Hasdrubal Dies and Hannibal Succeeds Him
Our narrative now returns to Hasdrubal, whom we left
note
in command of the Carthaginian forces in Iberia.
After eight years command in that country, he
was assassinated in his own house at night by a
certain Celt in revenge for some private wrong.
Before his death he had done much to strengthen the Carthaginian power in Iberia, not so much by military achievements,
as by the friendly relations which he maintained with the
native princes. Now that he was dead, the Carthaginians
invested Hannibal with the command in Iberia,
in spite of his youth, because of the ability in
the conduct of affairs, and the daring spirit
which he had displayed. note He had no sooner
assumed the command, than he nourished a fixed
resolve to make war on Rome; nor was it long before he
carried out this resolution. From that time forth there were
constant suspicious and causes of offence arising between the
Carthaginians and Romans. And no wonder: for the Carthaginians were meditating revenge for their defeats in Sicily; and
the Romans were made distrustful from a knowledge of their
designs. These things made it clear to every one of correct
judgment that before long a war between these two nations
was inevitable.
