Hannibals war by john lazenby for the best military book on hannibal, which i also put down as best biography, too. The battle took place on august 2nd, 216 bce in southern italy gabriel 45. Few military leaders hold as much allure for historians as hannibal barca of carthage todays tunisia. Most of the time, hannibal tried to stay away from elevated areas. 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 barca, otherwise simply known as hannibal, lived and waged.
The influence of hannibal of carthage on the art of war ancient. Hannibal barca biography birthday, trivia military. Hannibal was a carthaginian general who fought against rome during the second punic war. In his book entitled historys greatest military commanders author barry linton covers these leaders and great military commanders in fascinating detail, highlighting their distinguishable backgrounds and origins. Hannibal barca was a punic carthaginian military commander, and is widely considered to be one of the greatest military commanders in history. Aug 05, 2014 hannibal s war by john lazenby for the best military book on hannibal, which i also put down as best biography, too. Hannibal barca of carthage was the first military commander to be identified as a threat to a nation because of his strategic, operational, and tactical prowess on the battlefield. The fabian strategy is a military strategy where pitched battles and frontal assaults are avoided in favor of wearing down an opponent through a war of attrition and indirection. Who can be considered the greatest military strategist. His father, hamilcar bar ca, was a leading carthaginian.
During the second punic war, hannibal swept across southern europe and through the alps, consistently defeating the roman army. Hannibal is must reading for all students of military history. The carthaginian army, led by hannibal, surrounded and practically annihilated a larger roman army under the consuls lucius aemilius paullus and gaius terentius varro. Hes overrated in some ways, he lost the war despite 15 years in italy, and lost everything else on the way, too. What can an ancient general teach us about modern leadership. 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. If you want to discover the captivating life of hannibal barca, then keep reading.
Hannibal was the son of carthaginian general hamilcar barca. Hannibals brutal tactics enforced loyalty among his troops and power over his enemies. Apr 06, 2020 hannibal, born 247 bce, north africa died c. Hannibal project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks read. So while this book is well written the data on hannibal is scarce and that from his mortal enemies.
To this day hannibal is still regarded as a military genius. Oct 23, 2014 throughout time there have been great military leaders, whose leadership skills have shaped and defined the path of human civilization. He is widely considered one of the greatest military commanders in history. The influence of hannibal of carthage on the art of war. Hannibals vast knowledge of military tactics also kept his men alive.
And furthermore, hannibal s greek training was not just for show. I am frequently invited to lecture on hannibals intelligence gathering in venues like the u. The romans destruction of carthage after the third punic war erased any. Hannibal tried to repeat his cannae tactics, but scipio had better cavalry than the unfortunate consuls fourteen years before. The greatest military tactician in history, and general of the carthaginian armies in both punic wars against rome. Theodore dodge retraced this route from carthage to italy, paying particular attention to. Hannibal was a general who fought using elephants and an army of 60,000 men. I am endeavouring that others, in their turn, will be obliged to yield to my good fortune, and my valour. Mar 29, 2018 hannibal also known as hannibal barca, l. Top 12 facts about hannibal barca ancienthistorylists. Employment of this strategy implies that the side adopting.
Following up on my previous feature for ancient origins magazine, he. Throughout time there have been great military leaders, whose leadership skills have shaped and defined the path of human civilization. Hannibal barca, general of carthage during the 2d punic war with rome, 218202 bc, has few peers in the annals of military history. For those who are interested in battle strategy, this book cant be beat. The military biography of romes greatest enemy by richard a. Hannibal, a carthaginian from north africa, was the most skilled and successful enemy that rome ever faced. The term tactics refers to the operational techniques military units employ to. Hannibal defeated successive roman armies dispatched against him by employing superior tactics along with skillfully use of terrain and weather. Hannibal quite possibly shaped the roman tactics and the battle strategies that. Hannibal escaped to carthage, where he advised negotiations. This is a guest post from patrick hunt, author of the new book, hannibal. Hannibals wellplanned strategies allowed him to conquer several italian cities allied to rome.
After the roman republic beat carthage in the first punic war 264241. 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. What we know mosthis battle tactics dominates the book. Hannibal, son of hamilcar barca 247 183182181 bc was a punic carthaginian military commander, generally considered one of the greatest military commanders in history. Hannibal barca biography birthday, trivia military leader. That is a hard question to answer about which one of these is the better strategist. He is considered one of the greatest generals of antiquity and his tactics are still studied and used in the present day.
His father, hamilcar barca, was the leading carthaginian commander during the first punic war, his younger brothers were mago and hasdrubal, and he. Hannibal barca is the most famous of the three carthaginian military leaders known as hannibal. Hannibals encircling movement failed, and the carthaginians were defeated. Nov 26, 2016 hannibal barca of carthage was the first military commander to be identified as a threat to a nation because of his strategic, operational, and tactical prowess on the battlefield. Hannibal was the son of carthaginian general hamilcar barca who fought rome during the first punic war. Hannibal book by patrick n hunt official publisher. Hamilcar barca hannibals father, was the leading carthaginian general during the first punic war. Hannibal s tactics and methods offer great lessons not only for military history but also for. This paper examines the influence of hannibal of carthage on the art of war over time. But to be fair, it was less blundering about and more factors not under his direct control that led to his downfa. Richard gabriels hannibal is a worthy successor to his books on subotai, muhammad, scipio africanus, thutmose iii, and philip of macedon.
Hannibal barca is the one who famously led his forces including elephants across the alps and into rome, where he terrorized roman forces during the second punic war. Hannibal barca of carthage, born 247 bc, was one of the great generals of the ancient world. A history of the art of war among the carthaginians and romans down to the battle of pydna, 168 b. 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 the barca family, a clan of carthaginian military individuals who had experience in the first punic war. Inventor of the pincers movement, pioneered in the battle of cannae 216bc, the greatest defeat in roman military history, and the third of his three great victories over roman forces following river trebia in 218bc and lake. His strategy and tactics are still taught in military academies. It also gives an interesting account of the fabian strategy of the romans that. Hannibal barca is one of the most known carthaginian general in history.
One of his most famous achievements was at the outbreak of the of the second punic war. The lessons taught, tactics used, and losses suffered stand as a testament to their lives and accomplishments. The carthaginian general hannibal barca was arguably romes greatest. 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. One of the names most synonymous with brilliant military strategy is hannibal. The military biography of romes greatest enemy by gabriel, richard a.
Hannibal, general of the carthaginian army, lived in the second and third century b. His father, hamilcar, imposed carthaginian rule over much of presentday spain. Dec 10, 2017 every military academy today offers detailed classes and seminars on hannibals tactics. Pride of carthage is a 2005 novel about the second punic war by american author david. Hannibal by theodore ayrault dodge insight into a thousand books. Hannibals tactics and methods offer great lessons not only for military history but also for. He was born into a carthaginian military family and made to swear hostility toward rome. He is widely considered one of the greates t militar y commanders in history. Hannibal is a fascinating character, but he didnt leave any writings and all his friendsalong with his entire civilizationwere destroyed by rome. Naval war college, where classes are filled with navy, army, marines, and air force officers along with representatives of the intelligence agencies.
His military tactics revolutionalized warfare and still seem remarkable to this day. As the famous historian and biographer theodore dodge makes clear in his book, hannibal. I am not carrying on a war of extermination against the romans. He invaded the homeland of his enemy and remained there, undefeated, for fifteen years. Hannibal barca scipio africanus these two great generals are truly mirror images of each other. Hunt, is an account of the second punic war from the perspective of hannibal, as well as a brief biography of the great generals early life. The carthaginian leader even in his exile after the second punic war, authored books in greek, with one example pertaining to the campaigns conducted by his roman foe gnaeus manlius vulso in asia minor. Such was the case with hannibal barca, the carthaginian general widely. Cannae is as famous for hannibals tactics as it is for the role it played in roman history. As polybius said this about hannibal barca as referenced in the book hannibal by nic fields.
But if you see something that doesnt look right, contact us. Hannibal was born in the barca family, a clan of carthaginian military. It takes the reader from the early military histories of both rome and carthage. In many cases, he outwitted an opponent that far outnumbered him, causing mass casualties to the roman army. With that as a given, i still think it worthwhile to read books such as hunts since i dont. Aug 18, 2017 over the centuries, the roman legions propelled a small city along the tiber to rule the entire known western world. Jul, 2019 which came first, the chicken or the egg. 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 barca of carthages whip warehouse wiki fandom. 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. A life from beginning to end military biographies by history, hourly isbn.
In hannibal, perhaps his best book yet, the distinguished military historian richard gabriel examines the life and campaigns of the great carthaginian general in the second punic war. The great african military strategist, wargeneral and the builder of city of barcelona hannibal, son of hamilcar barca 247 183182 bc was a punic carthaginian military commander, generally considered one of the greatest military commanders in history. A very interesting book on hannibal barca, the great carthaginian general of antiquity, most famous for crossing the alps with his war elephants and taking the battle to the gates of rome. Hannibals brilliance as a military commander is evident throughout the second punic war, also known as the hannibalic war. As a result, their battlefield tactic was spectacularly simple as it often. He soundly defeated every roman army that dared to risk battle with him while in italy. Cannae is yet another example of hannibal inflicting mass destruction to the roman army trough tactics. Hannibals entire life was spent living out one promise, to be romes worst nightmare.
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. Hannibal was a carthaginian general and statesman who commanded carthages main army. Hannibal barca the master of battlefield tactics world history. Bibliography related content books cite this work license. Hannibals war with rome provides a complex example of strategic. Jun 27, 2019 so without further ado, let us have a gander at the character profile and achievements of hannibal the military genius of the ancient world. The struggle for power in the mediterranean, book club associates, london. Hannibal barca proved to be a brilliant strategist and tactician. Gabriel explains how hannibal turned a multicultural mass of carthaginians, iberians, gauls, and others into one of the most effective armies in history, with which he very nearly destroyed the rising power of rome. Due to these brilliant tactics, hannibal, with much inferior. Carlton, james, the military quotation book, new york city, new york, thomas dunne books, 2002. Oct 01, 2014 hannibal barca proved to be a brilliant strategist and tactician. Yet there was one man, more than anyone else, whose name sent shivers through the romans hannibal barca. Hannibals tactics during the punic wars essay example.
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