Editing Hannibal (section)

==Background and early career==

[[File:Carthage, quarter shekel, 237-209 BC, SNG BM Spain 102.jpg|alt=|thumb|A [[Carthaginian currency|quarter shekel]] of Carthage, perhaps minted in Spain. The obverse may depict Hannibal with the traits of a young [[Melqart]]. The reverse features one of his famous [[war elephants]].<ref>''Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Great Britain, Volume IX, British Museum, Part 2: Spain'', London, 2002, n° 102.</ref>]]

Hannibal was one of the sons of [[Hamilcar Barca]], a Carthaginian leader, and an unknown mother. He was most likely born in the city of Carthage, located in what is present-day northern [[Tunisia]], one of many [[Mediterranean]] regions colonised by the [[Canaanites]] from their homeland in [[Phoenicia]], a region corresponding with the Mediterranean coasts of modern Lebanon and Syria. There is a lesser supported theory that he was born in [[Malta]], at the time, a part of Carthage.<ref>Taylor, C. "The Literary Panorama, Volume 10" p. 615.</ref> He had several sisters whose names are unknown, and two brothers, [[Hasdrubal Barca|Hasdrubal]] and [[Mago Barca|Mago]]. His brothers-in-law were [[Hasdrubal the Fair]] and the [[Numidians|Numidian]] king [[Naravas]]. He was still a child when his sisters married, and his brothers-in-law were close associates during his father's struggles in the [[Mercenary War]] and the Punic conquest of the [[Iberian Peninsula]].<ref>Lancel, S. ''Hannibal'' p. 6.</ref>

After Carthage's defeat in the [[First Punic War]], Hamilcar set out to improve his family's and Carthage's fortunes. With that in mind and supported by [[Cádiz|Gades]], Hamilcar began the subjugation of the tribes of the Iberian Peninsula (Modern Spain and Portugal). Carthage at the time was in such a poor state that it lacked a navy able to transport his army; instead, Hamilcar had to march his forces across [[Numidia]] towards the [[Pillars of Hercules]] and then cross the [[Strait of Gibraltar]].<ref>[[Gavin de Beer|De Beer, Sir Gavin]] (1969). ''Hannibal: Challenging Rome's Supremacy'' p. 91.</ref>

According to [[Polybius]], Hannibal much later said that when he came upon his father and begged to go with him, Hamilcar agreed and demanded that Hannibal swear that he would never be a friend of Rome as long as he lived. There is even an account of him at a very young age (9 years old) begging his father to take him to an overseas war. In the story, Hannibal's father took him up and brought him to a sacrificial chamber. Hamilcar held Hannibal over the fire roaring in the chamber and made him swear that he would never be a friend of Rome. Other sources report that Hannibal told his father, "I swear so soon as age will permit...I will use fire and steel to arrest the destiny of Rome."<ref name="dodge">{{cite book|title=Hannibal: A History of the Art of War Among the Carthaginians and Romans Down to the Battle of Pydna, 168 BC|first=Theodore Ayrault |last=Dodge|publisher=Da Capo Press |year=1995}}</ref><ref>[http://www.reversespins.com/patton.html Reverse Spins] ''Patton, the Second Coming of Hannibal''.</ref> According to the tradition, Hannibal's oath took place in the town of [[Peñíscola]], today part of the [[Valencian Community]], Spain.<ref>Hilowitz, Beverley (1974). ''A Horizon guide: great historic places of Europe''. American Heritage Pub. Co., p. 119. {{ISBN|0-07-028915-8}}</ref>

Hannibal's father went about with the conquest of [[Hispania]]. When his father drowned<ref>{{cite web|title=Hamilcar Barca|url=https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/253349/Hamilcar-Barca|access-date=6 June 2011}}</ref> in battle, Hannibal's brother-in-law [[Hasdrubal the Fair]] succeeded to his command of the army with Hannibal (then 18 years old) serving as an officer under him. Hasdrubal pursued a policy of consolidation of Carthage's Iberian interests, even signing a treaty with Rome whereby Carthage would not expand north of the [[Ebro]] so long as Rome did not expand south of it.<ref>[[Gavin de Beer|De Beer, Sir Gavin]] (1969). ''Hannibal: Challenging Rome's Supremacy'' p. 94.</ref> Hasdrubal also endeavoured to consolidate Carthaginian power through diplomatic relationships with the native tribes of Iberia and  native Berbers of the North African coasts.<ref name="brainfly1">{{cite web|title=''The History of Rome: Vol III''|url=http://www.brainfly.net/html/books/brn0131c.htm}}, by Livy</ref>

Upon the assassination of Hasdrubal in 221&nbsp;BC, Hannibal, now 26 years old, was proclaimed commander-in-chief by the army and confirmed in his appointment by the Carthaginian government. The Roman scholar [[Livy]] gives a depiction of the young Carthaginian: "No sooner had he arrived...the old soldiers fancied they saw Hamilcar in his youth given back to them; the same bright look; the same fire in his eye, the same trick of countenance and features. Never was one and the same spirit more skilful to meet opposition, to obey, or to command[.]"<ref name="brainfly1"/>

[[File:1868, Mugeres célebres de España y Portugal, Himilce, AB195 0021 (cropped).jpg|alt=|thumb|An 1868 illustration of [[Imilce]] and her son Haspar Barca by Juan de Dios de la Rada]]
Livy also records that Hannibal married a woman from [[Castulo]], a powerful Spanish city closely allied with Carthage.<ref name="brainfly1"/> The Roman [[epic poet]] [[Silius Italicus]] names her as [[Imilce]].<ref>Silius Italicus, ''Punica'', III, 97</ref> Silius suggests a Greek origin for Imilce, but [[Gilbert Charles-Picard]] argued for a Punic heritage based on an etymology from the Semitic root m-l-k ('chief, the 'king').<ref>[[Gilbert Charles-Picard|Picard, Gilbert Charles]](1967), ''Hannibal'' p. 119</ref> Silius also suggests the existence of a son,<ref>Silius Italicus, ''Punica'', III, 63–64</ref> who is otherwise not attested by Livy, Polybius, or [[Appian]]. The son may have been named Haspar or Aspar,<ref>{{Cite book |title=Antichthon |publisher=Sydney University Press |year=1967 |volume=1–6}}</ref> although this is disputed.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Selections from the less known Latin poets |last=Pinder |first=North |publisher=Clarendon Press |year=1869 |page=364}}</ref>

After he assumed command, Hannibal spent two years consolidating his holdings and completing the conquest of Hispania, south of the Ebro.<ref>{{cite book|last=Dodge|first=Theodore Ayrault|author-link=Theodore Ayrault Dodge|title=Hannibal: A History of the Art of War Among the Carthaginians and Romans Down to the Battle of Pydna, 168 B.C., with a Detailed Account of the Second Punic War|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Z8nOkDyOwnUC&pg=PA143|year=2004|publisher=Da Capo Press|isbn=978-0-306-81362-7| page =143}}</ref> In his first campaign, Hannibal attacked and stormed the [[Olcades]]' strongest centre, Alithia, which promptly led to their surrender, and brought Punic power close to the River [[Tagus]]. His following campaign in 220 BC was against the [[Vaccaei]] to the west, where he stormed the Vaccaen strongholds of Helmantice and Arbucala. On his return home, laden with many spoils, a coalition of Spanish tribes, led by the [[Carpetani]], attacked, and Hannibal won his first major battlefield success and showed off his tactical skills at the battle of the River Tagus.<ref>Hoyos, D. ''Hannibal's Dynasty: Power and Politics in the Western Mediterranean, 247–183 BC'', pp. 89–91, 2003</ref> 

Rome, fearing the growing strength of Hannibal in Iberia, made an alliance with the city of [[Sagunto|Saguntum]], which lay a considerable distance south of the River Ebro, and claimed the city as its [[protectorate]]. Hannibal not only perceived this as a breach of the treaty signed with Hasdrubal, but as he was already planning an attack on Rome, this was his way to start the war. So he [[Siege_of_Saguntum|laid siege to the city]], which fell after eight months.<ref>[[Gavin de Beer|De Beer, Sir Gavin]] (1969). ''Hannibal: Challenging Rome's Supremacy'' pp. 112–113.</ref>

Hannibal sent the booty from Saguntum to Carthage, a shrewd move which gained him much support from the government; Livy records that only [[Hanno II the Great]] spoke against him.<ref name="brainfly1"/> In Rome, the [[Roman Senate|Senate]] reacted to this apparent violation of the treaty by dispatching a delegation to Carthage to demand whether Hannibal had destroyed Saguntum in accordance with orders from Carthage. The Carthaginian Senate responded with legal arguments observing the lack of ratification by either government for the treaty alleged to have been violated.<ref>[[Gavin de Beer|De Beer, Sir Gavin]] (1969). ''Hannibal: Challenging Rome's Supremacy'' p. 113.</ref> The delegation's leader, [[Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus]], demanded Carthage choose between war and peace, to which his audience replied that Rome could choose. Fabius chose war.<ref name="brainfly1"/>