Hamilcar Barca was a daring, intelligent young Carthaginian general He was assigned the command in Sicily in 247 in the First Punic War. From mountain bases he made repeated raids on the Romans. However, the Carthaginians were defeated, and Hamilcar Barca negotiated the terms of the peace that led to Carthage’s withdrawal from Sicily. Later, the Carthaginian mercenaries revolted, but Hamilcar defeated them in 238. After that his popularity made him a virtual dictator. He then set out to conquer Spain as a new base against Rome, and had won considerable territory when he died. Hamilcar was probably the ablest general and statesman that Carthage ever had, until he was succeeded by his son, Hannibal.