Discover

The ''Barcid'' family was a notable family in the ancient city of Carthage; many of its members were fierce enemies of the Roman Republic. The word "Barcid" as a family name was apparently invented by scholars to designate this family; its original surname was 'Barca' or 'Barcas', which means ''lightning'': see ''Baraq'', in Canaanite, برق, ''Barq'', in Arabic, and similar words in other Semitic languages.
According to ancient legend, the Barcids were descendants of Queen Dido, the semi-legendary Phoenician founder of Carthage. As her Trojan lover Aeneas abandoned her, Dido killed herself, cursing him and his descendants (the Romans). Modern historians suppose that the family was of humble origin; unfortunately, with the nearly complete destruction of Carthage by the Roman army at the end of the Third Punic War, chances are slim that the true origins of this important family will ever be satisfactorily resolved.
During the 3rd century BC, the Barcids were one of the leading families in the ruling oligarchy of Carthage. They seem to have realized that the expansion of the Roman Republic into the Mediterranean Sea threatened the mercantile power of Carthage. Accordingly, they fought in the First Punic War and prepared themselves for the Second Punic War.
The Barcids were the founders of several cities in the Iberian peninsula, some of which still exist to this day. Their names are their most visible legacy: Mahon and Carthago Nova (meaning 'New Carthage', indicating its importance), which currently bears the name of Cartagena.
The most famous members of this family were:

★ 'Hamilcar Barca' (?-228 BC) was a Carthaginian military commander in the First Punic War and in the subsequent Mercenary War. Reputedly, he made his eldest son swear a sacred oath upon an altar of the gods "to never be a friend of Rome." After the Roman victory, he expanded the colonial possessions in Hispania (modern Spain and Portugal), where he drowned crossing a river.

★ 'Hasdrubal the Fair' (?-221 BC), Hamilcar's son-in-law, who followed the latter in his campaign against the governing aristocracy at Carthage at the close of the First Punic War, and in his subsequent career of conquest in Hispania. After Hamilcar's death (228 BC), Hasdrubal, who succeeded him in the command, extended the newly acquired empire by skillful diplomacy, and consolidated it by laying the foundation of Carthago Nova and establishing it as the capital of the new province. By a treaty with Rome he fixed the Ebro as the boundary between the two powers. He was killed by a Celtic assassin.

★ 'Hannibal' (247-182 BC) ("grace of Ba`al" or "mercy of Ba`al") first-born son of Hamilcar Barca, one of the most famous generals in history, and arguably the greatest enemy of the Roman Republic. His most famous victory, the battle of Cannae is most likely the best-known and most studied battle of antiquity. It was written that he taught the Romans, who claimed to be fierce descendants of Mars, the meaning of fear. Roman mothers were said to terrify their children with "Hannibal ad portas!" - "Hannibal is at the gates!"

★ 'Hasdrubal', (?-207 BC) second son of Hamilcar Barca, and younger brother of Hannibal. He defended the Carthaginian cities in Hispania as Hannibal departed to Italy in 218 BC. Leading reinforcements for his brother Hannibal in 207 BC, he was defeated and killed in the decisive Battle of the Metaurus.

★ 'Mago' (also spelled 'Magon') (243 - 203 BC) third son of Hamilcar Barca, was present at most of the battles of his famous brother and played a key role in many of them, commanding the forces that made the "decisive push".

Contents

References

References

★ Matyszak, Philip, ''The Enemies of Rome'', Thames & Hudson, ISBN 0-500-25124-X