Carthage had resolved upon revenge for past defeats and injuries from
Rome, and intrusted her cause to the great Hamilcar Barca. He sought to
create for his country a new empire in Spain, which might be used as a
base of operations against the foe for whom he had a deadly hate. From
237 to 229 B. C. (when he fell in battle) he was engaged in reducing a
large part of Spain to submission.
In 221 B. C. his son, the illustrious Hannibal, took the Spanish
command, and he soon brought on a new conflict with Rome by his capture
of her ally, the city of Saguntum, on the northeast coast of Spain.