Hamilcar I of Carthage facts for kids

Hamilcar I was a king of Carthage, an ancient city in what is now Tunisia. He ruled from 510 to 480 BCE. He was part of the Magonids family.

Hamilcar I's Rule

Treaty with Rome

Carthage made important agreements with other states. One key agreement was with Rome. This treaty was signed in 509 BCE. It set out areas where each city had influence and could trade.

This agreement is the first known record showing that Carthage controlled parts of Sicily and Sardinia. It also controlled areas in Africa, like Emporia and the region south of Cape Bon. Carthage might have signed this treaty with Rome because Rome had agreements with other cities that were helping them fight the Etruscans. Carthage also had similar treaties with Etruscan, Punic, and Greek cities in Sicily.

By the end of the 6th Century BCE, Carthage had taken over most of the old Phoenician colonies. These included cities like Hadrumetum, Utica, and Kerkouane. Carthage also brought some Libyan tribes under its control. It ruled parts of the North African coast, from modern Morocco to the borders of Cyrenaica. Carthage also fought wars to protect its Punic colonies and trade routes.

First Sicilian War

The island of Sicily was very important to Carthage. It was close by and became a place where many conflicts happened. Both the Greeks and Phoenicians wanted control of Sicily from early times. They built many colonies and trading posts along its coasts. Small battles happened between these settlements for many years.

Carthage had to deal with at least three Greek attacks. These happened in 580 BCE, and again in 510 BCE. According to the historian Diodorus Siculus, there was also a war where the city of Heraclea Minoa was destroyed.

By 500 BCE, Carthage controlled cities in Sicily like Motya, Panormus, and Soluntum. By 490 BCE, Carthage had made agreements with the Greek cities of Selinus, Himera, and Zankle in Sicily.

Gelo, the ruler of Greek Syracuse, wanted to unite the island under his rule. He started trying to do this in 485 BCE. In 483 BCE, Theron of Akragas, who was Gelo's father-in-law, removed the ruler of Himera. Carthage decided to get involved. They were asked to do so by the ruler of Rhegion, who was the father-in-law of the Himera ruler who had been removed.

Hamilcar prepared the largest overseas army Carthage had ever sent. After three years of planning, he sailed for Sicily. This happened at the same time as Xerxes's expedition against mainland Greece in 480 BCE. Some people thought Carthage and Persia might have worked together against the Greeks. However, there is no strong proof of this.

The Carthaginian fleet faced bad storms on its way to Sicily. The Carthaginian army was defeated, and Hamilcar was killed. This happened in the Battle of Himera. The combined armies of Himera, Akragas, and Syracuse, led by Gelo, won the battle. Carthage made peace with the Greeks. They had to pay a large amount of money (2000 silver talents). But they did not lose any land in Sicily.

Changes After the War

This defeat had big effects on Carthage, both politically and economically. Politically, the old government, which was made up of powerful noble families, was replaced. A new system, the Carthaginian Republic, took over. "Kings" were still chosen, but their power became less. The senate and a group called the "Tribunal of 104" gained more control over political matters. The position of "Suffet" also became more important.

Economically, sea trade with the Middle East was stopped by the Greeks. Also, Greek cities in Italy and Sicily stopped trading with Carthaginian merchants. This led Carthage to develop new trade routes. They started trading more with the West by sea. They also increased trade with the East using caravans over land.

Gisco, Hamilcar's son, was sent away from Carthage. For the next 70 years, Carthage did not launch any known attacks against the Greeks. They also did not help the Elymians or Sicels, or the Etruscans, who were fighting the Greeks. They did not send any help to the Greek enemies of Syracuse, which was then the most powerful Greek city in Sicily. Because Carthage stayed out of Greek affairs for so long, some historians believe that its military was weakened for a while after the defeat at Himera.

See also

In Spanish: Amílcar Magón para niños