Editing Hamilcar Barca (section)

===Securing the silver supply===
Hamilcar's immediate objective was to secure access to the gold and silver mines of [[Sierra Morena]], either by direct and indirect control.<ref>Lancel, Serge, ''Hannibal'', p. 35</ref> Negotiations with the "[[Tartessos|Tartessian]]" tribes were successfully concluded, but Hamilcar faced hostility from the [[Turdetani]] or Turduli tribe, near the foothills of modern [[Seville]] and [[Córdoba, Andalusia|Córdoba]]. The Iberians had support from [[Celtiberians|Celtiberian]] tribes and were under the command of two chieftains, [[Istolatios]] and his brother. Hamilcar defeated the confederates, killed the leaders and several of their soldiers, while he released a number of prisoners and incorporated 3,000 of the enemy into his army. The Turdetani surrendered.<ref>Diodorus Siculus 25.10.1–2</ref> Hamilcar then fought a 50,000 strong army under a chieftain named [[Indortes]]. The Iberian army fled before the battle was joined. Hamilcar besieged Indortes, tortured and crucified him after his surrender but allowed 10,000 of the captured enemy soldiers to go home.<ref>Diodorus Siculus 25.10.2</ref>

Having secured control over the mines, and the river routes of [[Guadalquivir]] and [[Guadalete]] giving access to the mining area, Gades began to mint silver coins from 237 BC. Carthaginians may have taken control of the mining operations and introduced new technologies to increase production.<ref>Miles, Richard, ''Carthage Must be Destroyed'', p. 198</ref> Hamilcar now had the means to pay for his mercenary army and also to ship silver ore to Carthage to help pay off the war indemnity. Hamilcar was in a secure enough position in Iberia to send [[Hasdrubal the Fair]] with an army to Africa to quell a Numidian rebellion in 236 BC. Hasdrubal defeated the rebels, killing 8,000 and taking 2,000 prisoners before returning to Iberia.