Biographies

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Add something else as title: Ancient Erain the Iberian Peninsula

GargorisIt was a mythological king of Conios, a pre-Roman town in the Iberian Peninsula, a Tartessos’ town. According to the legend, Gargoris was the inventor of apiculture and he had incestuous relationships with his daughter. When she became pregnant, as he was embarrassed, he ordered to lock her, and he also ordered to kill the baby, Habis.

Tartessos’ location

HabisHe was the son of Gargoris and one of his daughters. He was a mythical Tartessos’ king. He was abandoned at birth on a hill full of beasts. The beasts breastfed and protected him. When Gargoris knew that Habis had not died, he ordered to capture and kill him. They tried to kill him in many ways, like being devoured by hungry dogs and pigs or throwing him to the sea. He was bred by a hind.

When Habis grew up, he became a skilful man and he was captured by some peasants, but the king recognized him as his grandson, because he had overcome many dangers and problems, and he admired him. So, Gargoris forgave Habis and this one became the king.

Habis was the inventor of plow, agriculture and Tartessos’ law. He divided Tartessos society into seven classes as well.

Arganthonios

Habis’ son (670 BC – 550BC) and the last Tartessian king. He was the only king from which we have historical references. His name, Arganthonios, means “Silver man”.

He appeared in the Greek sources related with the mineral wealth of his kingdom (brass and silver). Arganthonios helped the Phocaeans finance the fortification of their city, Phocaea, (a Greek city in Asia Minor, now located in Turkey) against the Persian threat. He sent 1,500 kg of silver to his allies. But he didn´t get the establishment of Phocaean colonies in his kingdom.

According to the Greek historian Herodotus, King Arganthonios ruled Tartessos for 80 years (from about 625 BC to 545 BC) and lived until 120 years old. This idea of great age and length of his reign may result from a succession of kings using the same name or title. This confirms the idea that he enjoyed longevity and he had a long reign. Fifteen years after his dead, Tartessos suffered a great decline

It's probable that Arganthonios died from natural death, because there isn’t any document about his death.

Hamilcar BarcaHamilcar Barca (275- 228 BC) was Carthaginian general, statesman and leader of the Barcid family. He was born in Carthage, first of the strong Barcid clan which dominated the Carthaginian politics during the second part of the 3rd century BC.

In 247 BC, when he was 33 years old, he led the Carthaginian troops in Sicily during the First Punic War against Rome.From his bases in Sicily, Corsica and Sardinia, he launched attacks against the Italian coasts, until he was defeated in the naval battle of Egatas Islands (241 BC). As a result of this defeat, he lost Sicily and retired to Africa.

In Africa the mercenaries revolted because there weren't resources to pay them (Mercenary War). In this war 10, 000 mercenaries were killed and 4,000 taken captive; Hamilcar either dismissed the captives or enrolled them in his own army. But he changed his policy of clemency when the rebel leaders inveigled the mercenaries to mutilate cruelly their Carthaginian prisoners cruelly (241-238 BC). Hamilcar Barca played an important role in the suffocation of the mercenary rebellion, became very popular and was appointed commander in chief of the army.

After the defeat in the 1st Punic War and the loss of Sardinia, Sicily and Corsica, Carthage’s weakness was used by the towns of Libya and the Iberian Peninsula to get their liberty. In 237 BC Hamilcar decided to intervene and he recovered territories in the Iberian Peninsula, with the idea of attacking Rome again, taking advantage of the abundant wealth of the Peninsula as the base of their counteroffensive.

Accompanied by his son Hannibal and his son-in-law Hasdrubal, Hamilcar landed in Gades (the only city that the Carthaginians had in the Iberian Peninsula) and controlled the Guadalquivir valley fighting against the Tartessians, Iberians and Celts. He conquered Levant and founded Akra Leuke (present Alicante). Hannibal, Hamilcar´s son

He died fighting against the Oretani during the siege of Helike (Elche, Elche de la Sierra or Belchite) in the winter of 229/228 BC. Hasdrubal and Hannibal continued his work.

SourcesGargorishttp://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C3%A1rgoris

Habis:http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habis

Arganthonioshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arganthonioshttp://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argantonio

Hamilcar Barcahttp://biography.yourdictionary.com/hamilcar-barcahttp://www.biografiasyvidas.com/biografia/a/amilcar.htm

Photoshttp://elartedelahistoria.wordpress.com/2009/12/28/los-reyes-fabulosos-de-espana-de-tubal-a-habis-o-habidis/http://ferbuscasusitio.blogspot.com.es/2014/04/leyenda-de-gargoris-y-habis-reyes.htmlhttp://www.nndb.com/people/943/000101640/