4. A Carthaginian general, who happened to be stationed with a fleet at Lipara, when Hieron,
after gaining a great victory over the Mamertines, was preparing to
follow up his advantage, and besiege Messana itself. The Carthaginians were at this time
hostile to the Mamertines, and, in name at least, friendly to Hieron; but Hannibal was alarmed
at the prospect of the latter obtaining so important an accession of power; he therefore
hastened to the camp of Hieron, and induced him to grant terms to the Mamertines, while he
himself succeeded in introducing a Carthaginian garrison into the city of MAessana. (Diod. Exc. Hoeschcl. 22.15. p. 500.) These events must have occurred in 270 B. C.
(See Droysen, Hellenismus, vol. ii. p. 268, not.) It may probably have
been this same Hannibal who is mentioned by Diodorus (Exc. Hoeschel.
23.5) as arriving at Xiphonias with a naval force to the support of Hieron, but too late to
prevent that prince from concluding peace with the Romans,