ucted the _via Domitia_, a military road
traversing the new province.

*The Jugurthine War.* It was not long before Rome became involved in a
much more serious conflict that was destined to reveal to the world the
rottenness and incapacity of its ruling class, and to reawaken internal
political strife. In 118 B. C. occurred the death of Micipsa, who had
succeeded Masinissa as king of Numidia. Micipsa left his kingdom to be
ruled jointly by his two sons, Adherbal and Hiempsal, and a nephew,
Jugurtha. The latter was an able, energetic, but ambitious and
unscrupulous prince, who had gained a good knowledge of Roman society
through serving in the Roman army before Numantia. However, the three soon
quarreled and divided the kingdom. It was not long before Jugurtha caused
Hiempsal to be assassinated and drove Adherbal from the country. The
latter fled to Rome to appeal for aid, on the basis of the alliance with
Rome which he had inherited from his ancestors. Thereupon Jugurtha sent
his agents, with well filled purses, to plead his case before the Senate.
So successful was he that a Roman commission appointed to divide Numidia
between himself and Adherbal gave him the western or richest part of the
kingdom. But Jugurtha's aim was to rule over the whole of Numidia, and so
he provoked Adherbal to war. In 113 B. C. he succeeded in besieging him in
his capital, Cirta, which was defended chiefly by Italians who had settled
there for commercial reasons. Two Roman commissions sent to investigate
the situation succumbed to Jugurtha's diplomacy, and Cirta was forced to
surrender. Adherbal and all its defenders were put to death.

*Rome declares war.* The slaughter of so many Italians raised a storm in
Rome, where the business elements and populace forced the Senate, which
was inclined to wink at Jugurtha's disregard of its African settlement, to
declare war. In 111 a Roman army under the consul Bestia invaded Numidia.
Again Jugurtha resorted to bribes and secured terms of peace from the
consul after a sham submission. However, the opponents of the Senate saw
through the trick and forced an investigation. Jugurtha was summoned to
come to Rome under safe conduct to give evidence as to his relations with
the Roman officials in Numidia. He came and contrived to buy the
intervention of two tribunes who prevented his testimony from being taken.
But, relying too much upon his ability to buy immunity for any action, he
ventured to procure the