Masinissa was a prominent king of the Numidians, an ancient Berber people in North Africa, during the 2nd and 3rd centuries BCE. He is best known for uniting the various Numidian tribes and establishing a powerful kingdom that played a significant role in the conflicts between Rome and Carthage. Masinissa initially allied with Carthage but later switched his allegiance to Rome during the Second Punic War. His support was crucial in the defeat of Hannibal, and he became a key figure in the Roman expansion in North Africa. His reign marked the beginning of a prosperous era for the Numidian kingdom.