In the Second Punic War (220 B.C.), Hannibal famously marched an
army that included 37 war elephants over the Pyrenees mountains from
New Carthage (a prosperous young city his father founded, now called
Cartagena, Spain). He then crossed the snowy Alps into northern Italy,
defeating Rome at the height of its military might at Trebia, Trasimene
and Cannae. He maintained several armies in Italy and even Sicily for
History’s Real Hannibal — the first free agent?
A wildly successful commander and tactician, Hannibal
fought and won great battles over many decades by attracting
enthusiastic followers and accurately judging his opponents.
14 years afterward, never losing a major engagement to Rome until the
Battle of Zama.
To this day, Italians exclaim Hannibal is at the gates! (Hannibal è ai portals,
from the Latin Hannibal ad portas) when friends or clients arrive
unannounced or calamity must be avoided. So inspiring was Hannibal to
his troops and even to his opponents that following his defeat at Zama,
Romans erected statues to him right downtown … not one, but several!
After securing freeedom for himself and his army — almost unheard of
in those violent days — Hannibal undertook a personal makeover at age
42 to begin his next series of careers:
• Chief magistrate of Cathage, establishing direct election of
the Hundred and Four ruling council by the citizens and
requiring them to stand for just two-year terms of office.
• Military advisor to Seleucid Greek king Antiochus III
• Commander of the Phoenician fleet in the Battle of the
Eurymedon River
• City planner for the new Armenian capital of Artaxata
• Naval commander for Bithynia against Rome’s ally
Pergamum
Called the Father of Strategy, even his extended adversary Rome
adopted elements of his political and military outlook. Studied and
praised by both Napoleon Bonaparte and the Duke of Wellington, his
life has been the basis for hundreds of biographies and documentaries.
History is studded with flashes in the pan like Alexander the Great
(who only lived to 33), but Hannibal enjoyed several careers, living
out his full life of 64 years.
We will either find a way or make one. — Hannibal
