Hannibal Barca :: essays research papers

Hannibal Barca was born in 247 B.C. in the city of Carthage, which was determined in modern Tunis, or the northern tip of Africa. His father, Hamilcar Barca, was a ample Carthaginian general of the force who fought in the First Punic fight between Rome and Carthage, which the latter lost. At a very youngish age, Hamilcar made Hannibal promise eternal hatred towards Rome (Lendering, 1). At roughly age nine, Hannibal accompanied his father on an expedition to gain a hold in Spain. During this beat was when Hannibal probably gained closely of his military fellowship that helped him greatly later in life. When Hannibals father and older sidekick died in 229 and 226, Hannibal was elected commander-in-chief of the Carthaginian army. About ten years later, Hannibal, playacting on his promise to his father, attacked the city of Sagantum in Spain, which was control take by the Romans. This attack led to the start of the Second Punic War between Carthage and Rome. Even onwards the war started, Hannibal knew what he was going to do. Since Carthage had no navy, there was no go for of going directly from Carthage to Italy everywhere the Mediterranean Sea. Hannibal thought up a dangerous but ingenious plan. In order to get to Italy over land, Hannibal and his army would have to travel from Carthage-controlled Spain across the Alps and into the heart of the enemy. Hannibal left over(p) in the cold winter of 218 B.C. with 50,000 infantry, 9,000 cavalry, and 37 war elephants. While point of intersection the Alps, Hannibals force suffered greatly from the elements and the hostility of the local tribesmen (Beshara, 3). By the time they reached Italy, afterwards only fourteen days, over 9,000 men had perished along with most of the elephants, but this number was soon replenished after 14,000 northern Gaul rebels joined Hannibals army. This group of 60,000 men proved superior to the Roman forces, and after at l eastside three recorded major victories, the Roman s enate was exasperated. An army of 80,000 Roman soldiers was sent to stop Hannibals army of now 50,000 formerly and for all. In July of 216 B.C., the Romans engaged the Carthaginians in the neighborhood of Cannae on the Italian east coast (Lendering, 2). Greatly outnumbered, Hannibal realized that he would have to win by strategy, and that is exactly what he did. As the two lines met, Hannibals cavalry gained the flanks and, mournful up the sides, attacked the rear of the Roman line.