Hannibal Succeeds to Command in Spain
The Carthaginians were highly incensed by their loss
of
Sicily, but their resentment was heightened still more, as I
have said, by the transaction as to
Sardinia, and by the addition recently made to their tribute. Accordingly, when the
greater part of
Iberia had fallen into their power, they were on
the alert to seize any opportunity that presented itself of retaliating upon
Rome. At the death of Hasdrubal, to whom
they had committed the command in
Iberia after the death of
Hamilcar, they waited at first to ascertain the
feelings of the army; but when news came from
thence that the troops had elected Hannibal as
commander in-chief, a popular assembly was at once held, and
the choice of the army confirmed by a unanimous vote.
Death of Hamilcar, B. C. 229. |
As
soon as he had taken over the command, Hannibal set out to subdue the tribe of the Olcades;
and, having arrived before their most formidable city Althaea, he pitched his camp under its walls;
and by a series of energetic and formidable assaults succeeded
before long in taking it: by which the rest of the tribe were
overawed into submission to
Carthage.
Death of Hasdrubal, B. C. 221. |
Having imposed a
contribution upon the towns, and thus become possessed of a
large sum of money, he went to the
New Town to winter.
There, by a liberal treatment of the forces under his command,
giving them an instalment of their pay at once and promising
the rest, he established an excellent feeling towards himself in
the army, as well as great hopes for the future.
