Hannibal Barca Assessment, Legacy and Interpretation

1. Hannibal BarcaAssessment, Legacy and Interpretation

2. Early Life • Born 247BC • Born into a military aggressive environment: • Born into military aristocracy • His Father was HamilcarBarca, great Carthaginian general • Strong military Tension between Carthage and Rome from the 1st Punic war • Early environment characterized by the legend of the oath: shows military mentality with which Hannibal was brought up with • Livy describes it in the following passage: • “Hamilcar, who was preparing to offer sacrifice for a successful outcome, led the boy to the altar and made him solemnly swear, with his hand upon the sacred victim, that as soon as he was old enough he would be the enemy of the Roman people…”

3. Early Life • All these elements strongly affected his future career by: • Instilling in him values of leadership, boldness and determination • Instilling in him a hatred of Rome • Provided him with military knowledge and tactics

4. Hannibal becomes commander • Following assassination of Hasdrubal in 221BC Hannibal was proclaimed commander in Chief by his army • First two years consolidating Hispanic area south of the river Ebro • Complications arose when Rome declared Saguntum a protectorate, and Hannibal responded with a succesful siege, this ultimately led to the 2nd Punic war Already occupied Carthaginian territory Carthaginian territorial gains 219 BC

5. Assessment of Hannibal’s career • Main action occurred in 2nd Punic war • Experienced great success in the 2nd Punic war • Main successes: three decisive battles against Romans at: • Cannae • Trebia • Lake Trasimene

6. Assessment of his career • Success came as a result of: • Superior military intelligence, characterized by surprising and unorthodox tactics : • He pioneered many unheard military maneuvers at the time, such as: • The perfect execution of “The Pincer Movement” at the battle of Cannae

7. Assessment of his Career • The effective use of the “Turning Movement” against Flaminius at the Battle of Lake Trasimene • Effective use of His Cavalry. Often attacking exposed flanks, used at the battle of Cannae • A monumental sense of purpose and determination, tracing back to military upbringing ,the crossing of the Alps in Winter is an example of this

8. Hannibal’s path to success in the Second Punic War Crossed Pyrenees, conquered Celtic tribes and recruited numbers May 218 Encountered, and conquered, resisting Northern Tribes Crossed the Alps • 218BC Set out to Italy: • Took: • 40 000 infantry • 12 000 Horsemen • 37 War Elephants Roman Naval dominance forced overland Journey

9. Late 218 Hannibal experiences first decisive victroy over the Romans at the Battle of Trebia Battle of Cannae Spring 216, Hannibal's third Victory, resulted in an estimated 50,000-70,000 Romans that were killed or captured Spring 217 Hannibal's army achieve another victory at Lake Trasimene • Following these three decisive victories Hannibal had little left to do before claiming victory in the 2nd Punic war

10. Assessment of his Defeat • Came excruciatingly close to taking out Rome • Main reasons for his defeat : • After the battle Of Cannae in 216BC Hannibal had Rome on its knees • A march to Rome here would most likely have resulted in Hannibal's victory • Hannibal and his army merely stayed put in Italy, this decision was crucial in Hannibal's defeat

11. Assessment of His Defeat • His cavalry commander Maharbal: "Hannibal, you know how to gain a victory, but not how to use one."

12. Assessment of Hannibal’s defeat • Reinforcements and provisions were managed by the commercially dominated Oligarchy of Carthage, Hannibal suffered as a result • Finally in 203BC Hannibal was recalled to Carthage • The battle of Zama in 202 BC was the final showdown for Hannibal, it resulted in his ultimate defeat

13. The battle of Zama Zama • Decisive falling point in his career • Put an end to the “invincible” status of Hannibal • Defeated by Roman army led by Scipio Africanus • Defeat came as a result of superior cavalry of the Romans, usually the Carthaginians' strong point

14. Legacy of Hannibal to the Romans • Hannibal laid waste to the Italian countryside and defeated the great Roman army 3 times. Romans shocked, from this came a legacy of fear • He became a symbol of fear to the Romans • "Hannibal ante Portas” Hannibal is at the gates • Phrase developed by Romans to express fear

15. Legacy of Hannibal to the Ancient World • Had a monumental impact on the course of history for both Carthage and Rome • Polybius writes of Hannibal's impact: “Of all that befell the Romans and Carthaginians, good or bad, the cause was one man and one mind---Hannibal • The impact and repercussions of the 2nd Punic war can be considered the Legacy of Hannibal

16. Legacy of Hannibal to World • Hannibal's Legacy is one of: • Remembrance of one of the most impressive military campaigns ever • Daring tactics, most notably the crossing of the Alps • Respect for Hannibal as a commander • The constant battle he had with Rome • Military tactics that he pioneered • These elements come through in representations of Hannibal

17. Legacy of Hannibal’s Military Brilliance • Hannibal’s use of the “Pincer Movement" in the battle of Cannae is widely regarded as one of the best military maneuvers in history • This maneuver left a legacy, even today it is studied at military academies throughout the world • Alfred Von Schleiffen’s “Schleiffens plan” was inspired by this • It was used in the following battles: • The battle of Walaga 633 • The battle Manzikert 1071 • The battle of Fraustadt in 1706 • The battle of Cowpens in 1781

18. Legacy of Hannibal • Has been integrated into the modern entertainment industry • Examples of his legacy through literature: His legacy has moved beyond retelling of his story into fictin. This novel is an alternative ending, with Hannibal taking over Rome in 215 BC

19. Hannibal in Film • Examples of representations of Hannibal in film: • Hannibal the man who hated Rome 2001 BBC documentary • The true story of Hannibal 2005BBC documentary • Hannibal vs. Rome National geographic Channel • Hannibal Rome's Worst Nightmare 2006 TV Film • A proposed action film entitled Hannibal the Conqueror starring Vin Diesel is undergoing work presently

20. Modern Image of Hannibal • Has been defined by his legacy: • His amazing and daring military work has defined his modern image in popular culture as one of a ferocious warrior Crossing of Alps a popular feat, universal respect for it

21. Modern Educated interpretation of Hannibal • Looked upon as a military genius • 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica contributor Maximilian Otto Bismarck Caspari wrote of him: • “As to the transcendent military genius of Hannibal there cannot be two opinions. The man who for fifteen years could hold his ground in a hostile country against several powerful armies and a succession of able generals must have been a commander and a tactician of supreme capacity”

22. Ancient Image and interpretation of Hannibal • Main sources of info: • Hannibal was regarded throughout the ancient world as an exceptional General • Polybius: “So great and wonderful is the influence of a Man, and a mind duly fitted by original constitution for any undertaking within the reach of human powers.” • Livy: ““He was fearless in undertaking dangerous enterprises, he was prudent in discharging them. Toil could not weary his body or subdue his spirit”

23. Hannibal • A Cruel Man: • Personal character: Surrounded by controversy of supposed cruelties and greed: • Polybius “The prevailing notion about him, however, at Carthage was that he was greedy of money, at Rome that he was cruel” • Resulted in furthering fear of him • An Image of a ruthless Tyrant Figure was spread throughout the ancient world

24. Bibliography • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hannibal • http://www.livius.org/ha-hd/hannibal/hannibal.html • http://www.myspace.com/hannibal_barca/blog/120030233 • http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=410714 • Cannae: The Experience of Battle in the Second Punic Warby Gregory Daly. 253 pgs.