Hamilcar Barca or Barcas (ca.

275 BCE – 228 BCE) is a Carthaginian general and statesman, leader of the Barcid family, and father of Hannibal, Hasdrubal and Mago.

He is also father-in-law to Hasdrubal the Fair.

The name Hamilcar (Punic-Phoenician ḥmlqrt, "brother of Melqart") is a common name for Carthaginian men.

The name Brq (or Baraq) means "thunderbolt" in the Punic language and is thus equivalent to the epithet or cognomen Keraunos, common among many contemporary Greek commanders.

The word remains in Lebanese, Arabic and Hebrew with the same meaning.

Hamilcar commands the Carthaginian land forces in Sicily during 247–241 BCE during the later stages of the First Punic War.

He keeps his army intact and leads a successful guerrilla war against the Romans in Sicily.

After the defeat of Carthage in 241 BCE Hamilcar retires to Africa after the peace treaty.

When the Mercenary War bursts out in 239 BCE, Hamilcar is recalled to command and is instrumental in concluding that conflict successfully.

Hamilcar commands the Carthaginian expedition to Spain in 237 BC,E and for 8 years expands the territory of Carthage in Spain before dying in battle in 228 BCE.