Syphax Syphax was a king of the ancient Algerian tribe Masaesyli of western Numidia during the last quarter of the 3rd century BC . His story is told in Livy ' s " Ab Urbe Condita " ( written " ca . " 27 - 25 BC ) . Biography . When in 218 BC , war broke out between Carthage and Rome , Syphax was initially sympathetic to the Romans and in 213 BC , he concluded an alliance with the Romans and they sent military advisers to help Syphax train his troops . He then attacked the eastern Numidians , the Massylians , ruled by king Gala ; at that time allied to the Carthaginians . When Gala died in 206 BC , his sons Massinissa and Oezalces quarreled about the inheritance , and Syphax was able to conquer considerable parts of the eastern Numidian kingdom . After the Roman general Publius Cornelius Scipio ( Scipio Africanus ) met with victory in the Battle of Ilipa ( 206 BC ) , he sent his friend Gaius Laelius to visit Syphax to ratify the treaty with Rome . Syphax however , refused to ratify any treaty except with Scipio , so Scipio sailed with two quinquereme s to meet with Syphax , taking a considerable risk in doing so . In fact he arrived at the Numidian harbor , at exactly the same time as Hasdrubal ( who had fled from Spain ) anchored there on his way back to Carthage . However , Scipio ' s ship managed to make harbor before Hasdrubal ' s seven triremes could make out to intercept them , and in a neutral harbor , Hasdrubal dared not act against the Romans . Syphax invited both to dinner , where both Syphax and Hasdrubal were taken in by Scipio ' s charm . Meanwhile , Massinissa had concluded that Rome was winning the war against Carthage and therefore decided to switch sides . Having lost the alliance with Massinissa , Hasdrubal started to look for another ally , which he found in Syphax , sealing the alliance by offering his daughter Sophonisba in marriage , although until 206 BC she had been betrothed to Massinissa . With the reversal of alliances it looked like Carthage and Syphax were in a strong position in Africa , certainly during the early stages of Scipio ' s campaign in North Africa , the joined forces of Syphax and Hasdrubal Gisco were able to force Scipio to abandon the siege of Utica . However , in the Battle of Bagbrades ( 203 BC ) , Scipio overcame Hasdrubal and Syphax and while the Roman general concentrated on Carthage , Laelius and Massinissa followed Syphax to Cirta . During the pursuit , Syphax was threatened with desertion by his army when Laelius and Massinissa ' s army approached the Numidian battle line . In a brave attempt to rally his troops , Syphax rode alone , straight towards the Roman cavalry , but in this desperate attempt his badly wounded horse threw him off . Syphax was pounced upon immediately by Roman soldiers and taken to the ecstatic Massinissa . Syphax ' s troops retreated to the capital city which later fell as Massinissa claimed his kingdom . Syphax was delivered to Scipio and was taken as a prisoner , dying in Tibur ( modern Tivoli ) in 203 or 202 BC . In a twist of fate , Sophonisba then married Massinissa . However , Scipio , suspicious of Sophonisba , demanded that she be taken to Rome and appear in the triumphal parade . To spare her such humiliation , Massinissa sent her poison , with which she killed herself . The Tunisian city Sfax is said to be named after King Syphax .