# Hamilcar Barca — Salammbô character guide

> Hamilcar Barca in Salammbô by Gustave Flaubert.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Hamilcar the Suffet, the Suffet, Hamilcar, Barca, the great Hamilcar

**First appearance:** 0000-i-the-feast

## Snapshot

Carthage's greatest general and suffet, returned from foreign wars to find his city besieged, his authority contested, and his daughter touched by a curse.

## Who they are

Hamilcar Barca is the veteran commander whose plenary powers let him override rivals like Hanno and dictate the defense of Carthage, but his own household is as troubled as the state. He suspects his daughter Salammbô of sacrilege over the zaïmph and keeps the Numidian king Narr'Havas waiting on a promised marriage as a lever of war. His return from apparent flight to harry the Barbarians turns the siege's momentum and makes him the axis on which Carthage's survival turns.

## In the story

### [I: The Feast](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/salammb_se/chapters/i-the-feast)

Hamilcar is mentioned as absent, and the Mercenaries curse him, suspecting betrayal and plotting destruction.

### [III: Salammbô](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/salammb_se/chapters/iii-salammb)

Mentioned as Salammbô's father, who has kept her from the priestesses and reserves her for a political marriage.

### [IV: Beneath the Walls of Carthage](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/salammb_se/chapters/iv-beneath-the-walls-of-carthage)

Mentioned as having made extravagant promises to the mercenaries, contributing to their disillusionment.

### [VII: Hamilcar Barca](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/salammb_se/chapters/vii-hamilcar-barca)

Returns to Carthage, learns of recent events, meets secretly with Iddibal, inspects his wealth, and confronts Salammbô.

### [VIII: The Battle of the Macaras](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/salammb_se/chapters/viii-the-battle-of-the-macaras)

Returns to Carthage, reforms the army, and leads the Carthaginians to victory at the Battle of the Macaras.

### [IX: In the Field](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/salammb_se/chapters/ix-in-the-field)

Hamilcar attempts to pacify the tribes and isolate the Mercenaries, but faces political opposition in Carthage and struggles with dwindling supplies and reinforcements.

### [X: The Serpent](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/salammb_se/chapters/x-the-serpent)

Mentioned as Salammbô's father, whose face she recollects with terror.

### [XI: In the Tent](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/salammb_se/chapters/xi-in-the-tent)

Referenced as the father and target of Gisco's curse; Narr'Havas submits to him.

### [XII: The Aqueduct](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/salammb_se/chapters/xii-the-aqueduct)

Struggles with political opposition from Hanno, demands reinforcements, and resolves to be pitiless after the Barbarians' retreat.

### [XIII: Moloch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/salammb_se/chapters/xiii-moloch)

Reassures Carthage about water supply, fortifies the city, and secretly secures his son Hannibal in a hidden vault.

### [XIV: The Pass of the Hatchet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/salammb_se/chapters/xiv-the-pass-of-the-hatchet)

Commands the Carthaginian siege, crucifies ten ambassadors, orchestrates the battle, and later deceives the Mercenary leaders into surrendering ten chiefs.

### [XV: Matho](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/salammb_se/chapters/xv-matho)

Present at the wedding feast; his slaves distribute food in his name.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/salammb_se/characters/hamilcar
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/salammb_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/salammb_se/characters