AFFRICAN, AFFRIKAN, AFFRYCAN. Publius Cornelius Scipio, Africanus Major (236-184/183 B.C.), invaded Africa in 206 B.C., while he was consul, and decisively defeated Hasdrubal and Hannibal in 203. Peace was negotiated when he captured Carthage; when Hannibal attacked again, Scipio defeated him at Zama. For these victories Scipio was given the agnomen or title Africanus. He was the grandfather of Scipio Africanus Minor, hero of the Third Punic War. Cicero's Somnium Scipionis (The Dream of Scipio) is told by Africanus Minor to a group of friends who have been discussing the nature of dreams and the belief in the afterlife. Scipio the Younger tells how he had visited the Numidian king, Masinissa, with whom he had discussed the elder Scipio, and how he had dreamed of his ancestor that night.
Chaucer refers to Africanus Major as Affrican throughout his work. Scipio the Younger dreams of the Affrican, BD 286-288; Affrycan appears to Scipio in a dream, PF 29-84. Affrican appears to the poet in a dream and leads him into a park, PF 106-170. [Cipioun: Macrobeus: Massynisse: Tullius1]
The contraction Affrican/Affrikan appears in medial positions, PF 41, 44, 52, 96, 107, 120, 153, and in final rhyming position, BD 287.