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Hannibal (Great Carthaginian general)

the great Carthaginian general; born in 247 B. C. He was the son of Hamilcar Barca and when nine years of age swore, by his father's command, eternal enmity to the Romans, as the condition of accompanying him to Spain.

He learned the art of war under his father there, and was present at the battle in which he fell. Hannibal was then 18, and after serving six years under Hasdrubal, who was assassinated 221 в. c., he became commander-in-chief of the Carthaginian army. To complete the conquest of all Spain S. of the Ebro, he besieged the city of Saguntum, which held out for eight months. The city being in alliance with Rome, its fall was the occasion of the great war between Rome and Carthage known as the Second Punic War. Hannibal at once prepared for the invasion of Italy, and in the spring of 218 B. C. he set out on his arduous march from the Ebro, through hostile countries, across great rivers and mountain chains, to the Po. chains, to the His army, composed of Africans and Spaniards, was greatly reduced in numbers by losses and withdrawals, but he crossed the Pyrenees, forced the passage of the Rhône before Scipio arrived to oppose it, and in October made the passage of the Alps in 15 days. The first engagement took place near the Ticinus, and resulted in the defeat of the Romans. The battle of the Trebia resulted in another Roman defeat. Hannibal was joined by the Gaulish tribes, and took up his winter quarters among them. In the spring of 217 he defeated the consul Flaminius on the shores of Lake Thrasimenus, and destroyed the Roman army. Hannibal advanced S. and passed the Apennines into Apulia, harassed, however, by the new policy of the cautious Fabius, who avoided fighting. In the spring of 216 Hannibal won the great HANOVER victory of Cannæ, and again destroyed the Roman army. After this victory almost all south Italy declared for him, and he went into winter quarters at Capua. From that time the war changed its character, and it is not possible here to give even a summary of its progress.

The conquest and loss of Tarentum, the loss of Capua, the defeat and death of Hasdrubal at the battle of the Metaurus in 207, still left Hannibal strong enough to hold his ground in the S. extremity of Italy for four years longer; to Africa, and in the following year 203 the scene of war was changed Scipio finally defeated Hannibal at the battle of Zama Zama, and peace was concluded.

The great Carthaginian did not lose hope, but began preparations for a fresh war. His enemies, however, accused him at Rome, and he fled to the court of Antiochus, King of Syria, who was just entering on a war with the Romans.

After three years, the war ending with the defeat of Antiochus, Hannibal, to avoid being given up to Rome, took refuge with Prusias, King of Bithnyia, 190 B. C. And finally, when his surrender was demanded in 183, he put an end to his life by poison.