Iles

Iles or Ilas is the first known king of the Massylian dynasty and (supposedly) its founder.

Biography The kingdom of the Massylii was formed through great alliances that elected a sovereign to lead it, but the situation changed after the emergence of powerful neighbors from the west and the intensification of competition with them, particularly the Masaesyli. The Masaesyli were influenced by the rich lands and the rich civilization of the east, that is, the civilization of Carthage, which suggests the hypothesis that the Masaesyli adopted the hereditary monarchical system of these two rivals. In any case, Iles ascended the throne of the kingdom of Massylii, establishing the hereditary system that would establish a new dynasty, probably between the 3rd and 4th centuries BC. after the death of the previous ruler Zelalsan, thus forming a new dynasty that would later rule over most of North Africa, and their alliance with Carthage lasted for a considerable period before Massinissa changed tactics and allied with Rome after the Punic Wars.

He is believed to be the father of two or three numidian kings Niptasan and Zelalsan II, making him the great-grandfather of Massinissa through Gaia, the son of Zelalsan II.