For an ancient people, the Romans were atypical in their concern about the moral justification of their wars. Conquest, they believed, was at least potentially nefas (“wicked”) and risked the community’s suffering religious pollution and divine disapprobation. To engage in a “just war” (bellum iustum) demanded a ceremonial declaration by a special class of priests who advised the Senate on foreign affairs and treaties.
Thus, even after the Second Punic War (218–201 BC), during which the Romans so thoroughly defeated the Carthaginians that the rival empire was constrained to little more than their North African city-state, Rome believed it required just cause to finally conquer its historic adversaries. Perceiving an opportunity to strengthen his own hand, the Numidian king Masinissa, an ally of Rome, exploited Carthage’s inability to effectively defend itself by regularly seizing territory and conducting raids. Finally, in 151 BC, a frustrated Carthage raised an army—in violation of the terms of their surrender to Rome 50 years earlier—and counterattacked the far stronger Numidians, who slaughtered the hapless Carthaginians.
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