Hamilcar Barca enjoys such influence among the popular and patriotic party after his success in the Mercenary War that his opponents cannot prevent him being raised to a virtual dictatorship.

Allying with Hasdrubal the Fair, his future son in law, to restrict the power of the aristocracy led by Hanno the Great, Hamilcar obtains permission from the Carthaginian Senate for recruiting and training a new army, with the immediate goal of securing the African domain of Carthage.

Hamilcar obtains training for the army in some Numidian forays, then marches the army west to the straits of Gibraltar.

Hasdrubal the Fair commands the fleet carrying supplies and elephants along the coast, keeping pace with the army.