<P> The next year, the Romans shifted their attention to the north - west . They sent a naval expedition toward Lilybaeum . En route, the Romans seized and burned the Carthaginian hold - out cities of Selinous and Heraclea Minoa . This expedition to Lilybaeum was not successful, but attacking the Carthaginian headquarters demonstrated Roman resolve to take all of Sicily . The Roman fleet was defeated by the Carthaginians at Drepana, forcing the Romans to continue their attacks from land . Roman forces at Lilybaeum were relieved, and Eryx, near Drepana, was seized thus menacing that important city as well . </P> <P> Following the conclusive naval victory off Drepana in 249 BC, Carthage ruled the seas as Rome was unwilling to finance the construction of yet another expensive fleet . Nevertheless, the Carthaginian faction that opposed the conflict, led by the land - owning aristocrat Hanno the Great, gained power and in 244 BC, considering the war to be over, started the demobilisation of the fleet, giving the Romans a chance to again attain naval superiority . </P> <P> At this point (247 BC), Carthage sent general Hamilcar Barca (Hannibal's father) to Sicily . His landing at Heirkte (near Panormus) drew the Romans away to defend that port city and resupply point and gave Drepana some breathing room . Subsequent guerrilla warfare kept the Roman legions pinned down and preserved Carthage's toehold in Sicily, although Roman forces which bypassed Hamilcar forced him to relocate to Eryx, to better defend Drepana . </P> <P> Perhaps in response to Hamilcar's raids, Rome built another fleet (paid for with donations from wealthy citizens). It was this fleet that rendered the Carthaginian success in Sicily futile, as the stalemate Hamilcar produced in Sicily became irrelevant following the Roman naval victory at the Battle of the Aegates Islands in 241 BC, where the new Roman fleet under consul Gaius Lutatius Catulus was victorious over an undermanned and hastily built Carthaginian fleet . Carthage lost most of its fleet and was economically incapable of funding another, or of finding manpower for the crews . </P>

Who led carthage in the first punic war