Hasdrubal's Curse: A Carthaginian's Founding Legacy

Hasdrubal the Fair, a Carthaginian military leader and politician, was born around 270 BC. He was the brother-in-law of the famous Carthaginian leader Hannibal and son-in-law of Hamilcar Barca. After Hamilcar’s death in 228 BC during the campaign against Iberian tribes, Hasdrubal succeeded him in command. Unlike his predecessor, who preferred military campaigns, Hasdrubal focused on diplomacy. He extended the Carthaginian territory by founding the important city and naval base of Qart Hadasht, which the Romans later called Carthago Nova.

The city was established in 237 BC as the capital of the new province and the boundary between Carthage and Rome was set as the River Ebro. A Greek colony, Emporion, and Iberian Saguntum appealed to Rome when they feared the continuous growth of Punic power in Iberia. Hasdrubal accepted the treaty reluctantly, as Punic dominion in Iberia was not yet sufficiently established to jeopardise its future expansion in a premature conflict. Hasdrubal is perhaps best remembered for his successful founding of Carthago Nova by skillful diplomacy. Seven years after Hamilcar’s death in 228 BC, Hasdrubal was assassinated by a slave of the Celtic king Tagus in 221 BC.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons