTHA
Jugurtha was king, King of Numidia. It is true that he had stolen
his kingdom, or at least the greater part of it, from his two young
cousins, the grandsons of Masinissa, yet he was safely seated on the
throne.
One of the princes Jugurtha had murdered, the other had escaped to Rome
and claimed her help.
But Jugurtha was rich, and he knew that at Rome gold could purchase
what he wished. So now he sent large sums of money to some of the
senators, and these could not resist the wealth that was offered to
them.
In this way justice went awry, to the bewilderment of Adherbal the
prince, for the senators who were bribed, voted that Jugurtha should
keep the wealthiest and strongest part of Numidia, while Adherbal might
claim what was left.
But even this was not enough to satisfy the ambition of the king. He
now wished to wrest from the prince even the small dominion that had
been allotted to him.
Again and again Adherbal appealed to Rome, but her hands were filled
with the gold of the tyrant, and she would do nothing to help his
victim.
At length Jugurtha besieged his cousin in his capital town of Cirta.
The prince was not strong enough to defy his enemy, and there was no
choice but to surrender, and this Adherbal did, on condition that his
life and that of the inhabitants should be spared.
But it was vain to trust Jugurtha. He cared little for the promise he
had given, and no sooner had the prince left the city than his cousin
ordered that he should be put to death, while the inhabitants, Italians
as well as Numidians, were also slain.
The treachery of Jugurtha was known in Rome, but it was ignored. How
could it be otherwise when those who should have rebuked and punished
him were spending his money.
But among the tribunes there was one man whose hands were clean, and
he, in the Assembly of the people, denounced the nobles for taking
bribes and allowing Jugurtha to go on his treacherous way unchecked.
So earnest were the words of Memmius that the people were roused, and
the Senate dared no longer refuse to call the tyrant to account. War
was therefore declared against the King of Numidia in 112 B.C.
But it was useless to send an army to Africa unless the officers were
honourable men.
Bestia, the Consul, when he reached the enemy’s country, did at first
attack and capture several towns, as well as take many of Jugurtha’s
men prisoners.
Then, all at once, the activities of the Consul came to an end. He
fought no more against the enemy. For Bestia had been offered the gold
of Jugurtha and had accepted it, and the tyrant was again left to use
his power as he chose.
At home, however, Memmius did not scruple to expose the conduct of
Bestia, and to denounce it as unworthy of a Roman. His persistence won
the day.
In 110 B.C. Jugurtha was brought to Rome under a safe conduct, that he
might give evidence against those who had accepted his gold.
But even now the king still found some willing to handle his money, and
justice was delayed, if it was not altogether turned aside.
One of the Consuls meanwhile wished to depose Jugurtha and make a young
prince King of Numidia.
When Jugurtha heard this he did not hesitate to order his slave to go
at once to put his rival to death.
Such a deed was more than Rome could tolerate, and Jugurtha found it
necessary to escape from the city.
The Senate saw that the war in Africa must be carried on. But to do so
with any hope of success it was necessary to find a general who would
scorn to take a bribe.
In the summer of 109 B.C. such a man was found in the Consul Metellus,
who was now sent to Numidia as commander of the army. With him, as his
lieutenant or legate, he took Gaius Marius, of whose boyhood I must
tell you.