BOCCHUS II

died c. 33 BC king of the eastern half of Mauretania in North Africa from 49 to about 38 BC, when he became ruler of all Mauretania. He was probably a son of Bocchus I. At the time that Bocchus II succeeded to power, he ruled that part of Mauretania east of the Mulucha River (Moulouya River in northeastern Morocco), while his brother, Bogud, controlled western Mauretania. Both kings backed the Roman general Julius Caesar in his struggle against the supporters of Pompey the Great in Africa (4945), and, on Caesar's victory over Pompey at Thapsus (on the coast of modern Tunisia) in 46, Bocchus was given control of much of Numidia. After Caesar had been assassinated in 44, the two Mauretanian rulers took opposite sides in the split that developed in the Caesarian forces. Bogud supported Mark Antony, while Bocchus stood by Octavian (later the emperor Augustus). About 38, Bocchus seized Bogud's territory while Bogud was campaigning in Spain and forced him to flee to Antony in the East. Bocchus then became sole ruler of Mauretania and was so confirmed by Octavian. After Bocchus died, the kingdom became a Roman province.