Caesar, Julius; Rome -- History -- Republic, 265-30 B.C.
died this brilliant youth might be a dangerous rival to his sons. He
therefore sent him to serve under Scipio in Spain, with the hope, so
his friends asserted, that he might there perhaps be killed. The Roman
army was then engaged in the siege of Numantia. The camp was the
lounging-place of the young patricians who were tired of Rome and
wished for excitement. Discipline had fallen loose; the officers'
quarters were the scene of extravagance and amusement. Jugurtha
recommended himself on the one side to Scipio by activity and good
service, while on the other he made acquaintances among the high-bred
gentlemen in the mess-rooms. He found them in themselves dissolute and
unscrupulous. He discovered, through communications which he was able
with their assistance to open with their fathers and relatives at Rome,
that a man with money might do what he pleased. Micipsa's treasury was
well supplied, and Jugurtha hinted among his comrades that if he could
be secure of countenance in seizing the kingdom, he would be in a
position to show his gratitude in a substantial manner. Some of these
conversations reached the ears of Scipio, who sent for Jugurtha and
gave him a friendly warning. He dismissed him, however, with honor at
the end of the campaign. The young prince returned to Africa loaded
with distinctions, and the king, being now afraid to pass him over,
named him as joint-heir with his children to a third part of Numidia.
The Numidians perhaps objected to being partitioned. Micipsa died soon
after. Jugurtha at once murdered Hiempsal, claimed the sovereignty, and
attacked his other cousin. Adherbal, closely besieged in the town of
Cirta, which remained faithful to him, appealed to Rome; but Jugurtha
had already prepared his ground, and knew that he had nothing to fear.
The Senate sent out commissioners. The commissioners received the
bribes which they expected. They gave Jugurtha general instructions to
leave his cousin in peace; but they did not wait to see their orders
obeyed, and went quietly home. The natural results immediately
followed. Jugurtha pressed the siege more resolutely. The town
surrendered; Adherbal was taken, and was put to death after being
savagely tortured; and there being no longer any competitor alive in
whose behalf the Senate could be called on to interfere, he thought
himself safe from further interference. Unfortunately in the capture of
Citra a number of Romans who resided there had been killed after the
surrender, and after a promise that their lives should be spared. An
outcry was raised in Rome, and became so loud that the Senate was
forced to promise investigation; but it went to work languidly, with
reluctance so evident as to rouse suspicion. Notwithstanding the fate
of the Gracchi and their friends, Memmius, a tribune, was found bold
enough to tell the people that there were men in the Senate who had
taken bribes.
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