For a century Carthage was Rome's great rival, and no family was more closely bound to that war than the Barcids. From Hamilcar, who held Sicily and built an empire in Spain, to his son Hannibal, perhaps the most feared enemy Rome ever faced, these are the commanders of Carthage, each linked to the battle or campaign that made their name.
Hannibal. The general who crossed the Alps and won the crushing victory at Cannae, among the most dangerous enemies Rome faced.
Snow Storm: Hannibal and his Army Crossing the Alps, painted by J. M. W. Turner and exhibited in 1812, now in Tate Britain. Public domain
Hamilcar Barca. Hannibal's father, who held Sicily against Rome and forged a new Carthaginian empire in Hispania.
Hasdrubal Barca. The brother who held Spain and marched over the Alps to reinforce Hannibal, falling at the Metaurus.
Hannibal recognises the head of his brother Hasdrubal, killed at the Metaurus, in a painting by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo of about 1726 to 1729. Public domain
Mago Barca. The youngest brother, who sprang the ambush at the Trebia and carried the war into northern Italy.
The family that fought Rome
The Barcids were a single family bound to a single enemy. Hamilcar began the work in Sicily and Spain; his sons finished it in Italy. Hannibal won the great victories, Hasdrubal died trying to reinforce him at the Metaurus, and Mago fought on to the last in the north. In the end Rome prevailed at Zama, but the Barcid war remains one of history's great might-have-beens.
Rome and Carthage at the start of the Second Punic War in 218 BC, a map from William R. Shepherd's Historical Atlas. Public domain
The most celebrated are the Barcid family: Hamilcar Barca and his three sons Hannibal, Hasdrubal and Mago, who led Carthage through the wars with Rome.
Who was Carthage's greatest general?
Hannibal is almost always given first place, for his crossing of the Alps and his crushing victory at Cannae in 216 BC.
Were all the great Carthaginian commanders related?
The most famous were. Hamilcar Barca and his sons Hannibal, Hasdrubal and Mago formed a single family, the Barcids, that dominated Carthage's war effort.
Did Carthage win the wars with Rome?
No. Despite Hannibal's victories, Rome won all three Punic Wars; the second was decided at Zama in 202 BC and the third with the destruction of Carthage in 146 BC.
Who beat Hannibal?
The Roman general Scipio Africanus defeated Hannibal at the Battle of Zama in 202 BC, ending the Second Punic War.
Where can I read about their battles?
Each commander links to their key battles, and Rome vs Carthage tells the story of the whole struggle, from Cannae and the Metaurus to Zama.
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