Jugurthine War XXV-XXXVI Summary and Analysis

The Senate sends Marcus Scaurus to talk to Jurgurtha. Scaurus is a prominent member of the Senate, and his presence in Numidia calms Jurgurtha; however, it has little effect on Jurgurtha's ambitions. Scaurus goes back to Rome where the Senate sends a message to Adherbal to resign Cirta and begin talks with Jugurtha. They tell Jugurtha that no harm should come to Adherbal, but Jurgurtha tortures him to death and massacres the inhabitants of the town that includes Italians.

Such is the power of Jurgurtha's money on the Roman nobility that they virtually ignore his brutality. It is not until Memmuis, a man with little trust of the nobles, stirs up the general public with claims of corruption within the government, that the Senate is forced to act. They send Calpurnius into Numidia with an army in...