History knows many cases when a single person personifies an entire era. One of these historical characters was Hannibal, the son of Hamilcar, the Carthaginian commander of the last years of the First Punic War, called a divine name (literally “Hannibal” - “favor of Baal”) - he was an enemy of Rome by the very fact of his birth and devoted his whole life to the war with the Republic.

Hannibal Barca

In addition to the traditional Carthaginian education, Hannibal studied the Greek language and Hellenic culture. He spent all his childhood and youth in military campaigns and camps. Hannibal developed his mind and talent as a commander, received military hardening and was brought up in army conditions. “He was the first to fight and the last to leave the battlefield,” historians said about him. Enemies could not forgive him for numerous victories, rather due to ingenuity than at the cost of the lives of soldiers. Veterans of the Carthaginian army saw Hamilcar returning to them in Hannibal, young soldiers respected him for caring for people. Hannibal became the commander of the army at the age of twenty-eight.

Hannibal went down in history as one of the greatest generals and strategists who almost destroyed Rome. According to legend, he swore before his father's deathbed that he would not rest until Rome fell. As you know, the gods ordered otherwise.

The beginning of the war

The peace concluded with Rome following the results of the First Punic War could not last long. Hannibal was well aware of this and was preparing for a new war for dominance over the Mediterranean. In order not to repeat the mistakes of the previous conflict and not to fight with the Republic until the resources were completely depleted, the Carthaginians needed to take Rome - there was simply no other way out.

Hannibal was well aware that an attempt to land in Italy from the sea would end with the fact that not a single Carthaginian soldier would reach Rome - Rome had a well-established intelligence service, and a possible landing would have met the Republican fleet at sea and the legions on land. The only way left was by land, through Carthaginian Spain.

Like the First Punic War, the Second War began with a minor conflict in the disputed territory. In 219 BC The Romans organized a coup in Sagunta, a Carthaginian city in eastern Spain, establishing the power of a party hostile to Carthage there. In response, Hannibal laid siege to the city. An exchange of accusations of breach of obligation immediately followed: Rome protested and demanded that the siege be lifted, Carthage declared that interference in the affairs of Saguntum was contrary to earlier agreements. A collision became inevitable.

After taking Saguntum and strengthening his positions in Spain, Hannibal decided to cross the Pyrenees. In order not to leave an open rear, he left an eleven thousandth army under the leadership of his brother in the conquered lands. Hannibal himself led an army of fifty thousand infantry and nine thousand horsemen. Carthage remembered the mistakes of the past conflict, so these warriors were no longer mercenaries, most of them were Libyans and Spaniards. Part of the army abandoned the Pyrenean campaign and was disbanded, some deserted, but the main backbone was ready to go to Rome.

Possessions of Carthage and Rome at the beginning of the Second Punic War

The passage through the Pyrenees was hard for Hannibal and his soldiers. Gallic tribes offered fierce resistance, people and animals died in the difficult conditions of the mountains. To reach the Rhone, the Carthaginian had to fight all summer with the Gallic tribes, and to cross it, he had to engage in a difficult battle.

From Gaul, Hannibal could go to Italy either by the coast, where he would have to face the strong Roman army of the consul Publius Cornelius Scipio, or directly through the Alps. Deciding not to prolong the war and reach Rome at any cost, Hannibal headed straight for the mountains, hoping to attack the poorly defended Roman borders from the northwest. Publius Scipio also evaded the battle, sending most of his troops to Spain.

Trekking through the Alps

The Alpine campaign was a very risky undertaking, but it was he who glorified Hannibal for centuries. During the seventeen days of the march, the army lost more than half of the people and elephants, which were a particularly difficult task to transport along the narrow mountain paths. In the first days of the campaign, the Carthaginians did not meet much resistance until they crossed the Druentia River and began to climb. As they approached the Alps, Hannibal's warriors were seized with horror at the sight of insurmountable mountains and glaciers, "almost merging with the vault of heaven." It should be taken into account that the foothills were inhabited by hostile Gauls, who knew the terrain and mountain paths very well, which made their attacks unpredictable.

With great difficulty and huge losses on the ninth day, the Carthaginians reached the pass, where they took a two-day rest. Ahead of the army was waiting for the descent of the slopes much steeper than those that had to be overcome on the rise. In addition to this, it began to snow in the Alps, completely unusual for the Carthaginian army. The army was despondent. It was then, according to another legend, that Hannibal delivered an inspiring speech that the historian Titus Livy brought to us:

Now you overcome the walls not only of Italy, but also of Rome. From now on, everything will go as if on a flat, gentle slope; one or many, two battles will give into our hands, under our power, the fortress and capital of Italy.

At the end of the descent, the Carthaginians stumbled upon an impregnable rock, which was impossible to get around because of the ice and frozen mud. According to the testimony of the mentioned Titus Livius, “... Hannibal lit a huge fire. When the fire burned out, the Carthaginians poured vinegar on the red-hot stone, turning it into a loose mass. Thus, Hannibal blew up the rock with vinegar. Then, having broken the rock cracked by fire with iron tools, the Carthaginians made it passable, softening the excessive steepness with smooth turns, so that not only pack animals, but also elephants could descend. In total, 4 days were spent at this rock, and the animals almost died of hunger during this time.

The local tribes of the Gauls met Hannibal as a liberator and joined his army. If they were hostile to Hannibal, the campaign would have ended in the Alpine foothills, since only 26 thousand soldiers descended from the Alps.

Hannibal in Italy

However, in Rome, this seemingly insignificant threat was taken with the utmost seriousness. The Senate immediately mobilized all available manpower and raised an army of 300,000 infantry and 14,000 cavalry. There were still up to half a million adult men in the Republic's reserve, capable of joining the legions.

The first clash occurred in December 218 on the banks of the Ticino. The army of Hannibal was inferior to the Romans in the infantry, but twice as large as the number of cavalry - some Cisalpine Gauls came under the command of the Carthaginian. The commander understood that the army, tired of campaigns and worse equipped, would not be able to resist the Romans in a frontal attack, and decided to act with cunning. The armies were stationed on different banks of the river, a small detachment of Carthaginian cavalry crossed the Ticino and retreated, provoking the Romans to pursue. The Roman legionnaires crossed to the other side and immediately ran into Hannibal's army. When a foot battle ensued, the Carthaginian cavalry, which was waiting in a shelter, hit the rear of the Romans, putting the enemy to flight.

After the victory, Hannibal decided to fortify himself in northern Italy, not risking an attack on Rome. He hoped to recruit allies, but only the Gauls agreed to openly oppose Rome and join the enemies of the Republic. In addition, time was running out - due to an illness received on campaigns, Hannibal lost sight in one eye, there was no supply and funding from Carthage.

In March 217, the new Roman consuls Gaius Flaminius and Gnaeus Servilius headed north to stop the Carthaginian campaign. Hannibal encountered the 30,000-strong army of Flaminius at Lake Trasimene and defeated it, once again cheating: he lured the Romans into a trap in the lake valley and attacked from the rear. After that, under the control of Hannibal was already the whole of Northern Italy.

Despite the apparent successes, Hannibal was in no hurry to go to Rome, protected in full accordance with the status of the capital. The Carthaginian army was not strong enough to take the city and did not have siege weapons, while the Romans had a large and well-trained army. Moreover, capturing the capital is only half the victory, Rome also needed to be kept. Hannibal counted on the support of the Roman provinces, hoping that, seeing the defeat of the Republican army, the Italians would stop supporting Rome. Throughout 217, he moved around the peninsula, trying to lure the Italian policies to his side and choosing the best base for preparing for the general battle for Rome. Neither was successful. Carthage, meanwhile, was also in no hurry to help its commander in Italy, since Spain, with its richest mines, was under attack by the Roman army.

Rome tried to get the most out of her enemy's indecisiveness. Quintus Fabius Maximus, chosen as dictator, used the tactics of "masterful inactivity", not getting involved in battles with Hannibal. Maximus rightly believed that the enemy army would not be able to hold out for a long time without the support of Carthage and would weaken from hunger, discord and disease. Silent confrontation lasted for about a year, until the ruin of the Italian lands by Hannibal caused a wave of indignation among the Roman plebs. To help (although, rather, to load) Maxim was appointed a second dictator - Mark Muntius Ruf. Muntius immediately entered into battle with Hannibal at Geronia and lost.

Cannes battle

The war dragged on. Rome could no longer tolerate an enemy army on its soil, and the enemy was in no hurry to smash against the Roman walls. In 216, the consuls Gaius Terrentius Varro and Lucius Aemilius Paulus were appointed to the place of the dictator Fabius, at whose disposal the Senate transferred an army of 80,000 infantry and 7,000 horsemen. Hannibal's army at that time included 40,000 infantry and 10,000 horsemen, respectively.

Another battle took place near the city of Cannes, captured by the Carthaginians in order to replenish provisions. The Romans have set up camp nearby. Strange as it may sound, the consuls commanded the army in turn - every other day. Terentius Varro wanted to immediately attack the enemy and quickly return to the capital in triumph, Aemilius Paul did not want to take risks, considering the position of the Romans unprofitable. On August 2, 216, on the day of Varro's command, the legionnaires went on the attack.

Hannibal lured Varro to a wide plain, ideal for cavalry. In the center of the field, he placed the Gauls, secretly expecting that they would not withstand the frontal blow of the Roman legions. During the battle, the Gauls fled, and the Romans chasing them ended up in a cauldron. Carthaginian cavalry and Libyan veterans attacked the Romans from the flanks and rear, slamming a trap. The Roman army was surrounded, lost maneuverability and was almost completely destroyed: 44,000 legionnaires fell, including the consul Aemilius Paul. The surviving ten thousand Romans, together with Varro, fled to Canusium. Hannibal lost 6,000 men, two-thirds of whom were Gauls.

Death of Emilia Paul. John Trumbull, 1773

Such a crushing defeat of Rome was possible thanks to the unsurpassed military skill of Hannibal. The hegemony of Rome in southern Italy was shaken, the road to the capital was open.

But even the victory at Cannae did not inspire confidence in Hannibal in victory over Rome. He feared that in the event of a siege of the capital, all citizens of the Republic would take up arms. Instead of attacking the Eternal City, he began to recruit allies: the Samnites, Bruttii, Lucans, even Syracuse and Macedonia were ready to join Hannibal in order to complete the massacre of Rome, which was pretty boring to everyone. Carthage sent small reinforcements to the commander, more in order to express approval of his successes. Hannibal captured Capua and fought minor battles in southern Italy.

Panic grew in Rome - the Senate left a small garrison in the city, incapable of serious defense. Matrons from noble families fled, weeping, to the temples, where they wiped the statues of the gods with their hair. The widows of the fallen soldiers, for the sake of preserving a noble family, converged with slaves and strangers - an unprecedented practice for arrogant Romans! The Senate even sanctioned human sacrifice, believing that the troubles of the republic were caused by the disfavor of the gods.

Hannibal counts the rings of fallen Roman horsemen. Sebastian Slodtz, 1704

The historian Polybius wrote that the Romans "are most dangerous precisely when they face a mortal threat." The entire population of Latium rushed to save the Republic in a violent desire to defend Rome. People carried their savings to equip the army. All men capable of holding weapons stood under the scarlet vexillums of the legions. Even slaves were taken into the army, promising them freedom in case of victory. It's time for Roman revenge.

The Romans laid siege to Capua. To distract the legionnaires, Hannibal approached a distance of several miles from Rome - and he never found himself closer to the capital of the republic. Encountering another 200,000 men on the way against his own 40,000, he was forced to retreat south. In 211, Capua returned to Rome, the Carthaginians withdrew to Bruttia.

Fate will give Hannibal a chance to win back. Ahead of him will be the return to Carthage, the conclusion of peace with Rome and the flight to Antioch. And we can only guess what the half-blind warrior was thinking about, pushed back by the countless avalanche of enemies, realizing that all the labors of the fifteen-year war were in vain.

Ending to be

HANNIBAL (commander) HANNIBAL (commander)

HANNIBAL (Hannibal) (247 BC, Carthage, North Africa - about 183-181 BC, Libiss, Bithynia), Carthaginian commander, son of Hamilcar Barca (cm. HAMILCAR BARKA). During the 2nd Punic War (218-201) he crossed the Alps, won victories near the rivers Ticin, Trebbia (218), near Lake Trasimene. (217), at Cannes (216). In 202 at Zama (Northern Africa) Hannibal was defeated by the Romans.
Hannibal was brought up in Iberia, where the Carthaginians waged continuous wars, and as a child he swore an oath not to stop fighting against Rome ("Hannibal's oath"). After Hamilcar's death, he served under his son-in-law Hasdrubal. (cm. HASDRUBAL), and after his death in 221, 26-year-old Hannibal was elected commander. Strengthening the positions of Carthage in Spain, Hannibal, after an eight-month siege of the city of Sagunta, which had friendly relations with Rome, captured it in 219, which marked the beginning of the 2nd Punic War (cm. Punic Wars).
Hiking in Italy
In the spring of 218, the army of Hannibal, leaving New Carthage (now the city of Cartagena), crossed the river. Iber, crossed the Pyrenees and moved along the sea coast, fighting the Celtic tribes living there. Hannibal reached the river. Rodan (now Rhone) and crossed it before Publius Cornelius Scipio arrived by sea with the Roman army. Realizing that Hannibal was about to cross the Alps and invade the Apennine Peninsula, Scipio withdrew his troops back to northern Italy.
The army of Hannibal approached the Alps, apparently, in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bmodern. Col de Cremon or Col de Cabr, then, moving to the upper reaches of the river. Drouence and passing the Mont Cenis or Mont Genevre pass, reached the valley of the river. Po, having invaded the territory of the Taurin tribe; its capital - the modern city of Turin - Hannibal took by storm. Having suffered huge losses in a clash with the Gallic tribes, Hannibal led the army to a pass that opened the way to northern Italy.
The descent took place on 7 November; one had to descend along a snow-covered and slippery path, where every careless movement threatened death. The horses, breaking through the ice with their hooves, found themselves, as it were, in a trap and could not go further. To raise the morale of the troops, Hannibal addressed the soldiers with a speech, saying that the mountains are not only the walls of Italy, but also the walls of Rome itself, overcoming which the army will ensure victory for itself. According to the historian Appian (cm. APPIAN), the road laid by the soldiers of Hannibal continued to exist in the 2nd century. n. e. and bore the name of the commander. On the 14th day of the transition, 5 months after leaving Spain, having lost about half of his troops, Hannibal with 20 thousand infantry, 6 thousand cavalry and only a few elephants entered the plains of Italy.
War in Italy
In the first clash with the Roman army on the plain west of the river. The Ticino Punic cavalry won a complete victory. The army of the consul of 218, Publius Cornelius Scipio, was forced to retreat to Placentia (modern Piacenza); uniting with the army of the second consul Tiberius Sempronius Long, recalled from Sicily, she attacked Hannibal near the river. Trebia, but here the Romans were defeated. These victories attracted the tribes of the Cisalpine Gauls and Ligures to the side of Hannibal, due to which his army doubled. In the spring of 217, Hannibal continued his offensive against Italy. Roman troops concentrated in Ariminia and Arrecia defended the passes of the Apennine mountains, but Hannibal bypassed the fortified positions of the Romans, passing through the swampy lowlands of the river. Arno. This crossing was comparable in difficulty to crossing the Alps; soldiers walked waist-deep in water for 4 days and 3 nights and could rest only on the corpses of fallen horses. The losses of the Carthaginian troops were very high, Hannibal himself received severe eye inflammation and subsequently became blind in one eye.
Consul Gaius Flaminius, who pursued Hannibal (cm. FLAMENIA) was surrounded by the Carthaginian army in a narrow valley on the northern shore of Lake Trasimene (cm. TRASIMENE LAKE). Flaminius was killed, some of the Roman soldiers died in battle, some drowned, driven into the waters of the lake by the Carthaginian cavalry. After this victory, Hannibal moved to the shores of the Adriatic Sea to secure a connection with Carthage. Passing through Umbria, he stopped in Apulia, where the army rested during the summer of 217, then he went to Campania, replenishing provisions and devastating the rural regions of Italy. The Romans switched to a new tactic of warfare, designed to gradually deplete the enemy's forces. Quint Fabius Maxim (cm. FABIUS MAXIM Kunktator)(nicknamed Kunktator, that is, slow) elected dictator, limited himself to only minor skirmishes with the Carthaginian detachments, avoiding a big battle.
In August 216 on the river. Aufid in Apulia, in the town of Cannes (now Monte di Canne), one of the greatest battles of antiquity was played out. Hannibal formed his troops in the shape of a crescent, pushing forward the center, where the Celts and Iberians were, while on the flanks he concentrated the selected forces of the Numidian infantry and cavalry. Under the onslaught of the Roman army, the center of the Carthaginian army began to slowly retreat, dragging the Romans with them, moving deeper and deeper into their location. Soon the Romans were flanked by detachments of the Numidian infantry, at the same time the Carthaginian cavalry hit them in the rear. The Roman troops, numerically superior to the Carthaginians, were surrounded and almost completely destroyed, the consul Aemilius Paul fell on the battlefield. The disorderly flight of the Roman soldiers was stopped by the young military tribune Publius Cornelius Scipio, the future winner of Hannibal. The way to Rome was open, panic reigned in the city, but Hannibal did not lead his army to Rome. “You know how to win, Hannibal, you don’t know how to use victory,” said one of his associates.
Defeat
After the victory at Cannae, many tribes of central and southern Italy went over to the side of Hannibal, as well as cities such as Capua in Campania, Syracuse in Sicily. Nevertheless, the forces of the Carthaginians were depleted, the strategy of Fabius Maximus brought results. The Carthaginians were forced to switch from offensive to defensive tactics. In order to divert the Roman troops from the siege of Capua that they had begun in the spring of 211, Hannibal launched an offensive against Rome, which caused panic among the population of the city (the words "Hannibal at the gate" - Latin Hannibal ante portas - became a proverb). However, for the siege of Rome, Hannibal's forces were no longer enough. Capitulation soon capitulated, around the same time, Claudius Marcellus captured Syracuse (during the assault, the great Greek scientist Archimedes died).
In 209, the eighty-year-old Fabius Maxim took Tarentum. The position of Hannibal, who did not receive proper support from Carthage, became difficult. The Roman offensive was led by Publius Cornelius Scipio, son of the consul in 218. In Spain, the Romans captured New Carthage, and in 207 drove the Carthaginians out of the Iberian Peninsula. In 204, the Romans landed in Africa near the city of Utica, the Carthaginian government had to recall Hannibal from Italy. In the autumn of 202, at the Battle of Zama, south of Carthage, Hannibal suffered his first crushing defeat at the hands of Scipio and his ally the Numidian king Masinissa.
Despite the peace treaty between Carthage and Rome, Hannibal sought to continue the fight. In 196 he was elected to the highest office in the state, becoming a Suffet. His activities aroused dissatisfaction with the oligarchic party in Carthage and aggravated the suspicion of the Romans. In 192 he was forced to flee from Carthage to Ephesus, where he was received at the court of the ruler of Syria, Antiochus III, who was preparing for war with Rome. Hannibal was entrusted with the command of the fleet, however, having no experience in battles at sea, he was defeated by the Romans at Side, off the coast of Pamphylia. Antiochus III, having been defeated at Magnesia (189), was forced to seek peace, one of the conditions of which was the extradition of Hannibal.
According to some sources, Hannibal at one time lived at the court of the Armenian king Artaxias, having founded for him the city of Artashat on the river. Araks, then on about. Crete, from where he went to Bithynia to the king of Prusius, who at that time was at war with the ally of Rome, the Pergamon king Eumenes. In one of the naval battles, Hannibal managed to put the ships of Pergamon to flight by throwing vessels with snakes on their decks. The Romans demanded that Prusius extradite Hannibal; upon learning that his house was surrounded, Hannibal took poison. He was buried in Libiss on the European shore of the Bosporus, far from Carthage, which was destined to outlive its great commander by only 37 years.
There is the only lifetime image of Hannibal - his profile on a coin of Carthage minted in 221 - the time of his election as a military leader. A brief biography of Hannibal was compiled by the Roman historian Cornelius Nepos (1st century BC). In the writings of Polybius (cm. POLYBIUS), Tita Livia (cm. LIVIUS Titus), Appian, who described the events of the 2nd Punic War, Roman patriotism was combined with admiration for the greatest enemy of Rome, who “fought sixteen years in Italy against Rome, never once withdrawing troops from the battlefield” (Polybius, book 19). Titus Livius (Book XXI; 4, 3 ff.) said that Hannibal “endured heat and cold with equal patience; he determined the measure of food and drink by natural need, and not by pleasure; chose the time for wakefulness and sleep, not distinguishing day from night; many often saw how he, wrapped in a military cloak, slept on the ground among the soldiers standing on posts and on guard. He was far ahead of the horsemen and foot soldiers, he was the first to enter the battle, the last to leave the battle. According to Cornelius Nepos, Hannibal was fluent in Greek and Latin and wrote several books in Greek.
In the writings of historians, a semi-legendary story has been preserved about the meeting between Hannibal and Scipio, who arrived in Ephesus in 193 as part of the Roman embassy to Antiochus III. Once, during a conversation, Scipio asked Hannibal who he considered the greatest commander. The great commander named Alexander the Great (cm. Alexander the Great), Pyrrha (cm. PIRR (king)- the king of Epirus and himself - in third place after them, then adding that if he managed to defeat the Romans, he would consider himself superior to both Alexander and Pyrrhus, and all other commanders.

encyclopedic Dictionary. 2009 .

See what "HANNIBAL (commander)" is in other dictionaries:

Carthaginian commanders, see Annibal ... Encyclopedic Dictionary F.A. Brockhaus and I.A. Efron

- (247 BC North Africa around 183 181 BC, Libisso, Bithynia), one of the greatest military leaders of antiquity, the commander who led the Carthaginian army during the 2nd Punic War (218 201 BC) .). Son of Hamilcar Barca, prominent ...

Hannibal is a name of Phoenician origin, meaning "gift of Baal" in translation. Historical figures Hannibal Magon (d. 406 BC) Carthaginian politician Hannibal Barca (247 BC 183 BC) Carthaginian commander Hannibal, ... ... Wikipedia

- (247/246 183 BC) Carthaginian commander. Son of Hamilcar Barca. Under the supervision of his father and his brother-in-law, Hasdrubal studied military affairs, participating in hostilities. In 221, he was elected by the soldiers and approved by the people's assembly as commander-in-chief. AT… … Historical dictionary

- (247 or 246 183 BC) Carthaginian commander. Son of Hamilcar Barca. During the 2nd Punic War (218 201) he crossed the Alps, won victories near the rivers Ticin, Trebbia (218), near Lake Trasimene. (217), at Cannes (216). In 202, under the Deputy ... ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

Hannibal, Annibal Barca (247 or 246 BC, Carthage, 183 BC, Bithynia), Carthaginian commander and statesman. Descended from the aristocratic family of the Barkids. Son of Hamilcar Barca. Participated in military... Great Soviet Encyclopedia

In 247 B.C. in the family of a talented Carthaginian commander and statesman Hamilcar Barca, a son was born, known to the whole world as Hannibal Barca.

Like any educated aristocrat, Hamilcar took seriously the education of his son, trying to ensure that he received a Greek education, the purpose of which was to make a person a comprehensively developed personality. Therefore, Hannibal, along with his brothers, studied at the best schools in the city, diligently comprehending such disciplines as oratory, reading, arithmetic, and music.

Even in his youth, Hannibal had a chance, as they say, to “sniff the gunpowder”, because, paying tribute to the ancient tradition, he accompanied his father on numerous campaigns. Thus, Hannibal participated in the campaign against Spain during the First Punic War (264-241 BC). Like grown men, he fought with Roman soldiers, defending the right of Carthage to possess the lands of fertile Sicily and its dominance in the Mediterranean Sea. Most likely, it was at this time that Hannibal first hated Rome, and even swore to his father that his life would be devoted to the fight against the hated state.

However, military campaigns did not prevent Hannibal from getting an education; subsequently, he continued to take care of replenishing his intellectual baggage. For example, having already become the commander-in-chief, Hannibal, thanks to the Spartan Zozil, managed to master the Greek language so well that he used it in the preparation of state papers. The commander was distinguished by flexibility and strength of physique, achieved excellent results in running, in the art of hand-to-hand combat, and was an excellent rider. His moderate needs for food and rest, tirelessness in campaigns, boundless courage and selfless bravery have always been an example for soldiers. Hannibal showed his talent as a strategist at the age of 22 as the head of the cavalry of Hasdrubal, who in 229, after the death of Hamilcar, became the main commander in Spain. In the character of Hannibal, in a bizarre way, ardor was intertwined with the ability to think over the action to the smallest detail, foresight with vigor and the ability to persistently pursue the intended goal.

In addition, Hannibal was characterized by ingenuity and even cunning. To achieve his goal, he used original and unexpected means, various traps and tricks, carefully studying the nature of his opponent. Not neglecting systematic espionage, Hannibal always received timely information about the plans of the enemy and even managed to keep constant spies in Rome.

Hannibal knew how to subjugate people to himself, which reflected the boundless obedience to his will of the multi-tribal and multi-lingual troops, who never rebelled against Hannibal. Such a person was a brilliant commander, who after the death of Hasdrubal became the leader of the Spanish army and decided to implement the plans of his no less talented father. In addition, he had all the necessary means to achieve this goal.

In the absence of the support of the government of Carthage, Hamilcar outlined the boundaries of a new province in Spain, thanks to the rich mines of which he was able not only to replenish the treasury, but also, using the reserves of subject communities, to increase the number of auxiliary troops and mercenaries to the extent necessary. Roman diplomats in 226 concluded a treaty with Hasdrubal forbidding the Carthaginians from advancing beyond the Iberus. However, southwest of the Iberus, in the main part of the territory of Spain, the Carthaginians were given complete freedom of action. From his father, Hannibal inherited a full treasury and a strong army, accustomed to victories, whose soldiers truly valued the honor of the banner and were selflessly devoted to their leader. The moment has come to settle accounts with Rome.

However, the government of Carthage was not at all attracted by the plans of the young commander, and Hannibal did not want to start a war against the will of the legitimate rulers, and then he tried to provoke the Spanish colony Sagunta, which was patronized by Rome, into breaking the peace. But the Saguntans limited themselves to sending a complaint to Rome. To find out all the details of the case, the Roman Senate sent commissioners to Spain. Hannibal was sure that a harsh treatment would force the Romans to declare war, but the commissars, having guessed his intentions, preferred to remain silent, informing Rome of the impending thunderstorm. The Romans began to arm heavily.

And after a while, Hannibal decided to act. He wrote to the government of Carthage about the oppression of the Carthaginian subjects by the Saguntans, and, not considering it necessary to wait for an answer, began hostilities. The authorities of Carthage were shocked by the audacity of this decision; there was talk of a possible extradition of Hannibal to Rome.

However, perhaps because the Carthaginian government feared its own army more than the Roman soldiers, or in connection with the understanding of the impossibility of correcting what had been done, or maybe because of the usual indecision, they decided not to take any action, i.e. how not to encourage war, and not to try to continue it. And after 8 months of the siege, Sagunt was taken in 218.

The Roman ambassadors demanded that Hannibal be extradited, but, without waiting for any response from the Carthaginian Senate, they announced the beginning of the war, which was called the Second Punic War.

Hannibal understood that it was best to fight against Rome directly in Italy. He took care of the security of Africa, and also left an army in Spain under the command of his brother Hasdrubal, after which in 218 Hannibal with an army consisting of 12,000 horsemen, 80,000 infantry and 37 war elephants set off from New Carthage. His path went through the southern coast of Spain and Gaul. Hannibal's army then descended into southern Gaul, where the consul Publius Cornelius Scipio, who was waiting for them, failed to prevent Hannibal's army from passing into the Rhone valley. The Romans realized that Hannibal intended to sneak into Italy from the north. In this regard, the Romans abandoned the originally planned division of the army and navy between the consuls, and both consular armies went to northern Italy, towards Hannibal.

At this time, the army of the Carthaginian commander approached the Alps. The Carthaginians had to overcome one of the most difficult stages of the campaign - to cross the icy steeps, narrow mountain paths, often making their way through snow storms, which became an especially difficult test for the Carthaginians, who had absolutely no idea about the snow and cold. It took Hannibal's army thirty-three days to cross the Alps.

Battle of Zama

In October 218, Hannibal's army, after five and a half months of a difficult campaign, carried out in continuous battles with the mountaineers, descended into the valley of the Po River. However, the losses that Hannibal's army suffered during this period were so huge that only 20,000 infantry and 6,000 horsemen came to Italy with Hannibal. Almost all the war elephants fell on the way. In Cisalpine Gaul, which the Romans conquered not so long ago, the Carthaginian commander gave his exhausted army a rest, significantly replenishing its ranks thanks to the detachments of local tribes.
After occupying and destroying Turin, Hannibal defeated the Romans at the Battle of the Ticino River, after which he inflicted an even more serious defeat on the Trebbia River.

After the first victories, Hannibal's troops defeated the winter camps in Cisalpine Gaul, simultaneously strengthening due to the arrival of new fighters from the Gallic tribes. With the onset of the spring of 217, the Romans advanced towards two armies, whose task was to block the road to Rome. However, Hannibal decided to simply avoid a collision with them, bypassing the army of Flaminius from the left flank, and along the way complicate the possibility of its communication with Rome. The commander decided to lead his army by the shortest route in the direction of Parma, through the Clusium marshes, which were also flooded by floods on the Arno River. The army of Hannibal of the day walked through the swamp for several days, having lost all the war elephants and most of the horses. Having overcome the swamps, Hannibal's army went on a false maneuver, simulating preparations for the siege of Rome. Having bought into this trick, Flaminius left his positions and hastily organized the pursuit of Hannibal, neglecting the proper military protection. Taking advantage of this oversight of Flaminius, Hannibal staged a brilliant ambush at Lake Trasimene, sowing there with an entire army.

Hannibal, who occupied the surrounding heights, was waiting for the Romans in the narrow valley of the lake. When the Romans entered the valley, Hannibal's fighters attacked them from all sides, inflicting a humiliating defeat on the Romans, unable to organize an organized rebuff. The Roman army was completely defeated, and Flaminius himself died in the battle.

Never before had Rome been in such danger as was the result of the defeat of the army of Flaminius. The dictatorial power in Rome went to Quintus Fabius Maximus (aka Kunktator, i.e. Slower). The Roman dictator proposes to resort to the tactics of avoiding major battles, designed to completely exhaust the enemy, already exhausted by campaigns, causing him insurmountable difficulties in supply. This tactic was criticized, and after the end of the reign of Fabius in 216 BC. power and command passed to the consuls: Gaius Terentius Varro and Lucius Paul Aemilius. At this point, Rome had 90,000 infantry, 8,100 cavalry, and 1,000 Syracusan archers at its disposal.

Meanwhile, many months and years of campaigns affected Hannibal's army not in the best way. The fighters were on the verge of exhaustion, and replenishment from Carthage was never sent. So the political opponents of Hannibal decided to undermine his authority. However, the Carthaginians, stuck in Italy, continued to be lucky. Hannibal, unwillingly, was helped by the Romans. Terentius Varro, who attacked the Carthaginians at Cannae, did not take into account the features of the terrain, convenient for the operations of Hannibal's excellent Numidian cavalry. Before the battle, the Roman troops numbered 80,000 infantry and 6,000 horsemen. The Carthaginian infantry was twice as inferior to the Roman one, but in the cavalry the superiority was more than twofold: against the Roman 6 thousand, Hannibal put up 14 thousand horsemen. The Romans suffered a new terrible defeat - defeat and shame.
Hannibal's victory at the Battle of Cannae had a wide political resonance. Many communities in southern Italy began to cross over to his side. The provinces of Samnia and Bruttia, as well as a significant part of Lucania, actually left the Roman state.

The victory at Cannae strengthened the position of Carthage in the international arena - it changed the geopolitical balance of power in the world. Roman hegemony was truly shaken. Hannibal received allied offers from the Macedonian king Philip V, as well as from the rulers of Sicily - Syracuse went over to the side of Carthage. The loss of Sicily by Rome was practically a fait accompli.

However, the victory still did not allow Hannibal to march on Rome, because his army did not have the means to properly conduct a siege. He had to be satisfied with the transition to his side of many Roman allies and the opening of the gates of Capua, the second city of the republic, before the Carthaginians. It was here that Hannibal allowed his exhausted soldiers to rest a little, but the position of Hannibal himself practically did not change, since the government of Carthage, preoccupied exclusively with its own selfish interests, missed the opportunity to finally crack down on its primordial rivals - the Romans, still almost not supporting their commander. The shortsightedness of the Carthaginian government, which was not worried about the fate of the Carthaginian army located on enemy territory, deprived of regular communication with the metropolis and a source of replenishment of material and human reserves, fatally affected the fate of Hannibal. During this entire period, only 12,000 infantry and 1,500 cavalry were sent to reinforce Hannibal's army. Meanwhile, Rome managed to recover and gather new troops, after which, in the battle of Nola, the consul Marcellus managed to win the first victory over the Carthaginians. After a series of battles, the Romans took Capua, and Hannibal was forced into a defensive position.

Without waiting for reinforcements from the fatherland, Hannibal turned to his brother Hasdurbal, who, having left Spain, went with an army to Italy in 207, but he was unable to connect with Hannibal, because the Romans took appropriate measures to prevent this. After defeating Hannibal at the Battle of Grumentum, the forces of the consul Claudius Nero joined with the army of another consul, Livy Sampator, defeating Hasdrubal together. After receiving his brother's severed head as a package, Hannibal decided to retreat to Brucium, where he held out for another 3 years.

After this period, the government of Carthage called in a commander to protect his native city, to which an army was approaching, led by the consul Publius Cornelius Scipio, who transferred military operations to Africa.

In 203, Hannibal, leaving Italy, crossed over to Africa, landing at Leptis, his army was stationed at Adrumet. An attempt to negotiate peace with the Romans was unsuccessful. Finally, in 202, the decisive battle took place at Zama. A significant role in the defeat of Hannibal's army belongs to the Numidian cavalry under the command of King Masinissa, who went over to the side of the Romans. The Carthaginian army was defeated, thus putting an end to the 2nd Punic War. And already in 201 BC. the warring parties signed a peace treaty, the terms of which were a heavy and humiliating burden for the Carthaginians. Carthage had to give up all its overseas possessions, including Spain. In addition, the Carthaginians did not have to start hostilities even against neighboring tribes without receiving the approval of the Roman Senate. Carthage was also ordered to pay an indemnity of 10,000 talents and give Rome all its warships and war elephants.

In peacetime, Hannibal showed his talents in the field of government; holding the position of praetor, Hannibal managed to streamline the finances, ensuring the urgent payment of heavy indemnities, and in general, both during the war and during the peace, he was at his best.

Nevertheless, Hannibal did not give up hope of resuming the fight against Rome and, in order to increase the chances of success, sought to enlist the support of the Syrian king Antiochus III. Upon learning of this, the enemies of Hannibal reported his actions to Rome, after which the Romans demanded that Carthage extradite Hannibal. This forced the commander to go in search of refuge to Antiochus. Subsequently, he even persuaded him to start a war against Rome, hoping that his compatriots would join this fight. However, the Carthaginian government resolutely refused to participate in the war.
As a result, the Romans defeated the Syrian and Phoenician fleets, at the same time Cornelius Scipio defeated Antiochus near Magnesia. After the defeat, Antiochus III had to seek peace, and not the last point in this agreement was the extradition of Hannibal.

The next requirement of the Romans to extradite Hannibal in 189 forced him to flee. Some historians believe that for some time Hannibal was patronized by the Armenian king Artaxius, whom the Carthaginian commander helped in founding the city of Artashat on the river. Arax. After Hannibal got to about. Crete, and then ended up with the Bithynian king Prusius. Here he led the alliance of Prusius and neighboring rulers, created to fight the Roman ally, the Pergamon king Eumenes.

Historians describe a naval battle in which Hannibal managed to rout the ships of the Pergamenes by throwing snakes onto the decks of their ships. Despite the fact that luck was again on the side of Hannibal, Prusius betrayed him, agreeing with the Roman Senate on the extradition of his guest. When the 65-year-old Hannibal became aware of this, in order to avoid shameful captivity, he decided to take the poison that was constantly with him, poured into the ring.
Thus ended the life of the great commander, who fell victim to political intrigues, who, during his lifetime, liked to repeat that "Hannibal was defeated not by Rome, but by the Carthaginian Senate."

Literature:
Korablev I. Sh. Hannibal. - M.: Nauka, 1976.
Lancel S. Hannibal. - M.: Young Guard, 2002.
Huss W. Hannibal. - 1986.

Hannibal Barca combines in his fate the role of a winner and a kind of defeated. The name of this great personality is surrounded by multiple conjectures and legends. Who is Hannibal? This is an outstanding commander of his era. He went down in world history as the most serious rival of the mighty Rome, against which he managed to wage a successful war for fifteen years, being far from Carthage.

Roman authors and historians representing the side of the enemy wrote a lot about him. And they gave him credit as a commander, whose military art was more often based on personal heroism. Who is Hannibal in history: the winner or the vanquished?

He was the son of Hamilcar Barca and descended from the ancient Carthaginian trade and aristocratic family of Barkida, who gave history many famous politicians and commanders. The clan originated from one of the companions of the founder of Carthage - the legendary Queen Dido. The Barkids in Spain had a special influence.

Hannibal Barca (247-183 BC) is the most famous representative of the Barkid family. Being the first-born in the family, he was intended, according to the ancient custom of the Punians, as a sacrifice to the god Baal. But Hamilcar Barca replaced his son with a child of a slave, and Hannibal was transported to Iberia and only years later returned to Carthage. He was brought up as an irreconcilable enemy of a long-time adversary - Rome - and even took an oath before the altar to fight a powerful rival all his life.

It is worth noting that father and son played a significant role in the struggle between Carthage and Rome. It became a kind of natural completion of the entire previous development of the countries of the Western Mediterranean.

Hannibal participated in military campaigns in Spain, led by his father, in the conquest of the Iberian tribes. In 221 BC he was proclaimed commander-in-chief of the army of Carthage. Having attacked the city of Sagunt in 219, he actually provoked In 218 BC. e. his invasion of the lands of Italy inflicted several defeats on the enemy, including the most significant of them - at Cannae. But the Romans, seizing the initiative, went on the offensive in Spain and Africa. Carthage was forced to turn to Hannibal for help. Called to Africa, he was defeated at Zama, which led to the conclusion of peace with Rome.

There is practically no exact information about what Hannibal did in the years after the signing of the treaty. It is known that he was brought to trial, accused of embezzling military booty, and also that Rome was not occupied by him. However, in the eyes of the people, Hannibal, despite the defeat, continued to be considered a national hero. Also, there were no punishments for "crimes" due to the rather strong influence of the Barkids. In addition, Carthage needed a commander capable of holding a mercenary army. He was also appointed to the position of the highest official of Carthage - the Suffet. Due to the reform he carried out against the oligarchs, he managed to pay indemnities to Rome.

By doing this, he made many enemies for himself. He was accused of anti-Roman sentiments, of secret conspiracies with Antiochus III - the king of Syria - in order to unleash a war with Rome. The Senate called Hannibal to account, but he did not appear before the Council of Elders. Having foreseen the situation, the commander sailed allegedly on an important mission to the Seleucid power in Tyre.

In 186 BC. e. he manages to move to Prussia, to the king of Bithynia, from whom they subsequently demanded the extradition of Barca. Probably currying favor with the Romans, he betrayed Hannibal. Not wanting to surrender into the hands of the enemy, the commander took the poison, which was kept just in case in the ring and was always with him.

There are many discussions: was Barca a national hero, is his merit in the fight against Rome so great, what is his place in history, who is Hannibal? First of all, he was a brilliant commander. Among the outstanding strategists of antiquity: Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Scipio and others, Hannibal also took his place. General who has been called the "Father of Strategy" by military historian Theodore Iroh Dodge. Even his sworn enemies borrowed many elements of military art from him. Modern historians, along with the Romans, pay tribute to his maneuvers, cunning, reliability of intelligence and personal courage.

Few people will not answer the question of who Hannibal is. A man whose name inspired incredible fear in the Romans. The famous expression "Hannibal ante portas", meaning "Hannibal at the gates", became a catchphrase in Rome. It is it that will sound during the uprising of Spartacus as the personification of fear and the danger of taking the city.

Hannibal - who shared the hardships and dangers of war with his warriors. He never ordered others to do what he could not do personally. This alone won him considerable prestige both among the Carthaginian army and among the enemy soldiers.

This is the largest strategist of his time, who made a significant contribution to the development of world military art. His ability to correctly characterize the military-political situation, carefully organize reconnaissance, take care of the rear of the army, supply bases, in-depth study of the theater of operations, and ensure long-term transitions of his troops were highly appreciated by modern historians.

The basis of his army was a maneuverable African cavalry - the main striking force. Skillful use of the terrain, surprise, excellent knowledge of the tactics of his enemy, bold maneuvers and a decisive blow on the battlefield are the main features of Hannibal's tactics, most pronounced in the encirclement of the largest enemy forces on two flanks and its complete destruction became the crown of the military art of the brilliant commander, which highly appreciated at the time by his irreconcilable enemies.

The poison from the ring ended the life of the greatest personality in history. Later, Cicero will utter the words that Hannibal's fellow citizens expelled him, and our enemy is glorified in our memory and writings. Indeed, it is surprising that it was in the writings of the Romans that the memory of Hannibal Barca was preserved for posterity.

Hannibal Barca - Carthaginian general, one of the great military commanders and statesmen of antiquity. Commanded the Carthaginian forces against Rome in the Second Punic War from 218–201. BC e. and opposed the empire until his death. The years of life of the commander Hannibal Barca - 247 BC. e. - 183–181 BC e.

Personality

The personality of Hannibal Barca (you will learn about him briefly in the process of reading the article) is rather controversial. Roman biographers do not treat him impartially and accuse him of cruelty. But, despite this, there is evidence that he entered into agreements for the return of prisoners and treated the bodies of fallen enemy generals with respect. The bravery of the military leader Hannibal Barca is well known. Many stories and anecdotes about his wit and subtlety of speech have come down to our time. He was fluent in Greek and Latin.

Appearance

It is difficult to judge the appearance and height of Hannibal Barca, since his only surviving portrait is silver coins from Carthage, which depict him as a young man with a beardless face.

Childhood and youth

The biography of the commander is not rich in accurate data. Many seemingly facts are just speculation. A brief biography of Hannibal Barca begins with information that he was the son of the great Carthaginian general Hamilcar Barca. His mother's name is unknown. Hannibal was brought to Spain by his father, lived and was brought up among warriors. At an early age he was instilled with eternal hostility to Rome, and his whole life was devoted to this struggle.

First appointment

The first command of Hannibal Barca (photo, or rather the portrait of the commander you have the opportunity to see in the article) was in the Carthaginian province of Spain. He became a successful officer because, after the assassination of Hasdrubal in 221, the army proclaimed him commander-in-chief at 26, and the Carthaginian government quickly ratified his appointment to the field.

Hannibal immediately joined in the consolidation of the Punic seizure of Spain. He married the Spanish princess Imilca and then conquered various Spanish tribes. He fought against the Olcad tribe and captured their capital, Altalia, subjugated the Vaccaei in the northwest. In 221, having made the seaport of Kart-adasht (modern Carthage, Spain) a base, he won a resounding victory over the Carpetans in the region of the Tagus River.

In 219 Hannibal attacked Saguntum, an independent Iberian city south of the Iber River. In the treaty between Rome and Carthage after the First Punic War (264–241), Iber was established as the northern limit of Carthaginian influence in the Iberian Peninsula. Saguntum was south of the Ibras, but the Romans had a "friendship" (though perhaps not an actual treaty) with the city and viewed the Carthaginian attack on it as an act of war.

The siege of Saguntum lasted eight months, in which Hannibal was wounded. The Romans, who sent envoys to Carthage in protest (although they did not send an army to help Saguntum), demanded the surrender of Hannibal after his fall. Thus began the Second Punic War, declared by Rome. On the Carthaginian side, Hannibal led the troops.

Hike to Gaul

Hannibal Barca (unfortunately, we cannot see the photo of the commander) spent the winter of 219-218 in Carthage in active preparations for transferring the war to Italy. Leaving his brother Hasdrubal in command of a sizable army to defend Spain and North Africa, he crossed the Iber in April or May 218 and then proceeded to the Pyrenees.

Hannibal left Carthage with an army of 90,000, including 12,000 cavalry, but he left at least 20,000 in Spain to protect supply lines. In the Pyrenees, his army, which included 37 elephants, met stiff resistance from the Pyrenean tribes. This opposition and the retreat of the Spanish troops reduced the size of his army. When Hannibal reached the Rhone, he met little resistance from the tribes of southern Gaul.

Meanwhile, the Roman general Publius Cornelius Scipio moved his army, which had been held up by a mutiny in Italy, by sea to the area of ​​Massilia (Marseille), a city that was connected to Rome. Thus, Hannibal's access to the coastal route to Italy was blocked not only by the olives, but by at least one army and another that was assembling in Italy. As Scipio moved north along the right bank of the Rhone, he learned that Hannibal had already crossed the river and was heading north along the left bank. Realizing that Hannibal was planning to cross the Alps, Scipio returned to northern Italy to wait for him there.

Conflicting accounts surround Hannibal's actions after crossing the Rhone. Polybius claims that he crossed the river four days from the sea. Researchers consider such historical places as modern Beaucaire and Avignon. Hannibal used captured fishing boats, he built floating platforms and earth-covered rafts for elephants. Horses were transported in large boats. During the operation, hostile Gauls appeared on the east coast, and Hannibal sent forces under the command of Hanno to defend. He crossed the river further upstream and attacked from behind. As the Gauls tried to block Hannibal, Hanno's force struck, scattering the Gauls and allowing the bulk of the Carthaginian army to pass through the Rhone.

Hannibal soon received the support of the Gallic tribes, who were led by the Celtic tribe of the Boii. Their lands were invaded by Roman settlements and they had good information about the Alpine crossings. Polybius makes it clear that Hannibal's army did not "blindly" cross the Alps, they had knowledge of the best routes. After crossing the Rhone, Hannibal's army traveled north for 80 miles (130 km) and crossed into an area called the "island", the location of which is the key to Hannibal's subsequent land movements.

According to Polybius, it was a fertile, densely populated triangle, surrounded by hills, the Rhone, and a river called Izr. The confluence of two rivers marked the border of the lands of the Alobrog tribe. On the "island" there was a civil war between two brothers-commanders. Brancus, the elder brother, in exchange for Hannibal's help, provided supplies for the Carthaginian army, which, after marching about 750 miles (1210 km) four months later from Carthage, was in great need of them.

Crossing the Alps

Few details of Hannibal's crossing of the Alps have been preserved, chiefly by Polybius, who is said to have traveled the route himself. A group of tribes, outraged by the betrayal of Brancus, ambushed and attacked from the rear Hannibal's columns on their way along the Isre River at the "gates to the Alps" (modern Grenoble). It was a narrow river surrounded by massive mountain ranges. Hannibal took countermeasures, but they entailed heavy losses among the soldiers. On the third day, he captured the Gallic city and provided the army with food for two or three days.

After about four days of marching along the river valleys (the Izr and Ark rivers), Hannibal was ambushed by hostile Gauls in a "white stone" place, not far from the top of the mountain. The Gauls attacked by throwing heavy stones from a height, causing both people and animals to panic and lose their positions on the steep paths. Haunted by such daytime attacks and distrustful of the loyalty of his Gallic guides, Hannibal decided to march at night and hide the animals in the gorge below. Before dawn, he led the rest of his forces through the narrow entrance to the gorge, killing several Gauls who guarded it and hoped that Hannibal would be trapped.

Gathering his forces at the top of the Alps, Hannibal remained there for several days before his descent into Italy. Polybius makes it clear that the summit itself must be high enough to keep the snow drifts from last winter (at least 8,000 feet, or 2,400 meters). The problem of determining the exact location of the camp is exacerbated by the fact that the name of the pass was either not known to Polybius or was considered insufficiently important. Livy, writing 150 years later, sheds no further light on the matter, and modern historians have offered many theories about Hannibal's exact course through the Alps.

At the final stage of the route, snow fell on the pass, making the descent even more insidious. The army was held up for most of the day. Finally, after a five-month journey from Carthage, with 25,000 infantry, 6,000 cavalry and 30 elephants, Hannibal descended into Italy. He overcame the difficulties of the climate, the terrain, and the guerrilla tactics of the local tribes.

War in Italy

Hannibal's forces were small compared to the army of Scipio, who crossed the Po River to defend the newly established Roman colonies of Placentia (modern Piacenza) and Cremona. The first significant battle between the two armies took place on the Po Plains, west of the Ticino River, and Hannibal's army was victorious. Scipio was badly wounded, and the Romans withdrew to Placentia. After the maneuvers failed to lead to a second battle, Hannibal successfully sent the army of Sempronius Longus to battle on the left bank of the Trebbia south of Placentia (December 218).

The Roman forces were defeated. This victory brought both Gauls and Ligurians to Hannibal's side, and his army was greatly enlarged by Celtic recruits. After a harsh winter, Hannibal was able to advance in the spring of 217 to the marshes of Arno, where he lost an eye from an infection. Although two Roman armies opposed him, he was able to overcome the path to Arretia (modern Arezzo) and reached Curtuna (modern Cortona). By design, this move forced Flaminius's army into open combat, and in the ensuing Battle of Lake Trasimene, Hannibal's forces annihilated the Roman army, resulting in the deaths of 15,000 soldiers. Another 15,000 Romans and allied troops were captured.

Reinforcements (about 4000 cavalry) under the command of Gaius Centenius were intercepted and destroyed. Either the Carthaginian troops were too exhausted to consolidate their victories and march on Rome, or Hannibal thought the city was too well fortified. In addition, he harbored the vain hope that Rome's Italian allies would suffer damage and civil war would occur.

The commander Hannibal Barca, whose biography is presented to your attention in the article, spent the summer of 217 resting in Pikenum, but later he ruined Apulia and Campania. Suddenly, in the early summer of 216, Hannibal moved south and captured a large army depot at Cannae on the Aufidus River. There, in early August, the battle of Hannibal Barca took place at Cannes (modern Monte di Cannes). Hannibal acted wisely in forcing the outnumbered Romans to descend into a narrow plain surrounded by a river and a hill.

As the battle began, the Gauls and the Iberian infantry of Hannibal's center line gave way to the movement of the outnumbered Roman infantry. The Romans continued their advance, defeating both flanks of the Spanish and Libyan infantry. Surrounded on three sides, the retreat route was closed to the Romans. So they were defeated by the army of Hannibal. Polybius speaks of 70,000 dead, and Livy reports 55,000; in any case, it was a disaster for Rome. Almost one in five Roman men of military age was killed. Rome was now justifiably afraid of Hannibal.

The great victory had the desired effect: many regions began to retreat from the Italian confederation. Hannibal, however, did not march on Rome, but spent the winter of 216–215 in Capua, which declared its allegiance to Hannibal, perhaps hoping that he would become Rome's equal. Gradually, the Carthaginian fighting force weakened. The strategy proposed by Fabius after the Battle of Trasimene was again put into action:

• defend cities loyal to Rome;
• try to recover in those cities that fell to Hannibal;
• never engage in battle when the enemy is imposing it.

Thus, Hannibal, unable to spread his forces due to the small size of the army, moved from the offensive to a cautious and not always successful defense in Italy. In addition, many of his Gallic supporters were tired of the war, and they returned north to their homeland.

Since there were few reinforcements from Carthage, Hannibal, with the exception of the capture of Tarantum (modern Taranto), won only minor victories. In 213 Casilin and Arpi (captured by Hannibal in the winter of 216–215) were restored by the Romans, and in 211 Hannibal was forced to retire to lift the Roman siege of Capua. He tried to defeat the Roman armies, but this step was not successful, and Capua fell. In the same year, Syracuse fell in Sicily, and by 209 Tarentum in southern Italy was also recaptured by the Romans.

Exile

The treaty between Rome and Carthage, which was concluded a year after the Battle of Zama, frustrated all hopes of Hannibal to oppose Rome again. He was able to overthrow the power of the oligarchic ruling faction in Carthage and bring about certain administrative and constitutional changes.

Although Scipio Africanus, who defeated him at Zama, supported his leadership in Carthage, he became unpopular with the Carthaginian nobility. According to Livy, this led Hannibal to flee first to Tire and then to the court of Antiochus at Ephesus (195). At first he was accepted, since Antiochus was preparing a war with Rome. Soon, however, Hannibal's presence and the advice he gave regarding the conduct of the war became irrelevant, and he was sent to command Antiochus' fleet in the Phoenician cities. Inexperienced in naval matters, he was defeated by the Roman fleet off Saida in Pamphylia. Antiochus was defeated at Magnesia in 190, and one of the demands of the Romans was that Hannibal should surrender.

Hannibal's further actions are not exactly known. Either he fled across Crete to the king of Bithynia, or he joined the rebel forces in Armenia. After all, it is known that he took refuge in Bithynia, which at that time was at war with Rome. The great commander participated in this war and defeated the Eumenes at sea.

Death of a commander

Under what circumstances did the commander die? The influence of the Romans in the east expanded to such an extent that they were able to demand the surrender of Hannibal. In the last hours of his life, he, expecting betrayal from Bithynia, sent his last faithful servant to check all the secret exits from the fortress in Libyss (near modern Gebze, Turkey). The servant reported that there were unknown enemy guards at every exit. Knowing that he was betrayed and could not escape, Hannibal poisoned himself in a final act of defiance against the Romans (probably 183 BC).

History has preserved the greatest achievements of Hannibal in the Second Punic War. He was an outstanding general with an invincible military strategy. Hannibal Barca's daring attempt to fight Rome made him the best commander in ancient history.

As you can see, the personality of Hannibal Barca is quite interesting, albeit controversial. Historians have collected some interesting information about this glorious commander.

1. Hannibal Barca's surname means "thunderbolt".
2. The father, watching Hannibal as a child, exclaimed: "Here is the lion that I am raising to destroy Rome."
3. Elephants in Hannibal's army were real armored vehicles. They had arrows on their backs, and they broke through any system, trampling people.
4. The Romans used trumpets to scare the elephants of the Carthaginian army at the Battle of Zama. The frightened elephants fled, killing many of the Carthaginian troops.
5. To convince people to join his army, the great commander Hannibal Barca chose their best warrior and fought with him.
6. In one of the battles at sea, Hannibal's men threw pots with snakes at the enemy. It was one of the first examples of biological warfare.
7. The phrase "Hannibal's oath" has become winged and means a firm determination to bring the matter to the end.