Carthalo led the Numidian cavalry in a successful skirmish against Rome. In 249, he assisted Adherbal during an attempt by the Romans headed by Publius Claudius Pulcher to take Drepana from the sea.[3] He arrived in the city prior to the siege with 70 quinqueremes.[3] His contribution was recognized for helping force the Romans to abandon the siege despite the superiority of the invading army.[4]
Following the Battle of Cannae, Hannibal sent Carthalo to Rome as a peace envoy.[5] His delegation included a number of Roman prisoners whom the Carthaginians hoped to ransom. However, the newly appointed Roman dictatorMarcus Junius Pera sent a messenger to intercept Carthalo's delegation, telling them to leave by nightfall.
In 209BC, Carthalo was serving as garrison commander of Tarentum, which had fallen to Hannibal three years earlier, when Fabius Maximus led a Roman force to retake the settlement. In the ensuing battle, when defeat seemed inevitable, Carthalo laid down his arms with the intention of surrendering to Fabius but was killed before he could make contact.
