HANNO, a senator of Carthage, who headed the party opposed to the warlike policy of the Barcine faction. He was first appointed to the command of the troops in the interior of Africa, and was successful in reducing Hecatompylos, with the adjoining country. When the mercenary troops which had been employed in the first Punic War became clamorous for their arrears of pay, and at last ventured to make open war on Carthage, Hanno was appointed to the command of the forces to be employed against them. His talents, however, seem to have been by no means fitted for the field, and affairs assumed such a threatening aspect under his mismanagement, that the Carthaginians began to be alarmed for the very existence of their state. They therefore appointed as his colleague Hamilcar Barca; but the enmity which existed between the generals completely neutralized the good that might have been derived from their abilities. At last, however, the dangerous position of affairs compelled them to forget their differences, and to
unite cordially in resisting their common enemy. (Polyb. Hanover. l. 73-88.)
He continued during his whole life to be the advocate of peace, in opposition to the ambitious policy of Hannibal; and when that general sent his brother Mago, after the battle of Cannæ, to obtain reinforcements, Hanno exerted all his influence to prevent this request being granted, and even proposed that Hannibal should be given up to the Romans. (Liv. xxi. 3, 9; xxiii. 13.)