sole ruler, a . After the exhausting revolution had been supressed, Rome asked for Carthage's withdrawal from the islands of Sardinia and Corsica plus more money. This angered many Carthaginians, including Hamilcar because Rome knew that its request would be granted. Carthage was too weak for another war with Rome. Even though Carthage obeyed Rome, the people set about building an impenetrable wall around the city.
At age nine, Hannibal made an oath swearing that he would not be subjugated to Rome. Hamilcar, Hannibal, Hasdrubal (Hannibal's brother-in-law), selected officers, and some of the African troops departed for Spain to subjugate the tribes cut off from Rome by the Pyrenees Mountains. For nine years Hamilcar tried to tame the native tribes and his dynamic force achieved much, but his impatience lost as much. Like many other army generals, he was good at controlling an army but incompetent as a diplomat.
After nine years, Hamilcar was assasinated and Hasdrubal the Splendid, Hamilcar's son-in-law, took over. He abandoned the aggressive
