Hasdrubal the Fair and the foundation of Qart Hadasht

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, Hasdrubal largely preferred diplomacy over military campaigns.

He extended the Carthaginian territory by skillful diplomacy and consolidating his power by founding the important city and naval base of Qart Hadasht, which the Romans later called Carthago Nova. He also established a treaty with the Roman Republic which cemented the River Ebro as the boundary between the two powers. This treaty was caused by a Greek colony, Emporion, and Iberian Saguntum, fearful of the continuous growth of Punic power in Iberia, asking Rome for help.

Hasdrubal accepted the treaty reluctantly, as Punic dominion in Iberia was not yet sufficiently established to jeopardise its future expansion in a premature conflict. Seven years after Hamilcar’s death in 228 BC, Hasdrubal was assassinated in 221 BC by a slave of the Celtic king Tagus, who thus avenged the death of his own master.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons