As the strain on the Punic population increased, Carthaginian authorities then sent them off to Sicca, planning to plead with the whole army to forgo their unpaid wages by pointing out the dire financial situation of Carthage. Hamilcar's army either crossed the Straits of Gibraltar into Iberia from West Africa[88] or, having returned to Carthage after the African activities, sailed along the African coast to Gades. Hamilcar's move away from the traditional naval power of Carthage to a land force was reaping fantastic rewards. Using a blend of terror and diplomacy Hamilcar relentlessly expanded his control over southern Spain. Hamilcar counted them one after another with the tip of his finger; then he hid his face in a saffron-coloured veil, and, falling on his knees, stretched himself on the ground with both arms extended. Corrections? [31] He removed the population to Drepana. Hamilcar Barca (c. 285 - c. 228 av. He was one of the greatest military commanders in history. Hamlicar bristled at the terms of the treaty, which obligated Carthage to pay Rome a huge indemnity and to surrender all land in Sicily. The difference was that Fabius commanded a numerically superior army to his opponent, had no supply problems, and had room to manoeuvre, while Hamilcar was mostly static, had a far smaller army than the Romans and was dependent on seaborne supplies from Carthage. The rebel loss was 8,000 dead with 4,000 captured. However, as the rebels had no navy, Carthage could draw supplies from the sea and so did not face the threat of starvation. But who reads Polybius (1.65-83) can see how he came to this act. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Hamilcar-Barca. Sign up for our free weekly email newsletter! OConnell, Robert L, The Ghosts of Cannae, pp80, Carey, Brian T, Cairns John, Allfree Joshua B, Hannibal's Last Battle, pp40, Prevas, John, Hannibal Crosses The Alps, pp41, Cottrell, Tony, Hannibal's campaigns, p18, Miles, Richard, Carthage Must be Destroyed, p. 198, Oros. Nothing had come of these supposed episodes and some scholars doubt their authenticity. The Roman Republic was nearly bankrupt and had to borrow money from wealthy citizens to fund the construction of a fleet of 200 quinqueremes, which blockaded Carthaginian positions in Sicily in 242 BC by seizing the harbour of Drepana and anchorages at Lilybaeum, while Roman soldiers built siege works around Drepanum. All his family members were employed in the army and made major contributions to . Discussion Starter. Hamilcar, upon taking command in the summer of 247 BC,[21] punished the rebellious mercenaries (who had revolted because of overdue payments) by murdering some of them at night and drowning the rest at sea,[22] and dismissing many to different parts of northern Africa. Hamilcar simply replied that he was fighting to gather enough booty to pay off the war indemnity. His son was Hannibal, famous for his exploits during the Second Punic War. 'Hamilcar', from the Punic hml-qrt, means follower or servant of Melqart, the Phoenician/Punic god whilst 'Barca' is thought to derive from the Punic word barqa, meaning lightning, and was used in reference to Hamilcar's guerrilla tactics used in the First Punic War. Cite This Work In an effort to reestablish their position, they decided to make a scapegoat of Hamilcar Barca. Our publication has been reviewed for educational use by Common Sense Education, Internet Scout, Merlot II, OER Commons and School Library Journal. [78] This event may have taken place as early as 241 BC or more likely in 237 BC. Hamilcar felt that Carthage had given up on Sicily too soon in the First Punic War. As Carthage no longer had the resources for a large army, he could not face the enemy in an all-out battle, but he did manage to capture Eryx in 244 BCE, which became his new base. Mathos could not, though, resist a joint army of Hamilcar and Hanno, and he was driven out of the city and defeated at Byzacium. Carthaginians may have taken control of the mining operations and introduced new technologies to increase production. [16] As a result, Hamilcar was given a fairly small army and the Carthaginian fleet was gradually withdrawn; Carthage put most of its ships into reserve to save money and free up manpower,[12][13] so by 242 BC, Carthage had no ships to speak of in Sicily.[17]. If he had lived in the United . The Carthaginians were marching in good order so they could perform a pre-planned manoeuvre which they had practiced in Carthage, but the rebels, many of whom were inexperienced soldiers, believed that the Carthaginians were running away. Worst personality award: Nero/Caligula Worst influence award: Honorius (Reasons already stated, I pretty much agree) He doomed the other half though. Hannibal Barca was probably a black Carthaginian military commander; he became famous for his crossing of the Alps, his strategic brilliance before taking on major campaigns, his tactical genius on the battlefield, and his operational prowess during combat. Hamilcar Barca was a daring, intelligent young man. Because Carthaginians kept no written chronicles of Hannibals life, historical knowledge of Hannibal was based upon Carthaginian oral traditions and entirely on Roman written records. Roman occupation of Sardinia, and then Corsica, indicated the untrustworthiness of Romans and their willingness to meddle when they saw fit regardless of treaties between the powers. ; Carthaginian general; commanded Carthage's forces in Sicily (247-241) during the First Punic War against Rome; traveled to Spain (237) to rebuild Carthaginian influences there; drowned during the withdrawal from the siege of Helice in 229) People disenfranchised by the ruin of the navy and disruption of trade might have thrown in their lot with this group[76] and eventually Hasdrubal the Fair emerged as the leader. Lance Serge states that Hamilcar's family was part of the landed aristocracy of Carthage. Foi pai de Anbal, Asdrbal, Adonibal e Mago, [2] bem como o construtor dos famosos jardins de Amlcar, que se encontravam em Mgara, na periferia de Cartago.. Comandou as foras de Cartago na ltima parte da primeira guerra pnica e foi o . More About Hamilcar: Astrological Sign: Aries: Date of birth: April 6, 1964: Religion . Hamilcar & the Barcid line would dominate the Carthaginian political & military arenas for the next 35 years. [15] Carthage did not take advantage of their naval supremacy and carry the war to Italy other than launching a few raids. While he may appear to be an old man, he is one of the most powerful of the Twelve Zoalords, the co-founder of Cronos and its leading scientist. Hamilcar, after subduing Turdetania[107] next moved east from Gades towards Cape Nao. However, the constant skirmishing without ultimate victory may have caused the morale of some of Hamilcar's troops to crack and 1,000 Celtic mercenaries tried to betray the Punic camp to the Romans, which was foiled. The Book of War; Dwight Jon Zimmerman; 2008. One of coins found in Italy, near the battle site of Lake Trasimene where Hannibals Carthaginian Army defeated the Romans, shows an African man on one side with the characteristic strong African features such as curly hair, thick lips, and full nose; on the coins opposite side shows an elephant. Our Team For only $5 per month you can become a member and support our mission to engage people with cultural heritage and to improve history education worldwide. The relations between Carthage and the Iberian Peninsula have mainly been viewed from the perspective of military domination. He then left Ercte for Mount Eryx (modern Erice near Trapani), which he held until 241. Not only did the Carthaginians lose the First Punic War and so the control of Sicily but they were also compelled to pay huge reparations to Rome. Greek piracy had forced Carthage to team up with the Etruscans to drive the Greeks from Corsica, and destroy the colony at Mainke in Iberia. Hannibal whose full name is Chenu Bechola Barca was an intelligent warrior of Carthaginian . vol. He was also father-in-law to Hasdrubal the Fair. In various forms, the name . [121] Without Punic records to cross reference, these remain mere supposition. Hamilcars victory over the mercenaries in 237 contributed to his growing political power in Carthage and led him to pursue territory in Spain as compensation for the losses to Rome. After his father led Carthage in the First Punic War, Hannibal took over the leadership of Carthaginian forces against Rome. luminat) i no era un nom familiar sin un renom personal, encara que a la seva famlia se la distingeix desprs amb el nom dels Barca o Barcins. After weeks of maneuvering, Hamilcar finally managed to trap about 40,000 rebels in a valley surrounded on three sides by mountains.[66]. But the rebels would sally out from their camp at Tunis and approach the city walls to cause terror inside the city. He was known for his skill as a commander and his contributions to the army. [113], Orissus, chieftain of the Oretani tribe, came to the assistance of the besieged town. Sicily. He fought a series of successful battles until he reached (but did not destroy) the city of Rome. [110] Massalia, probably alarmed by the Carthaginian advance towards their area of influence, mentioned this expansion to the Romans, who decided to investigate the matter. [19] Hamilcar was in command of a mercenary army composed of multiple nationalities and his ability to successfully lead this force demonstrates his skill as field commander. [59], It is not exactly known how Hamilcar managed to outwit the rebels. At this point, the Carthaginian senate reinstated Hanno and forced Hamilcar to share command. Hamilcar was a young man of 28 when he received the Sicilian command in 247 BC. [88] Phoenician colonies were strung along the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts of southwestern Spain and exercised some degree of control over their immediate areas, but only had trading contacts, not direct control, over the tribes of Iberia at that time. Miles, Richard, Carthage Must be Destroyed, p. 193, Lazenby, John .F, First Punic War, p. 145, Lazenby, John .F, First Punic War, p. 146, Lazenby, John .F, First Punic War, p147, Lazenby, John .F, First Punic War, p148, Lazenby, John .F, The First Punic War, p. 157, Diodorus Siculus 24.13, Cornelius Nepos, Hamilcar, 1.5, Bagnall, Nigel, The Punic Wars, pp. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Rome, which had dealt with Carthage with all due honor and courtesy during the crisis, going as far as to release all Punic prisoners without ransom and refuse to accept offers from Utica and Rebels mercenaries based in Sardinia to incorporate these territories into the Roman domain, seized Sardinia and Corsica and forced Carthage to pay 1,200 talents for her initial refusal to renounce her claim over the islands. This position allowed Hamilcar to hold a mountain base and harass the rear of the Roman forces who were besieging Drepana and Lilybaeum, which were Carthage's last remaining strongholds on Sicily. After mustering their forces, a decisive battle was fought probably near the town of Leptis Minor. Buy History Of Ancient Carthage - Hamilcar Barca - Punic War Tank Top: Shop top fashion brands Tanks & Camis at Amazon.com FREE DELIVERY and Returns possible on eligible purchases Amazon.com: History Of Ancient Carthage - Hamilcar Barca - Punic War Tank Top : Clothing, Shoes & Jewelry Hamilcar's sons, Hannibal and Hasdrubal, had accompanied him. In this war unbelievable atrocities were committed on both sides. #1. Carthaginians celebrated Hannibals crossing of the Alps with coins that depicted his face on one side and an elephant on the other. #1. RM G15JXK - Hannibal, son of Hamilcar Barca (247-183/182 BC) was a Carthaginian military commander and tactician generally considered one of the greatest military commanders in history. The cavalry and light infantry were in the middle, while the heavy infantry was posted furthest from the rebel army.[61]. Heavy infantry formed the rearguard, and the whole army marched in a single file in battle formation. Nothing is known of Hamilcar before he was given command of the Carthaginian forces in Sicily in 247 during the First Punic War. Amlcar Barca [1] (ca. As this was in line with the goal of the "Peace Party" of Hanno the Great, probably no serious opposition was offered. From mountain bases near Palermo he made repeated raids on the Romans and relieved the Punic garrison in Lilybaeum. However, the rebels regrouped, and observing lax discipline among the Punic troops, launched a surprise sortie and routed the Punic army while Hanno was absent,[52] driving the survivors to Utica and capturing all the baggage. Hey, this is another piece I wrote, this time a mini biography. Il mata ensuite une rbellion plus proche de chez lui entre 241 et 237 av. The name Hamilcar (Punic-Phoenician mlqrt, "brother of Melqart") was a common name for Carthaginian men. He was appointed commander in chief in Sicily in 247 B.C., when, after 18 years of fighting, the Carthaginian forces were at their lowest. [63] The people's assembly chose Hannibal of Paropos, son of another Hamilcar and a veteran of the First Punic War as Hamilcar's deputy. [17] During one of the raids, when troops under a subordinate commander named Bodostor engaged in plunder against the orders of Hamilcar and suffered severe casualties when the Romans caught up to them, Hamilcar requested a truce to bury his dead. Monolito Amilcar Elche Sierra.jpg 640 480; 43 KB. While Carthage was busy settling state affairs, Spendius and Matho decided to blockade the city from the landward side. Hamilcar died in battle, most likely drowning in the Jucar River while besieging a place called Helice and trying to escape from a Celtiberian army. Certainly, tribute in money, if not men, was extracted from local cities and new silver mines were worked. The carbon dating of the coin is 217 BCE. World History Encyclopedia is a non-profit organization. Early life By winter of 240 BC, the situation had improved for Carthage. Cartwright, M. (2016, June 01). https://www.worldhistory.org/Hamilcar_Barca/. In the same year, both Hippacra and Utica joined the rebels. Hasdrubal the Fair then took over command of the Carthaginian army. Carthage faced a joint rebellion of mercenary troops, understandably upset at not having been paid for their efforts in the first Punic War, Libyan groups seizing the opportunity of a weakened Carthage to rebel, and several cities looking for independence such as Tunis and Utica. The Romans responded by blockading Hamilcar, but he seems to have been able to break out regularly and continue his guerrilla tactics. Hamilcar refused and slaughtered all of them except for the commanders. Training for the army was obtained in some Numidian forays, then Hamilcar marched the army westwards to the Pillars of Hercules. (Encyclopaedia Britannica . His third daughter married the Berber ally Naravas,[120] a Numidian chieftain whose defection had saved Hamilcar and his army during the mercenary war. Hamilcar next raided Locri in Bruttium and the area around Brindisi in 247 BC. As the cavalry and then the elephants came closer to the infantry Hamilcar ordered each in turn to also wheel about to face the rebels. Hamilcar Barca or Barcas (Punic: c. 275-228 BC) was a Carthaginian general and statesman, leader of the Barcid family, and father of Hannibal, Hasdrubal and Mago. of 1 Willing to relocate. Carthage was a mixture of indigenous black Africans, Berber tribesmen, Semitic Arabs, white Celtic Germanic warriors, Greek sojourners, and white Libyan tribesmen that existed when many Phoenician cities and colonies decorated North Africa. The political clout of the incumbent leaders was probably weakened by the defeat in the First Punic War, their mismanagement of the Mercenary troops and finally the Sardinia Affair. Education. We care about our planet! Hamilcar Barca or Barcas (ca. He was also father-in-law to Hasdrubal the Fair. [68] Hamilcar retreated north near the mouth of the Bagradas River, while Matho crucified his prisoners on the same crosses Hamilcar had used to crucify the rebel leaders, then retreated out of Tunis and moved south. When his troops rushed towards the retreating Carthaginians, Spendius was either unable to control them or believed that the Carthaginians were fleeing and encouraged his forces' pursuit. J.-C.). Updates? To preempt the danger he issued a challenge in front of the city for single combat between him and the Skaven horde. After the establishment of Akra Leuke, Hamilcar began to move northwest but no records of his campaigns exist. The gloomy situation changed when first Syracuse and then Rome came to the aid of Carthage. The actions of Hamilcar, and his immunity to defeat, plus the stalemate at the siege of Lilybaeum caused the Romans to start building a fleet in 243 BC to seek a decision at sea. Hamilcar Barca: Hannibal Barca is the son of General Hamiclar Barca of Carthage. Hamilcar Barca or Barcas (c. 275 228 BC) was a Carthaginian general and statesman, leader of the Barcid family, and father of Hannibal, Hasdrubal and Mago. Whatever direct territorial control Carthage had had in the past in Iberia,[98] this had been mostly lost by this time as Hamilcar was "re-establishing Carthaginian authority in Iberia". The Turdetani surrendered. Carthage and its HarbourThe Creative Assembly (Copyright). See also Hamilcar Barca on Wikipedia; and our 1911 Encyclopdia Britannica disclaimer . There was no other city like it. Discover Hamilcar Barca: The Life and Legacy of the Legendary Carthaginian General by Charles River Editors and millions of other books available at Barnes & Noble. [79] The influence Hamilcar enjoyed among the people and the opposition party enabled him to avoid standing trial. This led to the Second Punic War and Hannibal taking the army across the Alps into Italy. Territories During the Second Punic WarJavierfv1212 (CC BY-SA). When his army marched toward the city of Rome, he was unable to conquer the city because his army lacked the siege equipment and reinforcement necessary to take it. [60], According to another line of thought,[61] Hamilcars army marched in three separate columns, with the war elephants placed nearest the rebel army. Our latest articles delivered to your inbox, once a week: Our mission is to engage people with cultural heritage and to improve history education worldwide. Iberia would also serve as a base for any future conflicts against the Romans which would be independent of political interference from Carthage, and the campaigns would enhance the reputation of Hamilcar Barca. According to one line of thought,[60] the Carthaginian army order of march had the War Elephants leading the column, with the light troops and cavalry behind the elephants. Amazons Who Were the Ancient Female Warriors? Carthage sent a mercenary force under Hanno to retake the island in 239 BC, but this group also rebelled, killing Hanno and their Carthaginian officers and joining the rebels in Sardinia. Carthage would evacuate all islands between Italy and Sicily probably the Aegates Islands in addition to the. (The origins of Carthage go back to the city of Tabarka, present-day Tunisia). Hamilcar raised an army of 10,000 with Romes cooperation and battled the rebels for four years before recapturing his provinces in north Africa. The rebels mutilated prisoners, and Hamilcar had his captives trampled on by elephants. There, after several skirmishes, Hamilcar cornered the enemy at 'the Saw' (Prion), a ridge in the Libyan mountains. He then quashed a rebellion closer to home between 241 and 237 BCE before returning abroad, where he successfully expanded Carthaginian interests in southern Spain. Hamilcar in turn nominated Gisco,[38] the Carthaginian commander of Lilybaeum, to conduct the talks. Little is known about the origins or history of the Barca family prior to the Punic Wars. The new joiners were armed with equipment captured from the rebels. Related Content Hamilcar was a common Punic name; in fact, another general of the same name preceded him in command. Autaritus announced that he would do the same with all Punic prisoners that fell into rebel hands in future. Hamilcar exited the valley and, after a hard-fought battle, defeated the army of Spendius. Legend suggests that before he embarked upon the Spanish campaign, Hannibals father (Hamilcar Barca) required the nine year old Hannibal to pledge his ever-lasting hatred of Rome. He is responsible for designing and . The initial conditions laid out by Lutatius to Gisco were:[40], Hamilcar Barca refused the demand to surrender Roman deserters or disarm Carthaginian soldiers, despite being threatened by Lutatius to have the Punic army pass under the yoke. Hamilcar had at least three daughters and at least three sons. Special interests include art, architecture, and discovering the ideas that all civilizations share. When this was done in an ancient-history classroom at the University of Pennsylvania, Prof. William C. McDermott responded: "Yes, Hannibal was as black as King David." The great Carthaginian was. The Iberians had support from Celtiberian tribes and were under the command of two chieftains, Istolatios and his brother. After the defeat of the Carthaginian fleet in that year by Gaius Lutatius Catulus, the Carthaginians made a treaty with the Romans that ended the war. He makes his first appearance when the series' events shift to Relic's Point, overseeing the research and . Their choice to minimize the Sicilian operations while Hamilcar was in command, reduce the navy and support Hanno the Great's conquests in Africa, all of which were causes for the ultimate defeat of Carthage in the First Punic War. Furthermore, Hamilcar allied with Hasdrubal the Fair,[80] his future son in law, to restrict the power of the aristocracy, which was led by Hanno the Great,[81] as well as gain immunity from prosecution. Media in category "Hamilcar Barca". He replaced Carthalo, who had not been altogether unsuccessful, as the commander of the Carthaginian fleet. i. hamilcar the carthaginian, the son of hannibal, and surnamed barcas, began in the first punic war, but towards the end of it, to hold the command of the army in sicily; and though, before his coming, the efforts of the carthaginians were unsuccessful both by sea and land, he, after he arrived, never gave way to the enemy,226 or afforded them Syracuse redoubled the volume of supplies sent to Carthage. Hamilcar Barca is listed in the tavern under Others and costs 17,000,000 gold. Carthage was hit by a series of disasters in 239 BC: her fleet and supply flotilla bringing supplies from Empoia was sunk in a storm, the mercenaries in Sardinia rebelled and the cities of Utica and Hippo Acra killed their Punic garrisons and defected to the rebels. He was also father-in-law to Hasdrubal the Fair.The name Hamilcar (Punic-Phoenician mlqrt, "brother of Melqart") was a common name for Carthaginian men. J.-C.) tait un gnral carthaginois actif lors de la premire guerre punique (264-241 av. Themes. . For at a time when some say Hannibal was black and others that he was white, De Sousa tells us (and other ancient Iberian historians agree) that Hamilcar Barca had taken a Lusitanian woman as bride and had children by her. [118] Despite the similarities between the name of the Barcid family and that of the modern city, it is usually accepted that the origin of the name "Barcelona" is the Iberian Barkeno.[119]. "Hamilcar Barca." He made no attempt to join Hanno near Utica. [39], This treaty replaced all previous treaties between the two powers.