A simple invocation API : maven-invoker.
Project documentation : http://maven.apache.org/shared/maven-invoker/
Usage : http://maven.apache.org/shared/maven-invoker/usage.html
InvocationRequest request = new DefaultInvocationRequest();
request.setPomFile( new File( "/path/to/pom.xml" ) );
request.setGoals( Arrays.asList( "clean", "install" ) );
Invoker invoker = new DefaultInvoker();
invoker.execute( request );