Hasdrubal
- a Punic name. The most celebrated are,
- 1 Son of Mago, the founder of the power of Carthage, Just. 19, 1.—
- 2 Son of Hanno, who fought in Sicilia during the first Punic war, Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 54, § 125.—
- 3 The son-in-law of Hamilcar Barcas, Nep. Hann. 3, 2; Liv. 21, 1 sq.—
- 4 The son of Hamilcar Barcas, brother of Hannibal, defeated B. C. 207 at the Metaurus, Liv. 27, 18 sq.; 49 sq.; Nep. Hann. 3, 3; Cat. 1, 2; Hor. C. 4, 4, 38; 72; Ov. F. 6, 770.—
- 5 Son of Gisco, third Carthaginian general in Hispania, Liv. 24, 41; 28, 1; 12 sq.—
- 6 A general against Masinissa, Cic. N. D. 3, 38, 91; Liv. Epit. 51; Val. Max. 3, 2 ext. 8 al.—
- II Deriv.: Hasdrŭbălĭānus, a, um, adj., belonging to one Hasdrubal: funus, Sid. Ep. 1, 5.
- 1. jongere broer v. Hannibal, veldheer in de 2e Pun. oorlog, sneuvelde in 207 v. Chr.;
- 2. schoonzoon v. Hamilcar Barcas.
(Ἀσδρούβας, meaning in Punic “(whose) help (is) Baal”). (1) A Carthaginian general, son of Mago, who succeeded to the titles and glory of his father. It was under his conduct that the Carthaginians carried the war into Sardinia. He received in that island a wound which caused his death, B.C. 420 (Just.xix. 1).
(2) Son of the preceding, made war upon the Numidians, and freed Carthage from the tribute she had been compelled to pay for being permitted to establish herself on the coast of Africa (Just.xix. 2).
(3) A son of Hanno , sent into Sicily at the head of a powerful army to oppose the Romans. He was defeated by Metellus, the Roman proconsul, B.C. 251. Hasdrubal fled to Lilybaeum, but was condemned to death by his countrymen at home.
(4) Son-in-law of Hamilcar, distinguished himself under the orders of that general in the war with Numidia. On the death of his father-in-law he was appointed commander, and carried on military operations in Spain during eight years. He reduced the greater part of that country, and governed it with wisdom and prudence. He founded Carthago Nova (Carthagena). The Romans, wishing to put a stop to his successes, made a treaty with Carthage, by which the latter bound herself not to carry her arms beyond the Iberus. Hasdrubal faithfully observed the terms of this compact. He was slain, B.C. 220, by a slave whose master he had put to death (Livy, xxi. 2; Polyb. ii. 1, 13, iii. 12, x. 10).
(5) Son of Hamilcar, brought from Spain large reinforcements for his brother Hannibal. He crossed the barrier of the Alps, and arrived in Italy, but the consuls Livius Salinator and Claudius Nero, having intercepted the letters which he had written to Hannibal, informing him of his arrival, attacked him near the river Metaurus, and gave him a complete defeat, B.C. 208. Hasdrubal fell in the battle, with 56,000 of his troops. The Romans lost about 8000 men, and made 5400 prisoners. The head of Hasdrubal was severed from his body, and was thrown a few days afterwards into the camp of Hannibal. Before attempting to enter Italy by land, Hasdrubal attempted to cross the sea from Spain, but was defeated by the Roman governor of Sardinia (Livy, xxi. 23; Polyb. xi. 1).
(6) A Carthaginian commander, son of Giscon, who commanded the forces of his country in Spain during the time of Hannibal. Being seconded by Syphax, he afterwards carried on the war against the Romans in Africa, but was defeated by Scipio. He died B.C. 206 (Livy, xxiv. 41, xxix. 35, xxx. 5).
(7) A Carthaginian, surnamed “the Kid” (haedus), an opponent of the Barca faction. He advised his countrymen to make peace with the Romans, and censured the ironical laugh of Hannibal in the Carthaginian Senate, after the peace was concluded.
(8) A Carthaginian general, who, during the siege of Carthage by the Romans, commanded an army of 20,000 men without the walls, with which he kept constantly harassing the besiegers. Being compelled at last to take refuge with his forces within the city, he took command of the place, and for a long time bravely withstood the attacks of the Romans. After the capture of the city, he retired with the Roman deserters, who had no quarter to expect, into the temple of Aesculapius in the citadel, resolved to bury himself under its ruins, taking with him, at the same time, his wife and two young sons. At length, however, having secretly left the temple, he threw himself at the feet of Scipio, and supplicated for life. Scipio granted his request, and showed him as a suppliant to the deserters in the temple. These desperate men, after venting against him a torrent of reproaches, set fire to the temple, and perished amid the flames. His wife, when the fire was kindling, displayed herself on the walls of the building in the richest attire she could procure, and, having upbraided her husband for his cowardice, slew her two sons, and threw herself, with them, into the burning pile (Appian, Bell. Pun. 131).