Hamilcar
（
Ἀμίλκας).
1.
A Carthaginian general, son of Mago, or, according to others, of Hanno , conquered by
Gelon, in Sicily, the same day that Xerxes was defeated at Salamis. Herodotus (vii. 165)
states that he was never seen either living or dead after the battle in which his army was
defeated. According to Polyaenus, however (i. 27, 2), Gelon destroyed him by a stratagem
while sacrificing.
2.
Surnamed
Rhodănus, a Carthaginian
general of considerable talent. Perceiving his fellow-citizens to be greatly disquieted at
the projects of Alexander of Macedon (B.C. 332), he betook himself to that prince, in order,
if possible, to penetrate his designs, and give his countrymen timely notice of them. After
the death of Alexander he returned to Carthage, where he was put to death, on false
accusations of treason, as the recompense of his devotion to his country (
Just.xxi. 5).
3.
A Carthaginian general, in the time of Agathocles, tyrant of Sicily. He came to the succour
of Syracuse when besieged by that usurper. Being gained over, however, by the gold of
Agathocles, he prevailed on the Syracusans to make peace, and favoured by his inaction the
schemes of the tyrant. The Carthaginian Senate condemned him to lose his head, but he died at
Syracuse, B.C. 311, before the sentence could be made public (
Just.xxii.
2).
4.
The son of Giscon; a Carthaginian general, sent into Sicily about B.C. 311, to oppose the
progress of Agathocles. On his arrival he gained a victory, which opened to him the gates of
several large cities. In attempting to make himself master of Syracuse, during the absence of
Agathocles in Africa, he was taken prisoner and put to death, B.C. 309.
5.
Surnamed
Barca, the leader of the popular party at
Carthage, appointed in the eighteenth year of the First Punic War (B.C. 247) to the command
of the Carthaginian armies. No particulars have been preserved respecting his early life or
the time of his birth; but it is learned from Nepos (
Hamil. 1) that he was
very young when he obtained the command. He ravaged with his fleet the coast of the Bruttii
and the Epizephyrian Locrians, and afterwards seized upon a strong
fortress in Sicily, which was situated between Eryx and Panormus. In this place he continued
for some years, with very little support from the Carthaginian government; and, although the
Romans were masters of almost the whole of the island, they were unable to dislodge him. He
frequently ravaged the southern coasts of Italy as far as Cumae, and defeated the Roman
troops in Sicily. On one occasion he took Eryx, which he held till the conclusion of the war.
The Romans at length fitted out a fleet to cut off all communication between Hamilcar and
Carthage; the Carthaginian fleet sent to his assistance was defeated by the Roman consul
Lutatius Catulus (B.C. 241), and the Carthaginians were obliged to sue for peace. This was
granted by the Romans; and Hamilcar led his troops from Eryx to Lilybaeum, whence they were
conveyed to Africa. But a new danger awaited Carthage. The Carthaginian treasury was
exhausted; and it was proposed to the troops that they should relinquish a part of the pay
which was due to them. The soldiers rejected the proposal, appointed two of their number,
Spendius and Matho, commanders, and proceeded to enforce their demands. Being joined by many
of the native tribes of Africa, they defeated Hanno , the Carthaginian general sent against
them, and brought Carthage to the brink of ruin. In these desperate circumstances Hamilcar
was appointed to the command, and at length succeeded in subduing them after the war had
lasted three years and four months. After the end of this war Hamilcar was sent into Spain
(B.C. 238). He remained in Spain nearly nine years, during which time he extended the
dominion of Carthage over the southern and eastern parts of that country. He fell in a battle
against the natives (B.C. 229), leaving three sons, Hasdrubal, Mago, and Hannibal.
The abilities of Hamilcar were of the highest order; and he directed all the energies of
his mind to diminish the power of Rome. Polybius states his belief (Bk. iii.) that his
administration would soon have produced another war with the Romans, if he had not been
prevented by the disorders in which his country was involved through the war of the
mercenaries. Hamilcar was succeeded in his command in Spain by his son-in-law Hasdrubal, who
must not be confounded with Hasdrubal, the brother of Hannibal. See Polyb. i., ii.; Corn.
Nep.
Hamil. 3, and the striking picture given in Flaubert's novel,
Salammbô.
6.
A Carthaginian general, son of Bomilcar, conquered by the Scipios (B.C. 215) when besieging
Ilitingis, in Hispania Baetica, along with Hasdrubal and Mago. He is supposed by some to be
the same with the Hamilcar who, fifteen years after, at the head of a body of Gauls, took and
sacked Placentia, and was defeated and slain before Cremona. Others affirm that he was taken
prisoner three years later in a battle fought near the Mincius, and served to grace the
victory of the conqueror (
Livy, xxiii. 49; xxxi. 10; xxxii. 23;
Pliny ,
Pliny H. N. iii. 1).
