HAMILCAR
13. A Carthaginian, who had remained in Cisalpine Gaul after the defeat of Hasdrubal at the Metaurus (B. C. 207), or, according to others, had been left there by Mago when he quitted Italy. In 200, when the Romans were engaged in the Macedonian war, and had greatly diminished their forces in Gaul, Hamilcar succeeded in exciting a general revolt, not only of the Insubrians, Boians, and Cenomanni, but several of the Ligurian tribes also.
By a sudden attack, he took the Roman colony of Placentia, which he plundered and burnt, and then laid siege to Cremona; but that place, though unprepared for defence, was able to hold out until the Roman praetor, L. Furius, arrived to its relief with an army from Ariminum.
A pitched battle ensued, in which the Gauls were totally defeated, and in which, according to one account, Hamilcar was slain: but another, and a more probable statement, represents him as continuing to take part in the war of the Gallic tribes, not without frequent successes, until the year 197, when he was taken prisoner, in the great battle on the river Mincius, in which the Insubrians were overthrown by the consul Cethegus.
He is said to have adorned the triumph celebrated by the victorious consul. (
Liv. 31.10,
21,
32.30,
33.23;
Zonar. 9.15,
16.)
In these proceedings, it is clear that Hamilcar acted without any authority from Carthage; and, on the complaints of the Romans, the Carthaginian government passed sentence against him of banishment and confiscation of his property. (
Liv. 31.19.)
