Informed equally by the authors encyclopedic knowledge of antiquity and his own military background, hannibal is a highly readable military biography of a brilliant tactician who failed to understand the culture of his roman enemy and thus could win. Hannibal s forces ravage and pillage the countryside. Sep 07, 2016 he couldnt outmuscle his enemy, so he outmanoeuvred him instead. Aug 18, 2017 hannibals elephants crossing the rhine river.
Cannae is as famous for hannibal s tactics as it is for the role it played in roman history. Both of these battles are evidence of hannibal s military genius and the costs. During the second punic war, hannibal swept across southern europe and through the alps, consistently defeating the roman army, but never taking the city itself. Mar 29, 2018 hannibal also known as hannibal barca, l. This paper examines the influence of hannibal of carthage on the art of war over time. Thus, hannibal s army set up camp and lit many fires to give the appearance that they were settling in for the night. Hannibal was known for leading the carthaginian army and a team of elephants across southern europe and the alps mountains against rome in the second punic war. His father hamilcar barca was the leading carthaginian commander during the first punic war. Trebia, trasimene, and cannae, hannibal exploited the eagerness of the roman generals. The battles of trebia and trasimene are prime examples of hannibal barca s great strategic successes against the roman army.
Not only did hannibal inflict a defeat on the roman republic in a manner unrepeated for over a century until the lesserknown battle of arausio, the battle has acquired a significant reputation in military history. Hannibal, general of the carthaginian army, lived in the second and 3rd century b. He is considered one of the greatest generals of antiquity and his tactics are still studied and used in the present day. He was born into a carthaginian military family and made to swear hostility toward rome.
I am frequently invited to lecture on hannibal s intelligence gathering in venues like the u. Hannibals army was made up of as many as 75,000 foot soldiers and 9,000 horsemen. Barca, was a carthaginian general who fought in the first punic war. Specifically, i think of the novelty of khalid bin walids strategy during the battle of mutah, when the enemy outnumbered the muslim forces, and three generals had already been lost. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading hannibal barca, the greatest general. It determined which culture, greekroman or semiticphoenician, would dominate the development of the western world. His father, hamilcar barca, was a leading carthaginian commander during the first punic war 264241 bc. No one could argue that hannibals tactics were very effective, even his enemies had accepted it.
His father, hamilcar barca, was a leading carthaginian. And it was this sosylos whom hannibal employed as his teacher of greek. I guess the only thing to add is that according to hans delbruck and other historians, the reason why hannibal looked invincible in battle from a tacticalstrategical perspective is the creation of echelon tactics. The carthaginian army, led by hannibal, surrounded and practically annihilated a larger roman army under the consuls lucius aemilius paullus and gaius terentius varro. Changes in tactics were made by the romans, many of them based on the successes of hannibal. After hamilcar led the carthaginian forces against rome in the first punic war, hannibal followed in his fathers footsteps. His father, hamilcar, imposed carthaginian rule over much of presentday spain. Hannibal barca famously regarded as the scourge of rome, was a respected general of african s tock. When, as commander of a great army, he camped outside romes walls, it was a monstrous, nevertobeforgotten image of nightmare. A brilliant strategist, he developed tactics of outflanking and surrounding the enemy with the combined forces of infantry and cavalry. Hannibal accomplished many great successes, experienced personal tragedies, and yet persevered through it all. The meteoric rise, defeat, and destruction of romes fiercest rival author barry linton chronicles the adventures, myth, and legacy of hannibal barca. Even in our modern era, hannibals strategies are still being studied and being applied in warfare. Richard gabriels hannibal is a worthy successor to his books on subotai, muhammad, scipio africanus, thutmose iii, and philip of macedon.
His innovative use of chemistry, incredible feats of transportation, war animals, environmental factors, and battle field tactics render him a military genius, and the greatest opponent that the roman empire ever faced. Brilliant tactics last but not least, hannibal beat the long odds against him, and was victorious for so long against the romans, because he had a brilliant mind for tactics. Hannibal left new carthage in late spring of 218 bc. Oct 23, 2014 one such military leader was hannibal barca. Second was the superiority of carthaginian cavalry compared to roman cavalry. His younger brothers were mago and hasdrubal, and he was brotherinlaw to hasdrubal the fair. Hannibal barca was a military commander of the carthage army. Hannibal barcas brilliance changed the world, his leadership that lead thousands to follow him and military tactics defeating larger armies. Hannibal keeps trying to attack the roman army but fabius keeps to the rough higher elevations, where hannibal s superior cavalry were of little use.
With the use of animals and tactical battle field strategy, hannibal was able to decimate roman armies that greatly outnumbered his own. While bringing the fight to rome and peeling off roman allies could have been a strong component of a comprehensive strategy, it wasnt enough on its own. Pdf hannibal barca, the son of hamilcar barca has been described by several. Strategic lessons from hannibals war the american interest. His skill in the application of strategy and innovative tactics allowed. Hannibal is most famous for what he did in the second punic war. He was hannibal the carthaginiana military genius and, in all its long history, the roman republics most formidable enemy. Aug 17, 2019 hannibal barca was a carthaginian general who was considered to be one of the great military leaders in history. The period of time, 225202 bc, in the western mediterranean, was a crucial turning point in the history of the western world. Hentys the young carthaginian tells the story of hannibal and the second punic war from the perspective of the fictional character malchus, a cousin of hannibal. Hannibals war with rome provides a complex example of strategic and tactical successes and failures that have been modeled and studied throughout military history in one fashion or another.
Hannibal was born in carthage known as tunisia today in 247 bc to carthaginian leader hamilcar barca. Jul 16, 2019 hannibal was known for leading the carthaginian army and a team of elephants across southern europe and the alps mountains against rome in the second punic war. The meteoric rise, defeat, and destruction of romes fiercest rival. Every military academy today offers detailed classes and seminars on hannibal s tactics.
A carthaginian coin depicting hasdrubal barca 245207 bc, one of hannibals younger brothers, wearing a diadem a carthaginian shekel, dated 237227 bc, depicting the punic god melqart equivalent of herculesheracles, most likely with the features of hamilcar barca, father of hannibal barca. Hannibal project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks read. This praise has earned him a strong reputation in the modern world, and he was regarded as a great strategist by men like napoleon bonaparte and the duke of wellington. Hannibals deeds of arms have been recorded by many writers, among them two men who were with him in the camp and lived with him so long as fortune allowed, silenus and sosylos of lacedaemon. A novel of carthage, 091015533x 19962000, ross leckie, carthage trilogy, source of the 2008. He couldnt outmuscle his enemy, so he outmanoeuvred him instead. A study on hannibals stratagem during the second punic war core. Oct 01, 2014 hannibals brilliance as a military commander is evident throughout the second punic war, also known as the hannibalic war. He used the terrain and the weaknesses of the enemy to defeat the superior roman forces. Youth 247219 when hannibal in his own, punic language. Romes strategic victory over the tacticaloperational genius, hannibal barca hannibal barca, general of carthage during the 2d punic war with rome, 218202 bc, has few peers in the annals of military history. Battles of trebia and trasimene hannibals military. Hannibal in the alps the carthaginian general hannibal 247182 bce was one of the greatest military leaders in history.
Hannibal s successes in battle stemmed from two primary sources. In his book entitled hannibal barca, the greatest general. He defeated the tribes through clever mountain tactics and stubborn fighting. Naval war college, where classes are filled with navy, army, marines, and air force officers along with representatives of the intelligence agencies. Hannibal barca, son of hamilcar barca n 1 247 183182181 bc n 2 was a punic carthaginian military commander, generally considered one of the greatest military commanders in history. Mar 23, 2018 barca is also spelled barcas, barca, and barak.
Rome, came to adopt elements of his military tactics in its own strategic arsenal. Hannibal barca, general of carthage during the 2d punic war with rome, 218 202 bc, has few peers in the annals of military history. He had two brothers hasdrubal and mago, and several sisters. The meteoric rise, defeat, and destruction of romes fiercest rival kindle edition by linton, barry. When hannibal was a young boy, he begged his father to take him along when he left for an overseas war. When hannibal arrived in spain, the troops saw in this young boy their old commander hamiclar. Leaving his brother, also named hasdrubal, to protect carthages interests in spain and north africa, hannibal assembled a massive army, including according to. Hannibals brilliance as a military commander is evident throughout the second punic war, also known as the hannibalic war. Hannibal has been cited by various subsequent military leaders, such as napoleon bonaparte, as an inspiration and the greatest strategist of all. The influence of hannibal of carthage on the art of war. Hannibals successes in battle stemmed from two primary sources. His father, hamilcar barca, was the leading carthaginian commander during the first punic war, his younger brothers were mago and hasdrubal, and he was brotherinlaw to hasdrubal the fair. Top 12 facts about hannibal barca ancient history lists. But todays business is still the second punic war, the.
See more ideas about hannibal barca, punic wars and carthage. A brilliant commander hannibal barca of carthage history. The battle took place on august 2nd, 216 bce in southern italy gabriel 45. But todays business is still the second punic war, the conflict between carthage and rome that. Hannibal barca was a carthaginian general who was considered to be one of the great military leaders in history. Hannibals father was the energetic hamilcar barca, who had commanded carthages armed forces in sicily during the final years of the first punic war. List of books and articles about hannibal online research. Hannibal learned arts of politics from hasdrubal and tactics of war seemed to come 3 p. Hannibal was born in 183 bce and lived during a time of great political and military strife. Military historian theodore ayrault dodge called hannibal the father of strategy, because roman armies adopted elements of his military tactics into their own strategic arsenal. A study on hannibalazs stratagem during the second punic war. Jan 19, 2014 rome, came to adopt elements of his military tactics in its own strategic arsenal. But if you see something that doesnt look right, click. His most wellknown military accomplishment was the battle of cannae, where he defeated a roman army double the size of his.
Romes scipio africanus and carthages hannibal barca. The three punic wars between carthage and rome took place over nearly a. Fabius decides that the best way to defeat hannibal is to refuse open battle. Tactics tutorial there are seven classical maneuvers of war. His campaign in leading carthage against rome during the period 218 to 204 bc consisted of a series of brilliantly led operations that brought him and his army to the gates of rome. The battle of cannae is one that shows how great of a military strategist carthages hannibal truly was.
Top 10 greatest tactical and strategic masterpieces. His name became synonymous with inciting fear, and to this day he is considered one of the greatest military leaders of all time. Hannibal was a carthaginian general who fought against rome during the second punic war. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets.
Although knowledge of him is based primarily on the reports of his enemies, hannibal appears to have been both just and merciful. It will compare and contrast the national strategies employed by both rome and carthage. He marched an army from iberia over the pyrenees mountains and the alps mountains into northern italy and defeated the romans in a series. Carthage was a large and important phoenician citystate in northern africa, which was often at odds with the greek and roman empires. He is widely considered one of the greatest military commanders in world history. Hannibal barca, the african warrior, history channel. Hannibal s brutal tactics enforced loyalty among his troops and power over his enemies.
He invaded the homeland of his enemy and remained there, undefeated, for fifteen years. These two men and their tactics and strategies helped to shape the war, leading to the conclusion that. The roman republic defeated its greatest rival, carthage, and set the stage for romes 600 years domination of the western world. Hannibal barca of carthage, born 247 bc, was one of the great generals of the ancient world. Khalid bin walid and mustafa kemal ataturk immediately come to mind. His arrival on the island in 247 coincided with his sons birth. Once the allobroges left their posts at the end of the day, hannibal s army stormed through the pass, bypassing any resistance. Background and early career hannibal was one of the sons of hamilcar barca, a carthaginian leader.
Hannibal was one of, if not the best, military generals in all of antiquity and his superior battle tactics went unmatched. With the world melting down and the bard semester heating up, ive fallen behind in my grand strategy posts. The carthaginian military commander hannibal barca 247 181 bc is recognised as one of the great military leaders of history. This paper will focus on the strategic failure of carthage and its military leader, hannibal, during the second punic war. Hannibals tactics during the punic wars essay example. He led a famous campaign in the second punic war against the roman army, where he remained undefeated until the gates of rome. Cannae is yet another example of hannibal inflicting mass destruction to the roman army trough tactics. The second suggestion can, in a way, be seen at the battle of lake trebia where hannibals center was penetrated by the roman heavy infantry, but the romans became preoccupied with chasing down the carthaginian routing units rather than helping their losing flanks, thus allowing hannibals army to annihilate the roman flanks and achieve.
Fjvses tacsc strategy process model as the framework for the analysis. After marching 290 miles and reaching the ebro river, hannibal chose the most trustworthy and loyal parts of his army of libyan and iberian. His father hamilcar barca was the commander of the carthaginian forces during. The carthaginian general hannibal 247182 bce was one of the greatest military leaders in history.
Early career of hannibal barca weapons and warfare. His most famous campaign took place during the second punic war 218202, when he caught the romans off guard by crossing the alps. Hannibals hatred for the romans, coupled with scipios unwavering loyalty to rome were the main reasons for the antagonism between the two rivals. His father, hamilcar barca, was the leading carthaginian commander during the first punic war, his younger brothers were mago and hasdrubal, and he. First was his ability to predict what the roman generals would try to accomplish. Hannibal s strategy was to convince the allobroges that the army would not attack at night. Hannibals war with rome provides a complex example of strategic and tactical successes.
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