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Translation: Ibrahim Karmoum
After the First Punic War, Hamilcar Barca, a Carthaginian general, went to Spain in order to conquer a new Empire and compensate for the Carthaginian losses in Sicily and the other Mediterranean islands. His ambition was above all to make it a basis for his future revenge against Rome. After his death, his son-in-law Hasdrubal the Fair and his son Hannibal will continue the adventure.
Context
Carthage had colonies in Spain as early as the 7″ Century, including Gades, on the Strait of Gibraltar, which was one of the main ports of his Empire and the likely starting point for expeditions by Carthaginian explorers. These Carthaginian cities in Spain can be considered as the first African colonies in Europe. From the coast, Carthage had extended its control over a fairly large territory, to the south and east of the Iberian Peninsula.
Most of this territory was lost during the First Punic War: at the end of the war, Carthage controlled only Gades and a few other cities on the southern coast of Spain.
The Barcid conquests in Spain
In 236, after having subdued the insurrection of the former mercenaries of the Carthaginian army, Hamilcar Barca, the last commander of the Carthaginian army during the First Punic War, decided to regain the territories lost by Carthage in Spain. His conquest of the Iberian Peninsula would be a family affair: his son-in-law Hasdrusbal the Fair and his son Hannibal accompanied him. His army was composed mainly of Numidian fighters.
According to the Greek historian Polybius, Carthage was so weakened by the war that she could not put a fleet at Hamilcar’s disposal, so its army had to march Carthage to Tingis before crossing the strait.
In eight years, Hamilcar seized half of the Iberian Peninsula, both by arms and diplomacy. His successes further increased the prestige of a man who was already considered the greatest military strategist in the history of Carthage. His ambition: to build a new Carthaginian Empire in Spain, which will serve as the basis for a new war against Rome.
In 228, Hamilcar died in battle, aged only 46. His death, however, will not be the end of the adventure: his son-in-law Hasdrubal the Fair continued his conquests.
Shortly after Hamilcar’s death, Hasdrubal founded the capital of Barcid Spain: Carthago Nova, the new Carthage (modern-day Cartagena).
Hasdrubal the Fair was murdered in 221, by a slave of the king of a local Celtic tribe, to avenge the death of his master. Hannibal, Hamilcar’s son, succeeds him.
Upon their arrival in Spain, Hamilcar and his successors had the vision to consolidate their domination over this territory, in order to use it to attack Rome. In 218, this attack was finally ready: Hannibal assembled an army at Carthago Nova and invaded Italy.
