Hamilcar Barca

Hamilcar Barca d. 229 or 228 BC, Carthaginian general. He was assigned the command in Sicily in 247 in the First Punic War (see Punic Wars ). From mountain bases near Palermo he made repeated raids on the Romans and relieved the Punic garrison in Lilybaeum. However, the Carthaginians were defeated, and Hamilcar Barca negotiated the terms of the peace that led to Carthage 's withdrawal from Sicily. The Carthaginian mercenaries shortly afterward revolted and besieged Carthage, but Hamilcar defeated them in 238. After that his popularity made him virtual dictator. He then set out (237) to conquer Spain as a new base against Rome and had won considerable territory when he died. Hamilcar was probably the ablest general and statesman that Carthage had before his son Hannibal .

Hamilcar Barca (d.228 bc) Carthaginian commander. Initially successful in the first of the Punic Wars, he was defeated in 241 bc. He suppressed a revolt of Carthaginian mercenaries in 238 bc, and the following year conquered much of Spain. He was the father of Hannibal and Hasdrubal Barca.

Hamilcar Barca (died c.229 BC) Carthaginian general and father of HANNIBAL and HASDRUBAL. He commanded the Carthaginian forces in the later part of the first of the PUNIC WARS and negotiated the peace of 241 BC. When the mercenaries in Carthaginian service rebelled, Hamilcar, along with his rival Hanno, defeated them. In 237 he went to Spain, and brought the southern and eastern areas under Carthaginian control.