It has also been about hamilcar barca, a man of great genius and vision. We are not told how many of the lusitanians returned from italy. Resulting from a mighty power struggle between the military confederation of rome and the trading empire of carthage between 264241 b. First, the wars transformed rome from a regional land power to a wide ranging seapower. The second factor, which polybius tells us is the most important is the roman seizure of sardinia, while carthage was still reeling form the result of the mercenary rebellion. We follow in the steps of hannibal, hasdrubal, hamilcar, scipio africanus and many more famous and infamous commanders and leaders as the roman legions and the soldiers and sailors of carthage clash in this gigantic struggle. Hannibals father, hamilcar barca was the best general the carthaginians produced during the first punic war. But the year is 260 bc, and there are twenty more years of bloodshed to go before the end of this war. The city had been the mediterraneans most prosperous seaport and possessed wealthy provinces, but it had suffered severe losses from the romans in the first punic war 264241. Hannibal was the son of the great carthaginian general hamilcar barca. The war had lasted for 23 years and the carthage was exhausted and depleted, but hamilcar did not favor making a treaty with the romans.
Both akre leuca and the man hamilcar barca are needed if we are to understand the man hannibal. He united lusitania way before portugal emerged as a nation over a thousand years later. Hannibals father hamilcar barca was the carthaginian general. In 237 bce hamilcar had famously taken his son, then nine years old, to the temple of baal in carthage. This was the end of the first punic war, but hamilcar barca was determined to seek revenge against the romans. Oct, 2019 hannibals father, hamilcar barca was the best general the carthaginians produced during the first punic war. The term punic comes from the latin word punicus or poenicus, meaning carthaginian, with reference to the carthaginians phoenician ancestry the main cause of the punic wars was the conflicts of interest between the. What was at stake was control of the trading around the mediterranean sea. In this new book on the punic wars by adrian goldsworthy we are taken back into this most fascinating period of history. Hamilcar barca, father of the great carthaginian general hannibal, meets with disaster during a campaign in the punic wars.
That opportunity came when hamilcar was killed in spain in 229 bc. Hamilcar had to agree to leave sicily with his mercenary army and return to africa, carthage had to pay for war damages, and rome took control of all of the carthaginian lands on the island of sicily. List of books and articles about ancient carthage online. He was also fatherinlaw to hasdrubal the fair hamilcar commanded the carthaginian land forces in sicily from 247 bc to 241 bc, during the latter stages of the first punic war. The second punic war begins briefly describe the life and achievements of hamilcar barca.
Punic wars simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The number of wars that rome won to carthage previously. The island that carthage went to to get away from battle when rome attacked. Hamilcar barca he won the cognomen barca thuderbolt. Jul 16, 2019 he was the son of carthaginian general hamilcar barca barca meaning thunderbolt. The first punic war was a bit dry, but the hannibalic engagements are as enthralling as any historic event, perhaps aside from alexander, but not by much. Carthage suffered a massive defeat at the naval battle of the aegates islands and sued for peace. The greek historian polybius and the roman historian livy are the two primary sources for his life. The battle was a great success for the carthaginians, owing to the expertise supplied by the mercenary spartan general named xanthippus who engaged the romans on an open. Led by hamilcar barca, he also saw through the barcid family and was the father of hannibal as well. Polybius admired him and the roman writer cato thought him one of the best generals of the time. Mar 31, 2020 hamilcar had to agree to leave sicily with his mercenary army and return to africa, carthage had to pay for war damages, and rome took control of all of the carthaginian lands on the island of sicily.
Not much is known about the history of the barca family before the punic wars. Scipio aemilianus and the sack of carthage the roman constitution. Regulus and xanthippus hamilcar barca and the siege of lilybaeum hamilcar barca and the mercenary war hamilcar barca in africa and spain. He promised his father that as soon as he was old enough, he would fight the romans with all his ability. Hannibal 247183 bce was the greatest general to emerge from the carthaginian barca family. Top 12 facts about hannibal barca ancient history lists. The war was given this nickname when rome almost lost the second punic war. See more ideas about punic wars, ancient history and ancient rome. What motivated hannibal to participate in the punic wars. According to them, hannibal was taken to spain by his father and at an early age was made to swear eternal hostility to rome. Dec 19, 2018 hannibal 247183 bce was the greatest general to emerge from the carthaginian barca family.
The battle of bagradas, also known as the battle of tunis was a major battle of the first punic war that occurred between the carthaginians and the roman republic in 255 bc. He was the son of carthaginian general hamilcar barca barca meaning thunderbolt. Carthage is a venerable title from 1996 and while age has not dimmed its allure to wargaming fans, this new edition now includes the hamilcar expansion and fancy. After heavy fights, the war had ended in a stalemate. Hannibal barca was the son of this great carthaginian general. Hannibal and the second punic war essay 1406 words. Hannibal and the second punic war essay 1406 words bartleby. The first was the bitterness and anger of hamilcar barca at the end of the first punic war when he was forced to surrender despite being undefeated in sicily. At the time, they were some of the largest wars that had ever taken place. The three punic wars between carthage and rome took place over nearly a. Hamilcar commanded the carthaginian land forces in sicily from 247 bc to 241 bc, during the latter stages of the first punic war. Hamilcar barca had been having some success against the romans in.
The punic wars were a series of three wars fought between rome and carthage from 264 bc to 146 bc. Youth 247219 melqart heracles on a coin of hannibal, perhaps with his own features. Regulus and xanthippus hamilcar barca and the siege of lilybaeum hamilcar. The punic wars were a series of conflicts fought between the forces of ancient carthage and rome between 264 bce and 146 bce. The main cause of the punic wars was the clash of interests between the existing empire of carthage and the expanding roman republic. As the history of the conflict was written by roman authors, they labeled it the punic wars.
Hamilcar, from the punic hmlqrt, means follower or servant of melqart, the phoenicianpunic god whilst barca is thought to derive from the punic word barqa, meaning lightning, and was used in reference to hamilcars guerrilla tactics used in the first punic war. In the words of tony bath, the barca family, which originally came from cyrene, was a powerful one but not at that time among the first families of carthage. Hamilcar barca was the father of hannibal, the most notorious of romes enemies. Although it was hannibal that actually crossed the alps and attacked rome, it was hamilcar, who laid the foundation, by building a carthaginian empire in spain, and who instilled in his son an abiding hatred of rome.
Mar 24, 20 the classical sources polybius and livy tell us that when hannibals father, the great carthaginian general hamilcar barca, was preparing his expedition to iberia, nine year old hannibal asked to be allowed to accompany him. Undefeated in battle, hamilcar acquired the epithet barca meaning lightning on account of the swiftness and ferocity of his attacks. Son of hamilcar barca attacks saguntum fights in the punic wars against rome at age 9, put his hand in a bucket of blood and swore he would hate rome forever. Hannibals father was hamilcar barca, the most effective general carthage produced during the 23 year long first punic war, 264 b. Hanbaal, mercy of baal was born in 247 bce, his birthplace carthage was about to lose a long and important war. He kept his army intact and led a successful guerrilla war. The name punic comes from the word phoenician phoinix in the greek, poenus from punicus in latin as applied to the citizens of carthage, who were of phoenician ethnicity. The punic wars triggered an era of astonishing human misfortune. Hannibal and the first punic war 1406 words 6 pages. After the roman annexation of sardinia, hamilcar was put in command of carthaginian expansion in spain. The author didnt appear to be biased towards either side. Apr 18, 2018 the punic wars were a series of conflicts fought between the forces of ancient carthage and rome between 264 bce and 146 bce. History books world history hannibal barca heroes and generals punic wars prep book african royalty guided practice alternate history.
The three punic wars, fought over a hundred year period between rome and the ancient sea power of carthage was the most important series of wars undertaken by the roman republic. Hannibal had wished to go along with his father, but, being only 9 years old, was considered too young. The punic wars hannibal and hamilcar research papers. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Hamilcar barca rose to fame during the final years of the first punic war, which the romans and carthaginians had started in 264. The punic wars goodreads meet your next favorite book. A carthaginian shekel, dated 237227 bc, depicting the punic god melqart equivalent of herculesheracles, most likely with the features of hamilcar barca, father of hannibal barca. Rome and carthage, the punic wars r bosworth smith.
Hannibal was born in 247bce, he was the son of a carthaginian general named hamilcar barcareerred, who rallied his north african nationstate from defeat in the first punic war 264241 bc to conquer much of iberia. Immediately after the first punic war a great uprising of the mercenaries occurred 240238. Great book, lots of details on the punic wars, of course, but written in a fluid manner with lots of color on life at the time. Hamilcar barca was a member of the barcid clan of carthage and the father of hannibal barca, rome s most notorious enemy, who crossed the alps and caused havoc in italy in the second punic war 218 201 bce. The punic wars part two in the last post, we saw the romans embarrass the carthaginians at sea, make progress on land and you could be forgiven for thinking that the war will soon be over. The city had been the mediterraneans most prosperous seaport and possessed wealthy provinces, but it had.
Scribners sons, 1896 carthage extinct city 251 pages. The first of these wars 264241 cost carthage all remaining hold on sicily. The punic wars part two the herodotus history blog. Hamilcar barca, the leading general of carthage, was infuriated by the terms of this surrender and dedicated the rest of his life to building up a powerful. Chapter i hamilcar barca hannibal in spain hannibal marches over the alps what hannibal the carthaginian did to, and suffered from, the romans during the sixteen years that he persisted in war against them, from his first march from spain to italy until he was recalled by the carthaginians their own city being in danger, and was then driven out by the romans, this book will show. Interval between the first and second punic wars a carthaginian shekel, dated 237227 bc, depicting the punic god melqart equivalent of hercules heracles, most likely with the features of hamilcar barca, father of hannibal barca. Battle of bagradas punic wars history of the punic wars.
View the punic wars hannibal and hamilcar research papers on academia. Chapter i hamilcar barca hannibal in spain hannibal marches over the alps what hannibal the carthaginian did to, and suffered from, the romans during the sixteen years that he persisted in war against them, from his first march from spain to italy until he was recalled by the carthaginians their own city being in danger, and was then driven out by the romans, this book. After the punic wars, romans used the term punic as an adjective meaning treacherous. Punic wars, also called carthaginian wars, 264146 bce, a series of three wars between the roman republic and the carthaginian punic empire, resulting in the destruction of carthage, the enslavement of its population, and roman hegemony over the western mediterranean. Hamilcar barca rose to fame during the final years of the first punic war, which the romans and carthaginianshad started in 264. See more ideas about hannibal barca, punic wars and carthage. Hamilcar barca put down the revolt and compensated for the loss of sicilian possessions by undertaking conquest in spain, a conquest continued by hasdrubal. Most of the punic culture was destroyed as a result of the punic wars fought between rome and carthage, from 264 to 146 bc, but traces of language, religion and technology could still be found in africa during the early christianisation, from ad 325 to 650. After carthages defeat by the romans in the first punic war in 241 b. Popular punic wars books meet your next favorite book. The battle was a great success for the carthaginians, owing to the expertise supplied by the mercenary spartan general named xanthippus who engaged the romans on an openfield to. History of the african barca dynasty that almost defeated. Hamilcar barca was a member of the barcid clan of carthage and the. Political resultsedit a carthaginian shekel, dated 237227 bc, depicting the punic god melqart equivalent of herculesheracles, most likely with the features of hamilcar barca, father of hannibal barca.