Barca

Hannibal Barca is the most celebrated of this influential Punic Clan. He himself led the charge against the fledgling Roman Empire, marching from southern Spain, over the Pyrenees and through Gaul, to finally cross the Alps into Northern Italy. All with 30+ elephants. But few other members of the Clan are ever mentioned. Hamilcar, his father, Hasdrubal his brother in law and his brothers Hasdrubal and Mago.

Before Hannibal was even born, his father, Hamilcar, was deeply involved in the first of a string of wars to be later named, the Punic Wars. Hamilcar led the defense of Carthaginian Sicily and achieved succes in defending the western half of the island, only evacuating due to multiple Carthaginian loses at sea. So the 1st Punic war ends with Sicily lost, but Hamilcar keeps Carthage alive through the mercenary army rebellions. "In a savage campaign that lasted for three years (with no quarter on either side). Hamilcar finally brought the war to an end with the total destruction of the rebels." (Bradford)

Hamilcar is then sent westward and through the next few years campaigning lays the ground work for Carthaginian power in Southern Spain. Unfortunatly he is killed in 230 BCE and succeeded by Hasdrubal his son-in-law who completes the conquests south of the Ebro River. The territory is ruled by Hasdrubal who expains and calms it untill he is assasinated in 221 BCE.

After spending 16 years with the armies of Carthage in the field Hannibal takes command at the age of 26 and so begins the story of Hannibals march and the history that rocked the Roman world. But Hannibal was not the only Barca to invade Italy; in 207 Hasdruabal, the brother, crossed the Alps and invaded Italy, following the same path Hannibal took. Two years later the youngest, Mago, sails to Northwestern Italy and sacts the towns in the area.

Bradford, Ernie. Hannibal. New York: Dorset, 1991. Print.