Hampsicora

Hampsicora
Imaginary 1837 portrait
Died215 BC
Cornus
NationalitySardo-Punic
Known forAnti-Roman revolt in Sardinia
Children1 son

Hampsicora (died 215 BC) was a Sardo-Punic[1] political leader and landowner of Sardinia, and the leader of the major anti-Roman revolt (Bellum Sardum[2]) in the province of 215 BC.

Map of the revolt

The sources describe Hampsicora as the richest among the landowners of Sardinia, which at that time appeared to be split into two entities: the Carthaginian-dominated Southern and Western agricultural coastline, including the vast Campidano plain, and the more inland areas that maintained their independence and, while being eventually tolerant of the Carthaginians after many skirmishes, were nonetheless hostile to the Roman conquest. Ever since the late Nuragic era, the Sardinians and Carthaginians had been on good terms with each other, finding a common ground on their resentment against the Romans.[3]

In conjunction with Hannibal's victories in Italy, Hampsicora led, along with Hanno of Tharros, the revolts of the Sardinian coastal cities against the Romans in 215 BC, succeeding in gaining the support of the Nuragic Sardinians (Sardi Pelliti), especially the Ilienses tribes. Also, the senators of Cornus, the city of which Hampsicora was the chief magistrate, sent ambassadors to Carthage asking aid for the Sardinians who were aware of what was happening in Sardinia and the Italian peninsula. Carthage then sent Hasdrubal the Bald, with an army of about ten thousand soldiers.

Meanwhile, Titus Manlius Torquatus, the Roman consul, gathered four legions in Caralis and went to Cornus. Manlius surprised the few troops of Cornus, led by Hiostus, son of Hampsicora, who was defeated, having made the mistake of facing the enemy in the open field without waiting for further reinforcements. In fact, Hampsicora was asking for reinforcements for the Sardinians.

Shortly after Hasdrubal the Bald finally arrived at Tharros with his army. When Manlius heard about the arrival of the Carthaginians, he preferred to withdraw to Caralis, while Hasdrubal mingled with Hampsicora. Hampsicora's plan was to march on Calaris in order to cut off the supply routes of the other cities of the western coast that had fallen into Roman hands.

The pitched battle between the two armies took place near Decimomannu, according to Francesco Cesare Casula,[4] between the two rivers in the area, a few miles north of Caralis and saw the defeat of the rebels and the death of Hiostus.

Hampsicora fled to safety, taking refuge among the inland tribes. However, according to Livy and Silius Italicus, saddened by the death of his son Hiostus and eager not to fall into Roman hands, killed himself.[5][6]

  1. ^ Casula Francesco Cesare, Di.Sto.Sa. Dizionario Storico Sardo, Sassari, Delfino, 2003, pag.50
  2. ^ Mastino, Attilio. Storia della Sardegna antica, Il Maestrale, Nuoro, 2005, pg. 68
  3. ^ Mastino, Attilio (2005). I Sardi Pelliti del Montiferru o del Marghine e le origini di Hampsicora Archived 2018-11-30 at the Wayback Machine. In: Mele, Giampaolo (a cura di). Santu Lussurgiu: dalle origini alla "Grande Guerra", Nuoro, Grafiche editoriali Solinas, Vol. 1: Ambiente e storia. p.142
  4. ^ Casula 1994, p. 104.
  5. ^ Livius, Titus. Ab Urbe condita, Lib. XXIII. Nam et filius Hampsicorae Hostus in acie cecidit, et Hampsicora cum paucis equitibus fugiens, ut super adflictas res necem quoque filii audivit, nocte, ne cvius interuentus coepta impediret, mortem sibi consciuit.
  6. ^ Silius Italicus, De secundo bello punico, i, XII, vv.417-419