Méphanias

Mephanias (in Ancient Greek: Μεφανίας) was a Moorish leader of the early 6th century, known only from the account of the Byzantine historian Procopius who might have been king of the Mauro-Roman kingdom. He is primarily known as the father of Massônas and the father-in-law of King Iaudas.

Informations about him are extremely limited, and no epigraphic or archaeological evidence clarifies his territory or exact status.

Biography Mephenias is mentioned in Procopius's "De Bello Vandalico", written in the mid-6th century. According to Procopius, he was the father of Massônas, a Moorish leader allied with the Byzantine Empire during General Solomon's campaigns against the rebellious tribes of Byzantine Africa.

His daughter married Iaudas, the king of the Aurès, this can be said as he's referred to as Massônas' brother-in-law. Relations between the two men deteriorated, however, and Iaudas eventually had his father-in-law assassinated. Following this murder, Massonas joined the Byzantines to fight Iaudas.

Procopius does not specify the exact circumstances of Mephenias's power, nor the territory he governed. He does not explicitly attribute to him the title of king (rex or βασιλεύς), simply presenting him as a Moorish leader.

Theory regarding him being Masuna's predecessor

Since the 19th century, several historians have proposed identifying Massônas, son of Mephenias, with Masuna, king of the Moors and Romans, attested by an inscription from Altava dated to 508.

If this hypothesis prooved to be correct, Mephenias could have belonged to the dynasty that founded the Mauro-Roman kingdom and might have preceded Masuna as its ruler.

This identification, however, remains a subject of debate. That's why contemporary historians therefore prefer to consider Massônas and Masuna as two distinct individuals, due to a lack of evidence allowing for their definitive identification.