The War with Jugurtha

Sallust’s Jugurthine War (Bellum Jugurthinum) is one of the most influential works of Roman historiography, offering both a narrative of military events and a moral commentary on the decline of the Roman Republic. Written around 41–40 BC, this historical monograph focuses on the conflict between Rome and Jugurtha, king of Numidia, from 112 to 106 BC. Far more than a simple war chronicle, Sallust’s account positions the Jugurthine War as a turning point in Roman political life, introducing key figures such as Gaius Marius and Lucius Cornelius Sulla, whose rivalry would later define the late Republic. For readers and researchers seeking insight into the intersection of Roman history, morality, and politics, the Jugurthine War provides an essential long-tail keyword resource on “Sallust Jugurthine War moral decline in Rome.”

A notable aspect of the Jugurthine War is Sallust’s reliance on multiple sources, including annalistic histories and the autobiographies of prominent Roman leaders such as Marcus Aemilius Scaurus, Publius Rutilius Rufus, and Sulla himself. However, Sallust’s goal was not simply accuracy. Instead, his text emphasizes corruption, greed, and the erosion of traditional Roman values. Jugurtha’s ability to bribe Roman senators, delay his defeat, and exploit political divisions serves as a case study in how moral weakness undermined Rome’s greatness. This theme makes the work not only a military history but also a political warning, relevant to students of both ancient history and political ethics.

Although Sallust served as governor of Africa Nova and possessed firsthand knowledge of Numidian geography and culture, his monograph only briefly digresses into ethnographic detail. The absence of deeper geographical analysis underscores Sallust’s main intention: to use history as a mirror of Roman decline. His Jugurthine War, alongside his War of Catiline, highlights the dangers of ambition, corruption, and unchecked rivalry. For modern readers exploring Roman literature, the Jugurthine War remains a timeless study in how internal decay can be as dangerous as external threats.

DESCRIPTION

Our edition is typeset in ITC Bodoni and printed on Century Laid cotton paper. Published in 2022 in a strictly limited run of just 25 copies, it features John Carew Rolfe’s translation. The volume, measuring 175 × 250 mm and comprising 160 pages, is bound by hand in fine leather and presented in a matching slipcase. Each copy represents a rare collector’s piece, combining refined typography, luxurious materials, and artisanal craftsmanship.