REL 464 - The Inter-Testamental Era
Carthaginian leaders
It is difficult to keep track of Carthaginian leaders and explorers, because several of them had the same names. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica there were about 20 Carthaginian generals or leaders who were named Hanno. There were even three men known as "Hanno the Great", and several Magos, Hannibals, Hamilcars, Hasdrubals, and Himilcos.
The name Barca is equivalent to the Hebrew name Barak, and means "thunderbolt" or "shining". It was the patronymic of a prominent Carthaginian family.
The name Bomilcar means "Servant of Melqart" of "In Melqart's Hand"
The name Hamilcar means "servant of Melqart" or "Melqart is gracious" - Melqart was the Phoenician/Carthaginian god.
The name Hanno was very common in Carthage, and probably means "gracious".
The name Hannibal is a combination of Hanno and Baal (the Canaanite/Phoenician deity, Lord of the Storm) and means "Baal is gracious" or "Baal has been gracious".
The name Hasdrubal means "Help of Baal"
The name Mago means "God-sent"
Bomilcar (d.308 BC) along with Hanno and 40,000 soldiers were defeated by Greek/Syracusan forces in 309 BC. Hanno was killed, but Bomilcar escaped. The next year, Bomilcar tried to make himself dictator of Carthage, but was defeated and crucified
Bomilcar (3rd century BC) was probably a Carthaginian suffete during the Second Punic War (218-201 BC). He married one of Hamilcar Barca's daughters, and had a son named Hanno.
Another Bomilcar (3rd century BC) was a Carthaginian commander and supply officer for Hannibal Barca during the Second Punic War (218-201 BC).
Hamilcar I (ruled ca.510-480 BC), also known as Hamilcar the Magonid or Hamilcar Mago (d. 480 BC), was the son of Hanno I and the brother of Hasdrubal I. Hamilcar became King in 510 BC when Hasdrubal I died. He allied himself with Xerxes of Persia against the Greeks, and led an expedition to Sicily in 483 BC, but was defeated at Himera in 480 BC and committed suicide on the battlefield. After the death of Hamilcar I, the Kings of Carthage lost most of their power, and leadership was taken by a Council of Elders known as the Council of 104.
Hamilcar (d.307 BC), grandson of Hanno the Great, led Carthaginian forces in a siege against Syracuse in 310 BC, but was captured and killed in 307 BC
Hamilcar Barca (ca. 275-228 BC) became a general in the Carthaginian army in 247 BC, during the First Punic War. Hanno the Great was leading the Carthaginians in North Africa, and Hamilcar Barca was appointed to lead the fight in Sicily. Around 239 BC the Carthaginian army had to choose between Hanno the Great and Hamilcar Barca as Supreme Commander, and elected Hamilcar Barca to the position. He re-organized the Carthaginian forces in Sicily in 237 BC, but received no reinforcements from Carthage. He defeated a revolt by mercenary soldiers who had not been paid their wages, joined by and poverty-stricken peasants, in Carthage in 237 BC. In 236 BC he attacked southern Spain and recaptured the Spanish possessions that had been lost earlier. He was either killed in battle or drowned during a retreat, ca. 228 BC. Hamilcar Barca was the father of Hannibal Barca, Hasdrubal Barca, and Mago Barca, and at least three daughters. His oldest daughter married a Carthaginian leader named Bomilcar and had a son named Hanno, who served as a commander in the army of Hannibal Barca. His second daughter married Hasdrubal the Fair, who served as one of his commanders and who succeeded him as leader of the Carthaginian forces. His third daughter married a Numidian/Berber chief.
Hannibal Mago, (d. ca.405 BC), also known as Hannibal I, was the son of Gisco and the grandson of Hamilcar Mago (Hamilcar I or Mago I). He became Shofet (magistrate) of Carthage in 410 BC. He started the First Sicilian-Carthaginian War in 409 BC by leading a campaign in Sicily which was noted for its ferocity. An epidemic swept through his army and killed him and hundreds of his soldiers.
Hannibal (d.261 BC), was defeated in a sea-battle with Rome, and was subsequently crucified.
Hannibal Gisco (d.258 BC) was a military commander during the First Punic War, and led a Carthaginian attack on Sicily.
Hannibal Barca (247-ca.181 BC) was the oldest son of Hamilcar Barca. When his father died in 228 BC and his brother-in-law Hannibal the Fair became commander of the army, Hannibal Barca (then 18 years old) served as an officer in the army. He became leader of the Carthaginian forces on the assassination of Hasdrubal in 221 BC. Hannibal Barca's brother was Hasdrubal Barca. In 219 BC Hannibal Barca and Hasdrubal Barca conquered the Iberian peninsular as far as the Ebro River. Then Hanibal marched his army through what would become southern France, and crossed the Alps and entered Italy in 218 BC. At Tichinus he beat Cornelius Scipio, and at Trebia he beat Sempronius Longus. In 217 BC he beat Flaminius at Lake Trasimene, and in 216 BC he beat Terentius Varro at Cannae. However, he was unable to take Rome. Scipio and a Roman army invaded Africa and were victorious over Hasdrubal Gisco, and Mago was defeated in northern Italy when he tried to bring reinforcements to Hannibal, so Carthage and Rome signed a peace treaty and Hannibal returned to Carthage in 204 BC.
In 202 BC Carthage attacked Roman ships and the Punic Wars opened again. Hannibal was defeated at Zama and the Second Punic War ended in defeat for Carthage.
In 195 BC Hannibal became Suffete (ruler) of Carthage and instituted some reforms, but in 194 BC he had to flee from Carthage to escape his Roman enemies. He fled east to the court of Antiochus III and disappeared from history, probably committing suicide in 183 BC to escape being handed over to the Romans.
Hanno the Navigator (6th-5th century BC, dates uncertain) was related to Hamilcar I. The exact dates for Hanno the Navigator are disputed; he was probably either the son, or the father, of Hamilcar I.
ca. 410 BC Hanno the Navigator led an expedition into the Atlantic to explore the west coast of Africa. He reported seeing an active volcano, and recorded observations of gorillas. He founded Carthaginian settlements in Morocco, Mauretania, and Senegal.
Upon his return, Hanno dedicated an inscription in one of the Carthaginian temples, describing his adventures. This was translated into Greek and copied several times. Two very late copies of the Greek text exist. Go
here for a translation of Hanno's account.
Hanno I ruled Carthage ca.580-ca.556 BC
Hanno II ruled Carthage ca. 480-440 BC (d.480 BC), the son of Hamilcar I. He may be the same person as Hanno the Navigator.
Hanno the Great (d.ca.340 BC) defeated an attack at Lilybaeum in Sicily by Dionysius I tyrant of Syracuse in 367 BC. He was a prominent leader in Carthage for about twenty years, until he attempted to seize power from the Council of Elders, but failed, and was crucified. He may have been an ancestor of Hanno II the Great. His sons were Hamilcar and Gisco; Hamilcar was executed along with his father, and Gisco was exiled.
Hanno along with Bomilcar and 40,000 soldiers were defeated by Greek/Syracusan forces in 309 BC
Hanno II the Great was appointed to lead the Carthaginian army in North Africa in 248 BC, and conquered a large area for Carthage. He was opposed to the war with Rome, and came into opposition against Hamilcar Barca. He demobilized the Carthaginian navy in 244 BC, which led to a Roman victory over Carthage in 241 BC. Then he refused to pay the rewards promised by Hamilcar Barca to the mercenary soldiers, and provoked a rebellion which was only put down when both Hanno the Great and Hamilcar Barca cooperated with one another to crush the rebellion in 238 BC. Hanno continued to oppose war with Rome, and was probably instrumental in blocking reinforcements for Hannibal Barca in Italy. After the Battle of Zama in 202 he was one of the negotiators of a truce with Rome.
Hanno the Elder (d.204 BC) was a Carthaginian general who served under Hannibal Barca during the Second Punic War. He was defeated by the Romans several times : in 215 BC he was defeated at Grumentum, in 214 BC and again in 212 BC he was defeated at Beneventum, and in 207 Hanno the Elder and Mago Barca were defeated in Celtiberia. In 204 BC he was killed by Scipio Africanus.
Hanno, son of Bomilcar served under Hannibal Barca during the Second Punic War. His mother was a daughter of Hamilcar Barca, and sister to Hannibal Barca. He led a light infantry force to attack the Gauls from the rear when they tried to stop Hannibal Barca from crossing the Rhone River in 218 BC. He led the Numidian cavalry in the Battle of Cannae in 216 BC, and may be the same person as the Hanno who was in command of Carthaginian troops in Africa in 203 BC.
Hasdrubal I (d.510 BC), son of Mago I, and brother of Hamilcar I, was elected King of Carthage in 530 BC and later invaded the island of Sardinia. He died of wounds from fighting in Sardinia, and was succeeded by his brother Hamilcar I.
Hasdrubal (d.343 BC) tried to invade Sicily, but lost the Battle of Segesta against Syracuse and was executed for failure
Hasdrubal (d.253 BC) defeated an invading Roman army in 257 BC, with the aid of Numidian cavalry led by the Greek mercenary Xanthippus. In 253 BC Hasdrubal was defeated in a naval battle with the Romans and was executed by his own forces.
Hasdrubal the Fair (ca.270-221 BC) was the son-in-law of Hamilcar Barca. He succeeded Hamilcar Barca as leader of the Carthaginian forces in 229 BC. In 228 BC Hasdrubal founded Cartagena (Carthago Nova) in Spain. He was assassinated by an Iberian (native of Hispania/Spain) in 221 BC and was succeeded by Hannibal Barca
Hasdrubal Barca (ca.244-207 BC) was a son of Hamilcar Barca, and younger brother of Hannibal Barca and Mago Barca. When Hannibal marched over the Alps to Italy in 218 BC in order to attack Rome, Hasdrubal remained in Spain to hold the Carthaginian bases there. He returned to Africa to fight off some of the Numidian tribes allied to Rome, and defeated the Scipio brothers at the Battle of the Upper Baetis in 211 BC. However, in 207 BC, when he tried to march to the help of his brother Hannibal, he himself was killed by the Romans at the battle at the Metaurus River in northern Italy. The Romans cut his head off, and threw it into the camp of Hannibal so that Hannibal would know that no help was coming.
Hasdrubal Gisco (d.202 BC) was a Carthaginian general during the Second Punic War. Hasdrubal Gisco and Mago Barca defeated and killed Publius Cornelius Scipio in 212 BC, then they combined with Hasdrubal Barca to defeat and kill Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio Calvus in Iberia (Spain). However, both Hasdrubal Gisco and Mago Barca were defeated by Scipio Africanus (the son of Publius Scipio) at the Battle of Ilipa in 206 BC. After his defeat Hasdrubal Gisco returned to Africa, but wae followed by Scipio and wae defeated again. Hasdrubal escaped to Carthage, where he committed suicide in 202 BC.
Himilco the Explorer (dates uncertain) led an expedition from the Mediterranean ca. 410 BC, through the Pillars of Hercules (the Straits of Gibraltar), into the Atlantic Ocean and northwards along the coast of Europe, probably as far as Scandinavia or Scotland. His account of the voyage was filled with tales of sea-monsters and great hardships, probably in an attempt to discourage Greek explorers from following him.
Himilco I ruled in Sicily, 460-410 BC)
Himilco II (d.396 BC), son of Hanno II and cousin of Hannibal Mago, became leader when Hannibal Mago (Hannibal I) died in 405 BC. The Carthaginian army was hit by an epidemic, so Himilco made a treaty with Syracuse, by which Syracuse granted control of most of Sicily to Carthage, and paid tribute to Carthage. Dionysius I was confirmed as Tyrant (dictator) of Syracuse. The First Sicilian-Carthaginian War ended.
In 396 BC Himilco attacked and besieged Syracuse but his army was hit again by an epidemic and they were defeated by Dionysius I. Himilco abandoned his army, returned to Carthage, and starved himself to death.
Himilco Mago, son of Mago II defeated Dionysius I of Syracuse near Himera, in 375 BC
Mago I (d.530 BC) was the founder of the Magonid dynasty. In 550 BC Mago I succeeded Malchus as leader of the Carthaginian forces. He reformed the Carthaginian army and extended Carthaginian power over Sardinia and southern Spain.
Mago led an expedition across the Sahara desert ca.479-450 BC and extended Carthaginian territory
Mago II (d.375 BC), nephew of Himilco II, became leader in 396 BC. He fought against Dionysius I, Tyrant of Syracuse, and was defeated and killed in 375 BC.
Mago III ruled Carthage 375-343 BC). He tried to invade Syracuse in 343 BC, failed, and committed suicide rather than face a court-martial.
Mago Barca (243-203 BC) was the youngest son of Hamilcar Barca and the brother of Hannibal Barca.
Mago Barca took part in the Second Punic War alongside his brothers Hannibal and Hasdrubal; he was with Hannibal in Italy, but after the Battle of Cannae (216 BC) Hannibal sent Mago back to Carthage to take the golden rings captured from the Romans and to ask for reinforcements. The Carthaginians then sent Mago to help Hasdrubal in Spain.
Mago and his brother Hasdrubal had some initial successes against the Roman forces led by the Scipio brothers (Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio Calvus and Publius Cornelius Scipio) but were unable to send help to Hannibal in Italy. Mago and Hasdrubal Gisco fought and killed Publius Scipio, then joined with Hasdrubal Barca to fight and kill Gnaeus Scipio, but were successfully opposed by Publius Cornelius Scipio the Younger (who was later given the title of Scipio Africanus.
Mago Barca was defeated in a battle at Ilipia against Scipio Africanus (206 BC), and then left Spain for Italy in an attempt to help Hannibal. Although he captured part of northern Italy and held it for three years the Romans managed to keep him from reaching Hannibal.
Mago Barca was defeated by the Romans again in 203 BC and (according to the Roman historian Livy) died of his wounds on his way back to Carthage (202 BC).
Mago (3rd century BC) was an admiral who was sent to Rome in 278 BC to persuade the Romans to join Carthage in the war against Pyrrhus.
Malchus (d. ca. 550 BC) led the Carthaginians against the Greeks in Sicily. He captured half of the island of Sicily, but was defeated in Sardinia. He was banished, then led an army against Carthage, but was defeated and executed.
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