Hamilcar Barca
3rd-century BCE Carthaginian statesman and general, father of Hannibal and his brothers. / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Hamilcar Barca or Barcas (Punic: 𐤇𐤌𐤋𐤒𐤓𐤕𐤟𐤁𐤓𐤒, Ḥomilqart Baraq; c. 275–228 BC) was a Carthaginian general and statesman, leader of the Barcid family, and father of Hannibal, Hasdrubal and Mago. He was also father-in-law to Hasdrubal the Fair.
Hamilcar Barca | |
---|---|
Born | c. 275 BC |
Died | 228 BC (aged around 46–47) |
Title | Carthaginian General |
Term | 19 years; 247–228 BC |
Successor | Hasdrubal the Fair |
Children | Hannibal Hasdrubal Mago three daughters (names unknown) |
Hamilcar commanded the Carthaginian land forces in Sicily from 247 BC to 241 BC, during the latter stages of the First Punic War. He kept his army intact and led a successful guerrilla war against the Romans in Sicily. Hamilcar retired to Carthage after the peace treaty in 241 BC, following the defeat of Carthage. When the Mercenary War burst out in 239 BC, Hamilcar was recalled to command and was instrumental in concluding that conflict successfully. Hamilcar commanded the Carthaginian expedition to Spain in 237 BC, and for eight years expanded the territory of Carthage in Spain before dying in battle in 228 BC. He may have been responsible for creating the strategy which his son Hannibal implemented in the Second Punic War to bring the Roman Republic close to defeat.