Barcid

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" was coined by scholars when talking about the family in general. The actual surname was Barca or Barcas, which means "lightning": see ברק "Baraq" in Canaanite and Hebrew, برق, "barq" in Arabic, and similar words in other Semitic languages. It may also mean blessing (Hebrew ברכה "brakhah", Arabic بركة "barakah").

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 Carthaginian cities in the Iberian peninsula, some of which still exist today. Mahon and Qart Hadast (more famous by its Latin name: 'Carthago Nova' - New Carthage) which currently bears the name of Cartagena.

The known members of this family were:

*Hamilcar Barca (?-228 BC), a Carthaginian general 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.

*His wife; her name is unknown.

*His daugther Salambua.

*His daughter Sapanibal, who was married with Hasdrubal the Fair.

*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 of classical antiquity, and arguably the greatest enemy of the Roman Republic. His most famous victory, the Battle of Cannae is most likely the most studied and famous 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".

References

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