Hannibal
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HANNIBAL
Hannibal was born in 247 B.C at Carthage and was the son of Hamilcar Barrca, the head of the Carthage army. After Hannibals father died in 229 B.C Hannibals brother in law Hasdrubal, took over command. In 221 B.C Hasdrubal was killed and Hannibal was elected commander by the Carthaginian government.
After crossing the Alps to attack Rome with an army of 60,000 strong (a remarkable achievement at that time) Hannibal arrived at the Italian town of Turin with a force of around only 30,000. Even though he lost so many men in the Alps Hannibal managed to get men to fight for him from the Gauls and a number of other people.
After a successful military campaign throughout Italy, Rome attacked Hannibals homeland Carthage and he was forced to withdraw. After returning to Carthage Hannibal went up against a young Roman commander by the name of Publius Cornelius Scipio and was defeated. After his lose to Scipio, Hannibal was on the run from Roman forces. Hannibal found refuge in Bithynia who was at war with Pergamon at that time. In 184 B.C Hannibal celebrated victory for the last time by defeating the Pergamene fleet as Admiral. However Rome intervened in Pergamenes favour so Hannibal poised himself in 183 B.C to avoid capture and extradition.
Hannibal had a distinguished military career and was one of the greatest military geniuses of his time not only in battle but through his ability to bring diverse groups of people together for a common cause. This paper examines why Hannibal had such a successful military career and how he became a significant historical figure.
The Battle of Terbia Ð- 218 B.C.
This battle was one of the first big fights between Rome and Hannibal. Rome had a force of 45,000 while on the other side Hannibal had an army of 31,000. Hannibal sent a small army of 1,000 foot soldiers and 1000 cavalry to hide themselves among the creek beds along the Terbia River and when the battle began they would ambush the Romans from behind. The next morning Hannibal sent out cavalry to harass the Romans. The leader of the roman army hastily mustered his men and chased after them. The two forces clashed, while the Romans where occupied attacking Hannibals main force, the small army of 2000 attacked the Romans from behind. The Romans fled the battlefield across the river, most being cut down by the onslaught or drowning in the river. Roman casualties
on that day where 20,000 Hannibals where unknown but far less.
The battle of Lake Trasimene Ð- 217 B.C.
The battle of Lake Transimene took place in 217 B.C. The Romans had around 30,000 to 40,000 men while Hannibal had 30,000. Hannibal set up an ambush at Lake Transimene. The area was heavily forested so it was a perfect place to hide. As the roman army marched east along the lake Hannibals infantry and cavalry came down from the hills and sealed the exit by attacking from behind. The Romans where not ready for this and didnt have time to get into the formation they where use to and where cut down quickly. Out of the roman army 15,000 where killed. Hannibals casualties where 1,500. The result was a great victory to Hannibal.
The Battle of Cannae Ð- 216 B.C.
The battle of Cannae was a major battle of the second Punic war. Rome bought a huge force of just under 90,000 men, which had never been done before in Roman history. Hannibal however only had an army of 46,000 infantry and 8000 cavalry. Rome attacked Hannibal on open ground to avoid any chance of an ambush. When the battle began the Carthaginian troops in the centre withdrew from the superior Roman force, but however had driven themselves into a large arc. Then the Carthaginian infantry and cavalry encircled the Romans from behind, they where surrounded and cut to pieces. This was one of the earliest examples of the pincer movement or double-envelopment tactic. Hannibal lost 16,700 men while Rome lost a huge 60,000 and 10,000 captured.
The Result of this battle was one of the costliest in human history over one day.
The Battle of Zama Ð- 202 B.C.