A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. By various writers. Ed. by William Smith. Illustrated by numerous engravings on wood.

.HAMILCAR.,HAMILCAR. 829
and which should retain his command. The soldiers Hamilcar crossed over into Spain.' Both Appian
chose Hamilcar, who accordingly remained at his and Zonaras expressly assert that he took this impost, and Hannibal succeeded Hanno as his col- portant step without any authority from the governleague. Matho and Spendius, the leaders of the ment at home, trusting to the popular influence at
insurgents, had taken advantage of the dissensions Carthage to ratify his measures subsequently; and
among their adversaries, and after many successes it is said that he secured this confirmation not only
*had even ventured:to lay siege to Carthage itself; by his brilliant successes, and by the influence of
but Hamilcar,.. by laying waste the country behind his son-in-law Hasdrubal, one of the chief leaders
them, and intercepting their supplies, reduced them of the democratic party at Carthage, but by emto such distress, that they were compelled.to raise ploying the treasures which he obtained in Spain
the siege. Spendius now took the field against in purchasing adherents at'home. (Appian, Hisp.
Hamilcar; but though his forces.were greatly 4, 5, A7nnib. 2; Zonar. viii. 17; Diod. Exe. Vales.
superior, he was no match for his adversary in xxv.) Whatever weight we may attach to these
generalship; and the latter succeeded in shutting statements (which are probably derived from Fahim up, with his whole army, in a position from bius), it is certain that Hamilcar was supported by
which there was no escape. Hence, after suffering the popular or democratic party at Carthage, in
the utmost extremities of hunger, Spendius him- opposition to the old aristocracy, of whom Hanno
self, together with nine others of the leaders of the was the chief leader: and it was in order to
rebels, repaired to the camp of Hamilcar to sue for strengthen this interest that he allied himself with
mercy. That general agreed to allow the army to Hasdrubal, who, both by his wealth and popular
depart in safety, but without arms or baggage, and manners, had acquired a powerful body of adherents
retaining to himself the power of. selecting for in the state. It seems probable also that we are to
punishment ten of the ringleaders. These terms attribute to Hamilcar alone the project to which he
being agreed to, he immediately seized on Spendius henceforth devoted himself with so much energy,
and his companions as the ten whom he selected: and which was so ably followed up after his death
the rebel army, deeming themselves betrayed, by Hasdrubal and Hannibal,-that of forming in
rushed to arms; but Hamilcar surrounded them Spain a new empire, which should not only be a
with his elephants and troops, and put them all to source of strength: and wealth to Carthage, and
-the sword, to the number, it is said, of 40,000 men. compensate for the loss of Sicily and Sardinia, but
(Polyb. i. 82-85.) But even this fearful mas- should be the point from whence he might at a
sacre was far from putting an end to.the war: a subsequent period renew hostilities against Rome.
large force still remained under the command of (Polyb. iii. 9, 10.) His enmity to that state, and.Matho, with which he held the important town of his long-cherished resentment for the loss of Sicily,
Tunis. Here Hamilcar and Hannibal proceeded had been aggravated by the flagrant injustice with
to besiege him with their combined forces; but which the Romans had taken advantage of the
M-latho took advantage of the negligence of the weakness of Carthage after the African war, to
latter, to surprise his camp, cut to pieces great part force from her the cession of Sardinia, one of her
of his army, aud take Hannibal himself prisoner. most valued possessions; and the intensity of this
This disaster compelled Hamilcar to raise the siege feeling may be inferred from the well-known story
of Tunis, and fall back to the river Bagradas. The of his causing his son Hannibal, when a child of
Carthaginian senate, in great. alarm, now exerted nine years old, to swear at the altar eternal hostility
themselves to bring about a reconciliation between to Rome.'(Polyb. iii. 1].) - But his views were
Hamilcar and Hanno; and this being at length long-sighted, and he regarded the subjugation of
effected, the two generals again took the field in Spain as a necessary preliminary to that contest
concert. They soon succeeded in bringing matters for life or death, to which he looked forward as his
to the decision of a general battle, in which the ultimate end. The Carthaginians, whether or not
rebels were completely defeated, and Matho him- they sanctioned his plans in the beginning, did not
self taken prisoner; after which almost all the attempt to interfere with them afterwards, and left
revolted towns submitted to the Carthaginians. him the uncontrolled direction of affairs in Spain
Utica and Hippo alone held out for a time, but from his first arrival there till his death, a period of
they were soon reduced. the one by Hamilcar and nearly nine years. But of all that he accomplished
the other by Hanno; and this sanguinary war at during this long interval we know, unfortunately,
length brought to a successful close (B.c. 238), almost nothing. Previous to this time the Carafter it had lasted three years and four months. thaginians do.not appear to have had any dominion
(Polyb. i. 86-88; comp. Diod. Eve.- Hoeschel. in the interior of Spain, though Gades and other'
xxv. 1; and for the chronology see Clinton, F. H. Phoenician colonies gave them in some measure
vol. iii. an. 238.). the command of the southern coasts; but Hamilcar
There is much obscurity with regard to the con- carried his arms into the heart of the country, and
duct of Hamilcar after the termination of the war while he reduced some cities and tribes by force of
of the mercenaries. Polybius states simply (ii. I) arms, gained over others by negotiation, and availed
that the Carthaginians immediately afterwards himself of their services as allies or as mercenaries.
sent him with an army into Spain. Diodorus and The vast wealth he is said to have acquired by his
Appian, on the contrary, represent him as engaging victories was probably derived not only from the
in intrigues with the popular party at Carthage. plunder and contributions of the vanquished naagainst the aristocracy; and the latter author tions, but from the rich silver mines in part of the
asserts that it was in order to escape a prosecution country which he subdued. We are told also that
brought.against him by the adverse party for his he founded a great city, which he destined to be
conduct in Sicily, that he sought and obtained em- the capital of the Carthaginian empire in Spain, at
ployment in a war against the Numidians, in which a place called the White Promontory ('Acpa AesvKi),
Hanno was associated with him as his colleague; but this was probably superseded by New Carand on the latter being recalled to Carthage, thage, and its. situation is now unknown. The