Mago Barca: Difference between revisions

'''Mago Barca''' ({{lang-xpu|𐤌𐤂‬𐤍 𐤁𐤓𐤒‬}}, {{sc|mgn brq}};{{sfnp|Huss|1985|p=[https://books.google.co.krcom/books?id=NvEK7kc3qnQC&pg=PA570 570]}} 243–203{{died 202&nbsp}};BC), was a [[BarcidPunic people|Carthaginian]], member of the [[Punics|CarthaginianBarcid]] family, who played an important role in the [[Second Punic War]], leading forces of [[Ancient Carthage|Carthage]] against the [[Roman Republic]] in [[Carthaginian SpainIberia|Iberia]] and [[GalliaCisalpine CisalpinaGaul|northern]] and central Italy. Mago was the third son of [[Hamilcar Barca]], was the brother of [[Hannibal]] and [[Hasdrubal (Barcid)Barca|Hasdrubal]], and was the brother-in-law of [[Hasdrubal the Fair]].

The cognomen or epithet [[B-R-Q|{{sc|brq}}]] means "[[thunderbolt]]" or "shining". It is cognate with the [[Arabic name]] Barq and the [[Hebrew name]] [[Barak (given name)|Barak]] and equivalent to the [[Ancient Greek language|Greek]] ''Keraunos'', which was borne by contemporary commanders.<ref>S. Lancel, ''Hannibal'' p. 6.</ref> It had been used for Mago's father [[Hamilcar Barca|Hamilcar]] and is used to distinguish his three sons from others who shared their names.

After the victory of [[Battle of Cannae|Cannae]], Hannibal sent Mago with a detachment to [[Bruttium]] (southern Italy). While marching through [[Lucania]] and Bruttium, Mago subdued several towns and brought over several to the Carthaginian side. From Bruttium, Mago sailed to Carthage, leaving [[Hanno the Elder]] in command of the Carthaginian garrison. Mago presented the golden rings of Roman [[Equestrian (Roman)|equites]] fallen at Cannae to the Carthaginian Senate, requesting reinforcements for Hannibal at the end of his speech. This prompted the supporters of the Barcid party in the Senate to taunt their opponents, who had bitterly opposed any aid to Hannibal. In response, [[Hanno the Great]], leading opponent of the Barcids, placed several questions to Mago, which took most of the gloss off Mago's presentation. Still, the Senate members were impressed enough to vote thesending raising4,000 ofNumidian ancavalry, army40 war elephants and 500 talents to Italy, madeand upMago ofwas instructed to raise additional 20,000 infantry and 4,000 cavalry from Spain for Hannibal.{{sfn|Baker|1999|pp=154}} Mago's army, numbering 12,000 infantry, 1,500 cavalry and, 20 war elephants, aswith reinforcements1,000 fortalents Hannibalwas raised slowly, perhaps due to anti Barcid intrigues.{{sfn|Peddie|2005|pp=124}}

However, when the news of the disastrous [[Battle of Dertosa]] reached Carthage, Mago and his army were sent to [[Hispania]] (the [[Iberian Peninsula]]) as reinforcements for Hasdrubal instead. But the Carthaginian Senate did not entirely ignore the Italian front for once. AThe force of 4,000 Numidian cavalry and 40 war elephants was sent to [[Locri]] in Bruttium, escorted by the Punic fleet under [[Bomilcar (3rd century BC)|Bomilcar]].<ref>Livy 22.32</ref> These were the only significant reinforcements Hannibal was to receive from his government.{{Citation needed|date=July 2010}}

Although [[Hasdrubal (Barcid)|Hasdrubal]] nominally commanded all Carthaginian forces in the [[Iberian Peninsula]] (the Roman [[Hispania]]), Mago received an independent command, a division that was to have grave consequences later. The two Barca brothers, aided by [[Hasdrubal Gisco]], battled the Romans under the command of the Scipio brothers ([[Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio Calvus]] and [[Publius Cornelius Scipio (consul 218 BC)|Publius Cornelius Scipio]]) throughout 215&ndash;212215–212 BC. Mago, in a cavalry ambush of Publius Cornelius Scipio, killed 2,000 Romans near [[Alicante|Akra Leuke]] in 214 BC, and also aided in keeping the Hispanic tribes loyal to Carthage. On the whole, the Carthaginians managed to maintain the balance of power in Hispania despite the efforts of the Scipios, but failed to send any aid to Hannibal. The situation was favorable enough, as in 212 BC, Hasdrubal managed to cross over to Africa with an army to crush the rebellion of [[Syphax]], king of Numidian tribes, without the Scipios causing any disruptions in Hispania. Mago and Hasdrubal Gisco guarded the Carthaginian possessions in Iberia without difficulty, despite the Scipios outnumbering their armies during the absence of Hasdrubal.

The Scipio brothers launched a major offensive in 211 BC. The Carthaginian armies were separated, Hasdrubal Gisco being near Gades (modern [[Cádiz]]) with 10,000 troops, Mago near Castulo with another 10,000, and Hasdrubal near Amtorgis with 15,000 soldiers near Amtorgis. The Scipios planned to confront the Carthaginians simultaneously and comprehensively destroy their armies.

In 208 BC, after the [[Battle of Baecula]], Hasdrubal left Hispania to invade Italy and bring reinforcements to his brother Hannibal, who was operating in Lucania. Mago moved with his army to the area between the [[Tagus]] and [[Douro]] rivers in a recruiting mission of [[Mercenaries of the ancient Iberian peninsulaPeninsula|Spanish mercenaries]] with Hanno, a newly arrived general. Their mission was successful, as they gathered large masses of Spanish fighters, among them [[Cantabri]]ans led by [[Larus (Cantabrian)|Larus]], but they divided the army into two camps and relaxed their vigilance. Their army was surprised and scattered by Roman forces commanded by [[Marcus Junius Silanus (praetor 212 BC)|Marcus Junius Silanus]] in 207 BC; Hanno was captured, but Mago managed to lead a few thousand survivors to Gades, where he joined forces with Hasdrubal Gisco.<ref>Moore, Frank Gardner (transl.) [https://archive.org/stream/livywithenglisht08livyuoft#page/n19/mode/2up/ Livy: ''[[Ab Urbe Condita Libri (Livy)|Ab Urbe Condita]]'', vol. VIII, bk. xxviii] Loeb Classical Edn, pp.&nbsp;3–9, at openlibrary.org</ref> The Carthaginians dispersed their army in several towns and focused on recruiting new mercenaries. This tactic frustrated the strategy of Scipio to force a decisive battle that year.

Mago enjoyed joint command of the new army and raided the Roman army with his cavalry. The foresight of [[Scipio Africanus]], who had kept his cavalry outside camp in a hidden position, led to the defeat of this raid.

After suffering defeat at the [[Battle of Ilipa]] in 206 BC, Hasdrubal Gisco returned to Africa and Mago retreated to Gades with the remnants of his army. His deputy, another Hanno, was defeated by L. Marcius at the [[Battle of the Guadalquivir (206 BC)Carteia|Battle of the Guadalquivir]], and Mago was unable to take advantage of the rebellion of Hispanic tribes under Indibilis or the [[Mutiny at Sucro|mutiny of the Roman troops at Sucro]] in 206 BC. He led an assault on Cartagena, believing the city to be lightly held, and was beaten back with severe losses. On returning, he found the gates of Gades barred. After crucifying the city magistrates for treason, he sailed away to the [[Balearic Islands]].

Mago then led a campaign to invade Italy (this time by sea) with 15,000 men in early summer of 205 BC. The army sailed from [[Menorca]] to [[Liguria]] under the escort of 30 Carthaginian [[quinquereme]]s. Mago managed to capture [[Genoa]], and he held control of [[Northernnorthern Italy]] for nearly three years, warring with the mountain tribes and gathering troops. The Romans devoted seven legions to maintain watch over him and guard Northernnorthern Italy, but no general action was fought. In 204 BC, Mago was reinforced with 6,000 infantry and some cavalry from Carthage. The Romans refused to give battle and blocked Mago, preventing him from reaching Hannibal.

Finally, the Romans engaged him in battle in [[Cisalpine Gaul]]. The [[Battle of Insubria]] was an indecisive Roman victory, but Mago was severely wounded. Soon after the battle, he was recalled back to Carthage along with Hannibal to aid in its defence, as the future Scipio Africanus major had shattered the armies of [[Hasdrubal Gisco]], Hanno, son of Bomilcar, and had captured [[Syphax]], who was allied to Carthage, in Africa. Mago and his army sailed from Italy in 202 BC under the escort of the Punic fleet, and was unmolested by the Roman navy as he made for Africa. Before arriving in Carthage, however, he died of his wound at [[Mediterranean Sea|sea]].

According to [[Cornelius Nepos]], however, Mago survived the war and stayed with his brother Hannibal for several years, until the Carthaginians ordered his arrest around 193 BC. He managed to escape, but either died in a shipwreck or was killed by his slaves.<ref>Cornelius Nepos, ''Hannibal'', 7 and 8.</ref> Most historians, however, give little credit to Nepos and prefer Livy's version.<ref>Cornelius Nepos, ''Hannibal'', 7 and 8.</ref>

The ability of Mago as a field commander can be glimpsed from his actions at the battles of TrebbiaTrebia and Cannae, where his failure might have doomed the Carthaginian army. He was a capable cavalry leader, as his repeated ambushes of the Romans in Iberia and Italy demonstrate.{{Cn|date=May 2024}}

{{reflist|30emReflist}}

* {{citation |last=Huss |first=Werner |authorlink= Werner Huß |title=Geschichte der Karthager |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NvEK7kc3qnQC |publisher=C.H. Beck |location=Munich |date=1985 |isbn=9783406306549 }}. {{in lang|de}}

* {{citation |last=Lendering |first=Jona |authorlinkauthor-link=Jona Lendering |contribution-url=https://www.livius.org/maa-mamarticles/magoperson/mago.html-barca/ |contribution=Mago Barca |url=http://www.livius.org |title=''Livius.org'' |location=Amsterdam |date=2002 }}.

[[Category:Punics3rd-century BC Punic people]]