Quote Originally Posted by abou View Post
Of Numidia and Pontos, I have to do some more readings, but I think that was pretty cut and dry and that they were done in imitation of the Romans. But I've forgotten so much about them that I can't say for sure. I'd have to do some research on them to say for certain what we'll intend on doing.
In both cases the rulers obtained Roman instructors to train their new army. However, I have always been somewhat sceptical about the Numidian imitation legionaries. This event took place shortly after the second Punic war, and at this point the Roman legion was still a citizen force rather than a professional army. Numidia did not possess an equivalent class of citizens, so who did they train? And would the Numidian horse-aristocracy accept the formation of a powerful infantry force that would upset the social balance of power? I also don't see how a Roman-style heavy infantry force would fit into the Numidian way of warmaking.

I know very little of Numidia, though, so this is nothing but speculation on my part.