Hannibal Barca Of Carthage

988 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Why hannibal is a great leader essay

Aut viam inveniam aut faciam - This Latin proverb, meaning “I will either find a way, or make one”, and it has been attributed to Hannibal Barca of Carthage. Born into the vengeful wars between Rome and Carthage, it seems as though the direction of Hannibal Barca of Carthage’s life was predetermined by his father, Hamilcar Barca, and possibly by fate. Due to the world Hannibal was born into, his father and family members’ goals and successes, his fearless and aggressive nature, and his unique military actions, Hannibal of Barca became one of the most unforgettable and grandiose commanders throughout all of history.
Hannibal was born in the Carthage in the year 247, as Carthage was losing a long war to Rome. Hannibal was the oldest son of …show more content…

He refuses to back down and appoints his brother, Hasdrubal to cross the Ebro river and conquer the Iberian peninsula. With this action, Rome declares the Second Punic War. Hannibal genius and revenge comes into play once war is declared upon him by Rome. Rome expects Hannibal to defend Sicily, and sends troops to the south of Italy. However, Hannibal has other plans.
One of Hannibal’s most famous military achievements is when he refuses to do what has been done before, and has bigger plans than just defending Catalonia and Sicily. He decides to invade Italy from the north in order to boldly win the war through a northern invasion. His military tactics are like none other ever witnessed, as he crosses Iberia over the Pyrenees and Alps with tactics never before used, such as war elephants. Before the Romans can embolden their borders, Hannibal leaves Iberia with an army of 50,000 infantry, 9,000 cavalry, and around 37 elephants. This was considered to be a heroic task, even by the Roman writers such as Livy. He crosses the Rhone river (modern day France) ferrying his elephants in barges. He then crosses the Alps through snow and taking Col du Mont Genevre, moving down in the Italian town of Turin by October of 218. Livy explains why the Celtic tribes did not attack Hannibal as he started to cross the Alps. “ So long as the Carthaginians had remained in the plains the various chieftains of the Allobroges had left them alone because of their fear both of the Carthaginian cavalry and also of the barbarian troops who were escorting them.” (Lendering -

Show More
Related

  • Julius Caesar

    2828 Words  | 6 Pages

    Julius Caesar      Themes play an integral role in the play Julius Caesar. The actions and the way that the characters express themselves define the themes of the play. The play is not comprised of one or two themes, but rather made up of an innumerable amount of them. A major theme in the play is fate. Fate is found from the smallest instance, such as a dream, to the prediction from a soothsayer.

    Read More

  • Hannibal: Africa’s Tactical Genius

    1192 Words  | 3 Pages

    Hannibal was a Punic Carthaginian military commander, reputed to be one of the greatest in history and even a better tactician. Hannibal lived in a time of great friction in the Mediterranean where the Roman Republic dominated Macedon, Syracuse and the Seleucid Empire. He was a notable member of the Barca family, a noble family well known for being staunch antagonists of the Roman Republic. His father Hamilcar was a leading commander in the First Punic War, his brother-in-laws were Hasdrubal the Fair who preferred diplomacy to war and the Numidian king Naravas, and both his brothers, Mago (commanded Hannibal’s forces and made decisive pushes) and Hasdrubal (defended Carthaginian cities in Hispania as Hannibal left for Italy in 218 BC) assisted immensely in the campaign against the Romans . Unlike many other African warlords, not only did Hannibal and his forces protect their home territory but he was also the only African commander to invade Europe in turn. In other words, he did not only defend his town or lie in wait for further oppression but rather counter-attacked and took the fight to the oppressors.

    Read More

  • History of the Spanish Language

    2475 Words  | 5 Pages

    The Second Punic war, beginning in 218 BC, was the second major war between the Roman Empire and the Carthage. Around the same time, the Roman Empire deployed troops to the Northeastern peninsula of Spain to keep reinforcements, from the Carthaginian South, from getting to Hannibal’s armies in Italy to assist them. In A Histor...

    Read More

  • Julius Caesar

    877 Words  | 2 Pages

    For thousands of years people have been talking about the great powerful Caesar. He is one of the greatest known dictators known to people today mostly because of all of the things he was able to accomplish during his rein as emperor. After reading primary sources about Caesar, it has given me a better understanding of what other people thought of him during this time period. It’s safe to say that Caesar was obsessed with power and respect from other people that would explain his thirst for war and land, which is one of his greatest strengths and helped in making Rome a great empire.

    Read More

  • Leon Leyson's The Boy On The Wooden Box

    958 Words  | 2 Pages

    “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts”

    Read More

  • Julius Caesar

    573 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the play, The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, William Shakespeare shows how friends often betray each other. Julius Caesar is about to be crowned king of Rome, when some well-known Romans decide that it is not a good idea for this to happen. They form a conspiracy and kill Caesar. Brutus, an honorable Roman and a very good friend of Caesar’s, betrays Caesar by killing him for the good of Rome. Antony, Caesar’s best friend and another honorable Roman, betrays Brutus by turning against the conspirators. Cassius, a respected Roman, and Brutus betray each other by arguing and destroying their friendship. All this betraying lead to many deaths in the play.

    Read More

  • Is Marcus Brutus An Honorable Man?

    521 Words  | 2 Pages

    Brutus was not a very good military leader. His action when his army first arrived in

    Read More

  • The History of Rome: Julius Caesar

    753 Words  | 2 Pages

    Julius Caesar, a man born in around 12 to 13, 100 BC, was considered the start of a new legacy in the history of Rome. Participating in several wars, becoming dictator after forming multiple military alliances, to being assassinated on the Ides of March, Julius Caesar was a politically-flexible, popular leader of the Roman Empire. (Julius Caesar Biography, April 23, 2014) Although Caesar’s birth was never confirmed on the exact date, he was born and raised by his mother, Aurelia, and by his father, Gaius Julius Caesar. (Julius Caesar: Historical Background, April 23, 2014)

    Read More

  • Julius Caesar

    510 Words  | 2 Pages

    Who would have been the best suited leader of Rome in sixth century B.C.? Many believe it could have been Marcus Antonius, Marcus Brutus, or the great Julius Caesar. Marcus Brutus is known to be the most honorable man in Rome at the time and was well respected. Caesar is the ruler and has a successful military. He also seeks wealth and power. Antony is Caesar’s right hand man and good friend. He later acquires the position that Caesar had and also seeks wealth and power. All three men are after the job, but Brutus is obviously the one who was most suited for it and also the only one who never got the chance.

    Read More

  • Julius Caesar

    553 Words  | 2 Pages

    If there were to be a villain in the Tragedy of Julius Caesar Cassius would be it. Cassius is the character who first thought up of the conspiracy against Julius Caesar. His motives weren’t as noble as Brutus’ but he made Brutus believe they were. Cassius did whatever it took to get Brutus to join in the conspiracy. We can clearly see Cassius’ true nature by what he does and says in the play.

    Read More

  • Hannibal Barca

    791 Words  | 2 Pages

    Hannibal Barca was born in 247 B.C. in the city of Carthage, which was located in modern Tunis, or the northern tip of Africa. His father, Hamilcar Barca, was a great Carthaginian general of the army who fought in the First Punic War between Rome and Carthage, which the latter lost. At a very young age, Hamilcar made Hannibal promise “eternal hatred towards Rome” (Lendering, 1). At around age nine, Hannibal accompanied his father on an expedition to gain a hold in Spain. During this time was when Hannibal probably gained most of his military knowledge that helped him greatly later in life. When Hannibal’s father and older brother died in 229 and 226, Hannibal was elected commander-in-chief of the Carthaginian army. About ten years later, Hannibal, acting on his promise to his father, attacked the city of Sagantum in Spain, which was controlled by the Romans. This attack led to the start of the Second Punic War between Carthage and Rome.

    Read More

  • Biography On Julius Caesar

    719 Words  | 2 Pages

    One of Caesar’s greatest victories in battle was just after he had gained control over the lands of Bituriges, Vercingetorix. He started to lead his army to the Boii oppidum of Gorgobina, another city under his control. On the way, he stopped his troops at Vellaundunum, oppidum of the Senones, and set up siege. He did not want to leave any enemies behind him who might get in the way of the grain deliveries and supply. The Carnutes, one of Rome’s enemies, had just heard of the siege at Vellaundunum. They gathered troops to Garrison Cenabum, the Carnutes stronghold. Caesar’s army camped out right in front of the fort.

    Read More

  • Hannibal

    1041 Words  | 3 Pages

    Hannibal's first battle took place when he was only nine. He went on an expedition with his father, Hamilcar Barca, to conquer Spain. From the beginning Carthage’s push into Spain, Hannibal vowed eternal hatred for Rome; Hannibal became Commander in Chief of Carthage’s army when he was 26 after his father was assassinated. His conquest of the Roman town of Sagunto in Spain led to a new declaration of war by Rome; which started the second Punic War and Hannibal’s promise to visit Roman injustice back on Rome a hundred fold. For Carthage to take the town of Sagunto was completely within the rights of the Carthage and the treaty but Rome at the time was getting too big and becoming very imperialistic. All Rome could see was that they had to have all of the Mediterranean and the only thing that stood in their way was a single General and his men. The way in which the Romans were unconsciously straying from "mos maiorum" to manipulate the course of events was disturbing. Though these actions were not entirely the "evil" work of Rome. Hannibal from his earliest memories could recall nothing but hatred for Rome. Hannibal’s Father had instilled a horrifically self-destructive desire within Hannibal to see the fall of Rome.

    Read More

  • Hannibal Lecter

    1389 Words  | 3 Pages

    Hannibal Lecter was born in Lithuania in 1933 to a family of artistocrats. His younger sister, Mischa, lived with Hannibal in their mother and father’s castle. The family appeared to be well adjusted, loving, nurturing. It becomes apparent very early on how dearly he cares about his sister, Mischa. When World War II broke out, Lithuania became a battle ground for warring Soviets and Germans. Hannibal’s family fled to a cottage in the woods in attempts to avoid being caught in the cross-fire. Their attempts to stay safe would prove unsuccessful. Hannibal’s mother and father die in a battle between the Soviets and Germans. Hannibal and little Mischa witnessed both the deaths of the parents, in addition to plane/foot battles between soldiers. At this point, Hannibal assumes responsibility to care for himself and his little sister. Soon after, a group of Russian soldiers invades the cottage, taking Hannibal and Mischa captive. The soldiers searched the house for food, but were unsuccessful in their search. Famine began to take over the group of soldiers, at which point they realize Mischa has pneumonia and will likely die soon. The men suggest to kill and eat the girl. The soldiers drug his little sister outside, where they slaughtered and devoured her. Hannibal managed to escape, and was placed in an orphanage until his teenage years.

    Read More

  • How Did Julius Caesar Dictator Misunderstood

    1741 Words  | 4 Pages

    Between 58 and 50 BC, I conquered the rest of Gaul, up to the river Rhine. As I expanded my reach, I also showed my ruthlessness with my enemies. In one instance, I waited until my opponents ' water supply had gone dry, and then ordered the hands of all the remaining survivors be cut off(“Julius”). “veni, vidi, vici” (“Gaius”, Illustrated). I said this famous quote meaning “I came, I saw, I conquered” in Latin. This was a powerful quote because it shows my focus and determination to succeed in what I set to do and conquer all things I put my mind to. In Spain, I defeated the warring rival tribes, brought stability to the region, and won the personal allegiance of my troops through my skill on the battlefield. I was awarded a consulship by the senate(Mark). I later left Rome with my legions and went to Gaul in 58 BC. I defeated the tribes there just as I had done in Spain and secured the borders of the provinces. When the Germanic tribes seemed threatening to invade, I built a bridge over the Rhine River, marching my legions across in a show of force, and then marched them back and had the bridge dismantled. The Germans understood the message and never invaded(Mark). Jumping forward to 44 BC, in Rome, dissatisfaction was growing among the senatorial aristocrats over the increasingly permanent nature of my rule. A conspiracy

    Read More

More about Hannibal Barca Of Carthage

Open Document