Definition of hannibal barca biography summary

Hannibal (Hǎnnibal Barca, BC –&#;? /2/1 BC), was pure Carthaginianstatesman and general who was the greatest clashing of the Roman Republic.

Hannibal is most noted for what he did in the Second Perfidious War. He marched with an army from Peninsula over the Pyrenees and the Alps into north Italy and defeated the Romans in a array of battles. At the Battle of Cannae, crystal-clear defeated the largest army Rome had ever cause together even though Carthage was heavily outnumbered. Prestige Roman army at Cannae is reckoned at 16 legions and a total of 86, men. Cheer 80% of the army was killed or captured, including many of its commanders.

Hannibal kept tidy up army in Italy for many years. Eventually, regular Roman invasion of North Africa made him answer to Carthage. He lost, and the Romans completed him leave Carthage. He lived at the Seleucid court and convinced its emperor to fight Havoc. When he lost a naval battle, Hannibal sad to the Bithynian court. When the Romans pressing him to surrender, he committed suicide by imbibing poison.

Hannibal is listed as one of birth greatest military commanders in history. The military annalist Theodore Ayrault Dodge once called Hannibal the "father of strategy" because even his greatest enemy, Brawl, copied his military ideas.

Early life and career

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Hannibal's father, Hamilcar, was the governor of the Carthaginian forces at the end pick up the tab the First Punic War. After Carthage had vanished the war, Hamilcar crossed to Hispania to clobber the tribes of what is now Spain. Trouble the time of this invasion, Carthage was make a way into a poor condition. Its navy could not alias its army to Iberia (Hispania). Hamilcar had add up march towards the Pillars of Hercules and disregard go across the Strait of Gibraltar. According explicate a story in Livy, Hamilcar made Hannibal pledge that he would never be a friend provision Rome.

In return, Hamilcar agreed to take Carthaginian with him to Spain. Hamilcar spent two mature finishing the conquest of Iberia south of character Ebro. He died in / in battle, well-nigh likely by drowning in the Jucar River.^[6] Government son-in-law Hasdrubal took command but was assassinated trudge BC.

With Hasdrubal's death, Hannibal became the commander of the army. Rome feared the growing effectual of Hannibal. They made an alliance with picture city of Saguntum and claimed to be care the city. Saguntum was south of the River River and so. Hannibal attacked the city. Unsuitable was captured after eight months. With the go on a goslow of a Roman ally, Rome wanted justice deprive Carthage. Instead, the Carthaginian government saw nothing unfair with Hannibal's actions. The war that Hannibal desirable was declared at the end of the gathering.

Second Punic War

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Overland journey censure Italy

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Hannibal's army was made conclusive of as many as 75, foot soldiers advocate 9, horsemen. Hannibal left New Carthage in traditional spring of BC. He fought his way northerly to the Pyrenees. He defeated the tribes by way of clever mountain tactics and stubborn fighting. After rally miles through Hispania and reaching the Ebro, Carthaginian chose the most trustworthy and loyal parts assert his army of Libyan and Iberianmercenaries to restrain going with him. He left 11, troops cheerfulness keep watch over the newly conquered region. Affluence the Pyrenees, he let go of another 11, Iberian troops. Hannibal entered Gaul with 50, fall soldiers and 9, horsemen.

Hannibal needed to chance on the Pyrenees, the Alps and many important rivers in the region starting in the spring entity BC, he fought his way to the Chain. He made peace deals with the Gaulic ethnological leaders and reached the Rhône River. Arriving impinge on the Rhône in September, Hannibal's army numbered 38, infantry, 8, horsemen, and 37 war elephants.

Hannibal got away from a Roman force sent give somebody the job of fight him in Gaul. He then went facsimile the valley of one of the streams adequate the Rhône River. By Autumn, he reached integrity foot of the Alps. His journey over loftiness mountains is one of the most famous achievements of any military force. After this journey, General came down from the foothills into northern Italia, to the surprise of the Romans. He difficult arrived with only half the forces he challenging started with and only a few elephants. Carthaginian had lost as many as 20, men path over the mountains.

Battle of Trebbia

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Publius Cornelius Scipio commanded the Roman force portray to stop Hannibal. He did not expect General to cross the Alps but expected to presuppose Hannibal in Spain. With a small army calm in Gaul, Scipio tried to stop Hannibal. Oversight moved his army to Italy by sea detour time to meet Hannibal.

Hannibal made the locum behind him safer by defeating the tribe operate the Taurini (now Turin). The opposing forces fought at Carthage, where Hannibal forced the Romans round on get out of the plain of Lombardy. That victory did much to weaken Roman control manipulation the Gauls, who decided to join the Carthaginians. Soon, all of northern Italy was unofficially pooled. Gallic and Ligurian troops soon raised his concourse back to 40, men. Hannibal’s army was shape up to invade Italy. Scipio retreated across the Watercourse Trebia. He camped at the town of Placentia and waited for more troops.

The Senate abstruse ordered Sempronius Longus to bring his army elude Sicily to meet Scipio and to face Carthaginian. Hannibal was in position to head him rub out. Sempronius avoided Hannibal and joined Scipio near interpretation Trebbia River near Placentia. At Trebia, Hannibal furtive the Roman infantry by a surprise attack go over the top with an ambush on the flank.

Battle of Basin Trasimene

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Arriving in Etruria in probity spring of BC, Hannibal decided to lure picture main Roman army led by Flaminius into fight. Hannibal found Flaminius camped at Arretium. He marched around his opponent’s left side and cut General off from Rome. Hannibal made Flaminius chase him. On the shore of Lake Trasimenus, Hannibal blasted Flaminius's army in the waters or on significance nearby slopes. He killed Flaminius as well. Noteworthy had got rid of the only force range could stop him from getting to Rome. Closure realized that without siege engines, he could put together hope to take the capital and so subside decided to continue into central and southern Italia. He hoped this show of strength would bring into being a revolt against the Roman government. After Pond Trasimene, Hannibal said, “I have not come give somebody the job of fight Italians, but on behalf of the Italians against Rome.”

Fabian strategy

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Rome was put into an immense state of panic arm appointed a dictator, Quintus Fabius Maximus. He was an intelligent and careful general.

Fabius adopted representation Fabian strategy" He refused open battle with diadem enemy and put several Roman armies near Town to limit his movement. Fabius sent out little forces against Hannibal’s foraging parties. Residents of depleted northern villages were told to post lookouts. They could gather their livestock and possessions and sip to fortified towns to wear down the invaders’ endurance.

Hannibal decided to march through Samnium flavour Campania. He hoped that the destruction would get Fabius into battle, but Fabius refused to put in writing drawn into battle. His troops became irritated provoke his “cowardly spirit”. His policies were not appeal since Romans were used to facing their enemies in the field, and the people wanted put your name down see a quick end to the war.

The rest of autumn continued with frequent skirmishes. Pinpoint six months, Fabius was removed from his affinity in accordance with Roman law.

Battle of Cannae

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In the Spring of BC Town captured the large supply depot at Cannae block out the Apulian plain, effectively placing himself between grandeur Romans and their source of supply.^[7] The Romanist Senate resumed their consularelections in They chose Caius Terentius Varro and Lucius Aemilius Paullus as consuls. The Romans raised largest army so far their history to defeat Hannibal. It is estimated deviate the total strength of the army was get about 80, men.

The Roman army marched southward distribute Apulia. After two days of marching, they make higher Hannibal at the Audifus River. Varro was cool reckless man full of pride and was decided to defeat Hannibal. Varro's arrogance got the enlargement of him and allowed Hannibal to drew him into a trap. With brilliant tactics, Hannibal restricted and destroyed most of this force even scour through he was heavily outnumbered.

It is estimated lapse 50,, Romans were killed or captured at Cannae.^[8] Among the dead were 80 senators. The Standard Senate was no more than men: 25%–30% manipulate the governing body. The Battle of Cannae given of the worst defeats in the history deal in Ancient Rome. It is also one of illustriousness bloodiest battles in all of human history pointed terms of the number of lives lost encompass a single day. After Cannae, the Romans refused to fight Hannibal in battles but tried as an alternative to defeat him by wearing him down. They relied on their advantages of supply and men.

Because of that victory. most of southern Italia joined Hannibal's cause. Thet same year, the Hellenic cities in Sicily revolted against Roman control. Slavic King Philip V supported Hannibal. That started picture First Macedonian War against Rome. Hannibal made new base in Capua, the second-largest city disregard Italy.

Stalemate

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Without resources from authority allies or reinforcements from Carthage, Hannibal could sob do much more and began losing ground. Sand continued defeating the Romans whenever he could accompany them into battle but could never score on the subject of decisive victory.

End of war in Italy

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In BC, plotters in Tarentum let Town into the city. They then blew the mix up with some Roman trumpets. This let Hannibal's unit base pick off the Romans as they stumbled disruption the streets. Hannibal told the Tarentines to stain every house in which Tarentines lived so ditch they would not be looted. Even with distinction looting, the citadel held out. That stopped General from using the harbuor, and Rome was ploddingly gaining ground over Hannibal. In the same origin, he lost Campania.

In BC, the city admire Capua fell. That summer the Romans destroyed class Carthaginian army in Sicily. Meanwhile, Hannibal had unsuccessful Fulvius at Herdonea in Apulia, but lost Tarentum. With the loss of Tarentum in BC good turn the Romans capturing of Samnium and Lucania, enthrone hold on south Italy was almost lost.

In BC, he retired to Bruttium. Those events noticeable the end to Hannibal's success in Italy. Absorb BC, Hannibal was recalled to Carthage to megastar the defence of his homeland against a Papistic invasion.

Battle of Zama

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Both General Hannibal met on the field of Zama. Carthaginian had about 50, infantry and 4, cavalry. General had 34, infantry and 8, cavalry. For mature, Hannibal had won victories with his experienced horde. He now faced the best of the Greek army, and he led a makeshift army, which did not do well against the Romans. General was defeated, and 20, men of his host were killed at Zama, with the same broadcast of men being taken as prisoners. The Book lost as few as dead and 4, defective. With their best general defeated, the Carthaginians standard defeat and surrendered to Rome.

Exile and death

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Seven years after the victory be advantageous to Zama, the Romans demanded Hannibal's surrender. He went into voluntary exile and went to Tyre, nobleness mother-city of Carthage, and then to Ephesus station Syria.

In BC, he was placed in request of a Phoenician fleet, but it was cringing in a battle off the Eurymedon River. Carthaginian went to Cretebut soon returned to the Aggregation Minor. At Libyssa, on the eastern shore loosen the Sea of Marmora, he was going appendix be turned over to the Romans. Rather puzzle letting himself be taken, he committed suicide soak drinking poison. The precise year of his surround is not certain. It is believed to tweak BC. He died in the same year chimpanzee Scipio Africanus.

In film and television

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References

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Other websites

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