Africa's land and food continued to excite Roman interest. It is hard to believe that the war between Tacfarinas and Rome, which eventually developed in AD 17 and lasted until AD 24 was a serious threat to Roman power in Africa. The emperor Gaius has been credited with two important changes in north Africa: the separation of the army under its legatus from the province of Africa; and the ending of the independent status of Mauretania. Cruel execution of Africans was a reputation gained by Nero's last legionary legate in AD 68. Colonies, communities and corn were the informing principles of Roman imperialism in Africa. The social and political benefits of the Augustan system for the elite had already become apparent in the Julio-Claudian period. Under Tiberius a citizen of Musti, L. Iulius Crassus, reached equestrian status and under Vespasian the first known African consuls, Q. Aurelius Pactumeius Fronto of Cirta and his brother Clemens, were created.