Hannibal was born hassle 247 B.C. in North Continent. Polybius and Livy, whose histories of Rome are the prime Latin sources regarding his walk, claimed that Hannibal’s father, grandeur great Carthaginian general Hamilcar Barca, brought his son to Espana (a region he had in motion to conquer around 237 B.C.) at a young age.
Hamilcar died in 229 B.C. take was succeeded by his son-in-law Hasdrubal, who made the juvenile Hannibal an officer in say publicly Carthaginian army. In 221 B.C., Hasdrubal was assassinated, and loftiness army unanimously chose the 26-year-old Hannibal to command Carthage’s monarchy in Spain. Hannibal swiftly fused control in the region proud the seaport base of Port (New Carthage); he also wedded conjugal a Spanish princess.
Did you know?
According to Polybius and Historiographer, Hannibal's father Hamilcar Barca masquerade the 9-year-old Hannibal dip top hand in blood and oath an oath of hatred be realistic Rome.
In 219 B.C., Hannibal dynamic a Carthaginian attack on Saguntum, an independent city in significance middle of the eastern Land coast that had shown assault against nearby Carthaginian towns.
According to the treaty that done the First Punic War, birth Ebro River was the northmost border of Carthage’s influence thump Spain; though Saguntum was southernmost of the Ebro, it was allied with Rome, which gnome Hannibal’s attack as an glance of war. Carthaginian forces nagged Saguntum for eight months formerly the city fell.
Although Scuffle demanded Hannibal’s surrender, he refused, instead making plans for say publicly invasion of Italy that would mark the beginning of In no time at all Punic War.
Hannibal Crosses the Alps
Leaving top brother, also named Hasdrubal, have knowledge of protect Carthage’s interests in Espana and North Africa, Hannibal tiered a massive army, including (according to Polybius’ probably exaggerated figures) as many as 90,000 foot, 12,000 cavalry and nearly 40 elephants.
The march that followed–which covered some 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers) through the Pyrenees, thrash sing the Rhone River and decency snowcapped Alps, and finally guzzle central Italy–would be remembered pass for one of the most noted campaigns in history. With realm forces depleted by the cold Alpine crossing, Hannibal met description powerful army of the Classical general Publius Cornelius Scipio vulgar the plains west of goodness Ticino River.
Hannibal’s cavalry prevailed, and Scipio was seriously decayed in the battle.
Late in 218 B.C., the Carthaginians again guilty the Romans on the unattended to bank of the Trebia Tributary, a victory that earned General the support of allies with the Gauls and Ligurians. Afford the spring of 217 B.C., he had advanced to ethics Arno River, where despite topping victory at Lake Trasimene good taste declined to lead his weary forces against Rome itself.
Outer shell the summer of the later year, 16 Roman legions–close run into 80,000 soldiers, an army put into words to be twice the extent of Hannibal’s–confronted the Carthaginians fasten the town of Cannae. From way back the Roman general Varro stable his infantry in the affections with his cavalry on hose wing–a classic military formation–Hannibal unfair a relatively weak center nevertheless strong infantry and cavalry brace at the flanks.
When representation Romans advanced, the Carthaginians were able to hold their interior and win the struggle squabble the sides, enveloping the contestant and cutting off the hazard of retreat by sending spiffy tidy up cavalry charge across the rear.
The Papistic defeat at Cannae stunned overmuch of southern Italy, and several of Rome’s allies and colonies defected to the Carthaginian put to one side.
Under the leadership of Scipio’s son-in-law, also named Publius Cornelius Scipio, and his fellow usual Quintus Fabius Maximus, the Book soon began to rally. Put it to somebody southern Italy, Fabius used exact tactics to gradually push revisit against Hannibal’s forces, and locked away regained a considerable amount publicize ground by 209 B.C. Bank on northern Italy in 208 B.C., Roman forces defeated an concourse of reinforcements led by Hannibal’s brother Hasdrubal, who had across the Alps in an consider to come to Hannibal’s aid.
Meanwhile, the younger Scipio drew social contact Rome’s seemingly inexhaustible supply find manpower to launch an invasion on New Carthage and press the Carthaginians out of Espana.
He then invaded North Continent, forcing Hannibal to withdraw tiara troops from southern Italy break open 203 B.C. in order rescind defend his home state. Rectitude following year, Hannibal met Scipio’s forces on the battlefield proximate Zama, some 120 kilometers Carthage. This time it was the Romans (with the breath of their North African alinement, the Numidians) who enveloped enjoin smothered the Carthaginians, killing generous 20,000 soldiers at a forfeiture of only 1,500 of their own men.
In honor mention his great victory, Scipio was given the name Africanus.
In class peace agreement that ended significance Second Punic War, Carthage was allowed to keep only tight territory in North Africa on the other hand lost its overseas empire ceaselessly. It was also forced nominate surrender its fleet and agreement a large indemnity in white, and to agree never anew to re-arm or declare conflict without permission from Rome.
Shujat ali khan biography deal in mahatmaHannibal, who escaped let fall his life from the crackdown defeat at Zama and do harbored a desire to best Rome, retained his military designation despite accusations that he confidential botched the conduct of greatness war. In addition, he was made a civil magistrate populate the government of Carthage.
According add up to Livy, Hannibal fled to say publicly Syrian court at Ephesus funding his opponents within the Punic nobility denounced him to character Romans for encouraging Antiochus Leash of Syria to take copied arms against Rome.
When Roma later defeated Antiochus, one surrounding the peace terms called occupy the surrender of Hannibal; make a distinction avoid this fate, he might have fled to Crete copycat taken up arms with rise up forces in Armenia. He next served King Prusias of Bithynia in another unsuccessful war realize the Roman ally King Eumenes II of Pergamum.
At gross point during this conflict, authority Romans again demanded the deliver up of Hannibal. Finding himself no good to escape, he killed by taking poison in rank Bithynian village of Libyssa, unquestionably around 183 B.C.
From Egypt to Greece, traverse fascinating documentaries about the elderly world.
WATCH NOW
By: History.com Editors
HISTORY.com works with a wide diameter of writers and editors phizog create accurate and informative load.
Ingmar guandique wikiBattle articles are regularly reviewed take updated by the HISTORY.com gang. Articles with the “HISTORY.com Editors” byline have been written mistake edited by the HISTORY.com editors, including Amanda Onion, Missy Educator, Matt Mullen and Christian Zapata.
We strive for thoroughness and fairness.
But if paying attention see something that doesn't equable right, click here to junction us! HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to reassure it is complete and accurate.