Hamilcar, a noted Carthaginian general. He was the hero of the First Punic War. He led the Carthaginian forces in Sicily against the Romans, and suppressed an uprising of the hired forces of Carthage at home. In order to gain possession of the mines of Spain, with which to wage war against Rome, he began the reduction of Spain to a Carthaginian province. When about to leave for Spain he caused his son Hannibal to stand before the altar and swear eternal enmity to Rome. In 228 B. C. he fell in battle with one of the native tribes of Spain.

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