Editing Hamilcar Barca (section)

=== Panormus 247 BC – 244 BC ===
Hamilcar, upon taking command in the summer of 247 BC,<ref>Polybius 1.56.2</ref> punished the rebellious mercenaries (who had revolted because of overdue payments) by murdering some of them at night and drowning the rest at sea,<ref name="Zonaras 8.16">Zonaras 8.16</ref> and dismissing many to different parts of northern Africa. With a reduced army and fleet, Hamilcar commenced his operations.<ref>Lazenby, John F., ''First Punic War'', p. 145 {{ISBN|1-85728-136-5}}</ref> The Romans had divided their forces: Consul [[Lucius Caecilius Metellus (consul 251 BC)|Lucius Caelius Metellus]] was near [[Lilybaeum]], while Numerius Fabius Buteo was besieging [[Drepanum]] at that time. Hamilcar probably fought an inconclusive battle at [[Drepanum]],<ref name="Zonaras 8.16" /> but there is cause to doubt this.<ref>Lazenby, John .F, ‘’First Punic War’’, p. 146</ref>

Hamilcar next raided [[Locri]] in Bruttium and the area around [[Brindisi]] in 247 BC.<ref>Polybius 1.56.3</ref> On his return he seized a strong position on Mount Ercte ([[Monte Pellegrino]], just north of [[Palermo]] or Mt. Castellacio, 7 miles north-west of Palermo),<ref>Lazenby, John F., ''First Punic War'', p. 147 {{ISBN|1-85728-136-5}};   [https://www.nam-sism.org/Articoli/NAM%206042%20Fascicolo%20n.%202%20-%20VACANTI%20Operazione%20Heirkte.pdf Claudio Vacanti, ''Operazione Heirkte: Monte Pellegrino e la campagna di Amilcare Barca in Sicilia (247-244 a.C.)'' (<abbr>PDF</abbr>), in ''Rivista interdisciplinare della società italiana di storia Militare'', vol. 1, n. 2, Società Italiana di Storia Militare, 2 giugno 2020.https://www.nam-sism.org/Articoli/NAM%206042%20Fascicolo%20n.%202%20-%20VACANTI%20Operazione%20Heirkte.pdf]</ref> and not only maintained himself against all attacks, but carried on with his seaborne raids ranging from [[Catana]]<ref>Diodorus Siculus 24.10</ref> in Sicily to as far as [[Cumae]] in central [[Italy]].{{sfn|Caspari|1911|p=877}}<ref>Polybius, 1.56.9–10</ref> He also set about improving the spirit of the army, and succeeded in creating a highly disciplined and versatile force. While Hamilcar won no large-scale battle or recaptured any cities lost to the Romans, he waged a relentless campaign against the enemy, and caused a constant drain on Roman resources. However, if Hamilcar had hoped to recapture [[Palermo|Panormus]], he failed in his strategy. Roman forces led by the consuls [[Manius Otacilius Crassus]] and Marcus Fabius Licinus achieved little against Hamilcar in 246 BC, and the consuls of 245 BC, [[Marcus Fabius Buteo|Marcus Fabius Buteo]] and Atilius Bulbus, fared no better.