Hasdrubal

Hasdrubal, Carthaginian general, son of Hamilcar Barca and brother of Hannibal. In 218 bc, at the beginning of the Second Punic War between Carthage and Rome, he succeeded his brother as commander of the Carthaginian armies in Spain. Hasdrubal successfully countered Roman attacks on Spain until 208 bc, when he was forced to retreat into Gaul. In 207 bc he led his troops across the Alps into Italy to join forces with Hannibal. He was intercepted by the Roman army and defeated and killed at Metaurus (now Metauro River in central Italy). His failure to reach Hannibal with the necessary reinforcements was decisive in the outcome of the war.