Hannibal, Rome's Greatest Enemy

[dexter]

As Carthage's commanding general and effective leader Hannibal (247–183 BC) crossed the Alps in 218 BC with a multi-ethnic and superbly professional army to confront the Romans in their own land. His early victories at the river Trebia, Lake Trasimene, and Cannae employed daringly unconventional tactics, culminating at Cannae in near-total annihilation of the much larger Roman army. For several years Carthage dominated most of the western Mediterranean's lands, encircling Rome and what remained of her allies. But Hannibal's hopes of forcing Rome to submit and establishing Carthage's permanent dominance were frustrated by the Romans’ uncompromising resistance under leaders like Fabius ‘the Delayer’ and Marcellus ‘the sword of Rome’. Hannibal's own strategic decisions, especially not to march directly on Rome after victory at Trasimene in 217 and more famously after Cannae in 216, contributed to the stalemate that followed. In 202 his new equal in military genius, Scipio Africanus, ended his and Carthage's greatness at the battle of Zama. Hannibal, however, was elected civilian leader (sufete) of Carthage in 196 and reformed the city's corrupt politics and finances, then was forced into exile by his enemies with Rome's connivance. After years in the Hellenistic Greek east, he took poison to avoid being seized by his unforgiving Roman foes. Yet Greeks and Romans remembered him with admiration—even paradoxical affection—as an honourable foe, and his reputation as one of history's greatest commanders endures.

Hannibal excited, frightened and – once safely dead – drew reluctant admiration from the Romans. They accused him of treachery, cruelty, greed and unreasoning hatred; at the same time they recognised his inspired leadership, military genius, and tireless resourcefulness. Uneasily, too, they remembered that they had hounded him to his death.

Hannibal is one of a trio of generals whom later ages acclaimed as the greatest in the ancient world, with Alexander before him and Caesar after. In many ways he was untypical.

 

[Mumm-Ra]

He was ancient history's Rommel. Dashing, charismatic, earned his enemies admiration and not really supported by his own government. His feats are now legendary and had he been in a position to march on to Rome after Cannae, history would have been very different

 

[Ghost 125]

He was ancient history's Rommel. Dashing, charismatic, earned his enemies admiration and not really supported by his own government. His feats are now legendary and had he been in a position to march on to Rome after Cannae, history would have been very different

there would ve been no roman empire ....but he met his fate in zama

 

[vostok]

I doubt he could conquer such a big city. It is impossible. Even if he did - it would be like Napoleon in Moscow, for his own defeat.

 

[dexter]

The Second Punic War (aka The Hannibalic War) was fought between Carthage and Rome between 218 and 201 BCE. While the First Punic War had been fought largely over control of Sicily, the Second Punic War involved confrontations in Spain, Italy, Sicily, Sardinia, and North Africa. The Carthaginians were led by Hannibal, one of the most gifted commanders in history, but the Romans had their own great general Scipio Africanus, and it was he who attacked Carthage on home soil, beating Hannibal and delivering final victory. Carthage would briefly rise again for a Third Punic War 50 years later but its position as a great Mediterranean power was now lost forever.