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Rex Juba

15 Glimpses of an African King

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Rex Juba

By: Andrew Kenrick
Narrated by: Sebastian Humphreys
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In 46 BC, at just two years old, a young North African prince named Juba was paraded through the streets of Rome as part of Julius Caesar’s victory parade. This traumatic beginning, however, did not define his future. As a young man, Juba fought alongside Emperor Augustus and was sent back to rule over Mauretania as king.

Juba's reign was marked not by tyranny, but by scholarship. A famed antiquarian, travel writer, and explorer, he discovered and named the Canary Islands, penned histories of Arabia and Libya, and led diplomatic missions to his fellow kings. Ruling alongside his wife, Cleopatra Selene, the daughter of Antony and Cleopatra, these heirs to African dynasties were potent symbols of Romanisation.

Their dynasty would be cut dramatically short by the mad emperor Caligula, their history buried for centuries. In this ambitious work of historical recovery, Dr Andrew Kenrick pieces together clues etched in coin and stone to reveal a Roman civilization that flourished just as much in Africa as it did in Europe. By inviting us to shift our gaze to the southern shores of the Mediterranean, Rex Juba offers a surprising new perspective on the heyday of the ancient world.

© Andrew Kenrick 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026

 Africa Ancient Egypt Middle East Politics & Activism Rome Royalty Ancient History
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Critic reviews

This is terribly good. I've wanted to read a biography of Juba II of Mauretania all my life and here it is. The African scholar-king married to Cleopatra Selene, daughter of the triumvir Mark Antony & Cleopatra VII, queen of Egypt. It's a delight and a must-read. (Simon Sebag Montefiore, author of The World: A Family History of Humanity)
A wonderful biography of a man who lived many lives - as a hostage, a scholar, a soldier, a king, a father and a husband - and a fascinating exploration of identity and empire building across the full sweep of the ancient Mediterranean. A brilliantly told story of an important and much overlooked Roman king which expands our conception of the Roman Empire. (Emma Southon, author of A History of the Roman Empire in 21 Women)
A virtuoso recovery of two of antiquity’s most intriguing and little-known characters . . . the author treats readers to a study of identity and power, leavened with sharp insights into the messiness and expedience that underlay the marble façade of Augustus’ power . . . The end result is a triumph, giving two of the ancient world’s most charismatic yet neglected characters the centre stage they so richly deserve.
Seventeen images of ancient artefacts introduce Juba, North African client king and Greek intellectual, and place him in the limelight of Roman history. With its striking arrangement, Rex Juba is a fine piece of storytelling, written with verve and style. (Harry Sidebottom, bestselling author of the Warrior of Rome series)
Colourful, engaging and timely, this portrait of a man caught between two worlds captures the full beauty and complexity of the ancient world. (Paul M.M. Cooper, host of the Fall of Civilizations podcast and Sunday Times bestselling author)
A fascinating book that brilliantly tackles how to write biographies of people in the ancient world. It brings the reader to the heart of life in Imperial Rome, Ptolemaic Egypt, and ancient North Africa. A fantastic read. (Gareth Russell, author of Queen James)
This fascinating portrait of a ‘lost king’ often reads something like a detective story.
A fresh account of Juba II, whose life as a Roman protégé, scholar and monarch deserves far wider recognition . . . an innovative alternative approach . . . fascinating and intriguing . . . [Juba] was once an international celebrity, and hopefully, with Andrew Kenrick’s work serving to restore him to posterity, he can be again. (Jane Draycott)
All stars
Most relevant
a great listen makes me want to learn more about roman history and travel to see the history

a great book

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