Rex Juba

Captured by Julius Caesar and raised by Octavian. Married to Antony and Cleopatra's daughter. Experience the heyday of the Roman Mediterranean through the rediscovered history of Juba II, the Most Scholarly King.

'I've wanted to read a biography of Juba II of Mauretania all my life and here it is... a delight and a must-read.' Simon Sebag Montefiore, author of The World: A Family History

'A virtuoso recovery of two of antiquity’s most intriguing and little-known characters . . . A triumph' Literary Review

In 46 BC, at just two years old, a young North African prince named Juba was paraded through the streets of Rome as part of Julius Caesar’s victory parade. This traumatic beginning, however, did not define his future. As a young man, Juba fought alongside Emperor Augustus and was sent back to rule over Mauretania as king.

Juba's reign was marked not by tyranny, but by scholarship. A famed antiquarian, travel writer, and explorer, he discovered and named the Canary Islands, penned histories of Arabia and Libya, and led diplomatic missions to his fellow kings. Ruling alongside his wife, Cleopatra Selene, the daughter of Antony and Cleopatra, these heirs to African dynasties were potent symbols of Romanisation.

Their dynasty would be cut dramatically short by the mad emperor Caligula, their history buried for centuries. In this ambitious work of historical recovery, Dr Andrew Kenrick pieces together clues etched in coin and stone to reveal a Roman civilization that flourished just as much in Africa as it did in Europe. By inviting us to shift our gaze to the southern shores of the Mediterranean, Rex Juba offers a surprising new perspective on the heyday of the ancient world.

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'A brilliantly told story which expands our conception of the Roman Empire.' Emma Southon, author of A History of the Roman Empire in 21 Women

'Colourful, engaging and timely' Paul M.M. Cooper, author of Fall of Civilizations

'A gripping read that offers insights into an extraordinary ruler at an extraordinary period of history' Emily Hauser, author of Mythica

'A fine piece of storytelling, written with verve and style' Harry Sidebottom, author of The Warrior of Rome

'A textured and richly sourced story that showcases a complex and fascinating life' Eve MacDonald, author of Carthage