Evaluation of Hannibal as a General
When Hannibal left Italy in 203 BC "he had filled Italy…with monuments
of his tremendous campaigns"[1]. In this essay I will consider
Hannibal's legacy and what aspects of his personality created these
'monuments.' After research,[2] I have set out some criteria of a
great general and in this essay I will attempt to establish to what
extent Hannibal fulfils these criteria. According to Lazenby, to do
what Hannibal did required "great strategic skill, tactical ingenuity
and sheer force of personality"[3]. I will consider where these
characteristics came from and how he used these characteristics to his
advantage in the Second Punic War.
After Hasdrubal was assassinated Hannibal became general of the
Carthaginian army in Spain. He had had an interesting upbringing as
the son of a popular war hero, Hamilcar. Hamilcar "led the boy
[Hannibal] to the altar and made him solemnly swear…that as soon as he
was old enough he would become an enemy of Rome"[4]. There was some
debate as to whether Hannibal should become commander at this young
age. However "the troops received him [Hannibal] with ominous
enthusiasm, the soldiers feeling that in the person of this young man
Hamilcar himself was restored to them…the same vigour in his look, the
same fire in his eyes"[5]. Indeed one of Hannibal's flaws was,
according to Caven, "his all consuming ambition to excel in all that
his father had taught him…the terrible game of war, the only
worthwhile occupation for a Barca"[6].
This 'game of war' was all about knowing how to be a good general, and
how to defeat the Romans. In my opinion a good general mus...
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[1] Titus Livius (Livy) XXX: 28
[2] An Encyclopaedia Britannica article entitled The Conduct and
Theory of War
[3] Lazenby, page 256
[4] Livy XXI: 1
[5] Livy XXI: 2
[6] Caven, page 86
[7] Polybius III: 17
* However, it was never Hannibal's plan to cross the Alps. This aspect
of the journey occurred because of Scipio's blocking of the normal
route.
[8] An Encyclopaedia Britannica article entitled The Conduct and
Theory of War
[9] Polybius III: 67
[10] Polybius III: 70
[11] Polybius III: 70
[12] Pamela Bradley, page 138
[13] Polybius III: 78
[14] Polybius III: 80
[15] Polybius III: 80
[16] Polybius III: 48
[17] Polybius III: 17
[18] Livy XXII: 51
[19] Poybius XV: 12
Julius Caesar, an important figure in Roman history, lived during the end of the Roman Republic. His actions would shape the world around him forever. He was an important figure because he grew the Roman Empire, he brought about the end of the Roman Republic , and was able to grow his status within his lifetime and become dictator for life.
The difference between victory and defeat may be decided only on the ability to notice minor details in tough situations. Ender Wiggin, a 6 year old genius, is able to quickly learn strategies and manipulate his opponents in order to defeat them. When he got time off to talk to his sister valentine on Earth he told her about battle school. He was explaining the battles to her and said, “ Every time, I’ve won because I could understand the way my enemy thought” (Card 238). In Orson Scott Card’s Ender’s Game, the idea of seeing small details to change defeat into victory is evident when Ender figures out null gravity, understands how to manipulate others, and realizes who the real enemy is.
The Army requires its members to adhere to prolonged training and learn specialized skills. From the moment a soldier transitions from the civilian sector into the Army, he is indoctrinated with training. Regardless of rank, the Army demands each soldier to be technically proficient and mentally competent in order to be qualified in a respective Military Occupation Specialty. As a soldier progresses in his military career, he is required to continue his education and training. Army leaders are expected and required to continue developing their skills through academic studies, operational experience, and institutional training. An opposing view argues that anyone can learn these skills; however, statistics show less than 0.5% of the population serves in the armed forces, indicating a soldier is a rare mix of intelligence and character.1 These lessons are necessary qualifications to achieve what General Martin Dempsey describes as “effectiveness rather than efficiency.”2 Much like the profession of medicine which must heal, the media which must provide truth, and law which must provide justice, the profession of arms must provide secur...
...uch information as possible before going into a conflict. The ability to get to know your enemy and figure out the scheme of maneuver is impressive.
...e him a better dictator. One of his greatest traits was that he was able to rule with an iron fist, but in my opinion I don’t think he abused his power since all he was trying to do was make Rome a huge and dominant empire. Obviously people who didn’t know him too well didn’t understand him, which made him appear as a scary and ruthless ruler, but even Cicero was able to change his mind about Caesar before the Gallic war was over. In the end, Caesar was one of the best dictators our world has ever seen.
Also it is comparing the war to a game, which is a euphemism as well as a metaphor. It is a euphemism because war is a very serious, dangerous matter; whereas a game is something that people enjoy and never get seriously injured in. By using this euphemism, Jessie Pope - the poet – lessens the severity of war, and makes her readers’ think of it as enjoyable, and something that they want to do.
To be noble is to be honorable, not only by birth, but as a person. Julius Caesar is a tragedy by William Shakespeare that summarizes the infamous death of Julius Caesar, a Roman dictator, and the whereabouts of the Romans who were involved with his death. William Shakespeare, in his play Julius Caesar, contrasts honor and tortility using the imperial Marcus Brutus and the barbaric dictator Julius Caesar to reveal the importance of internal values among the Roman people.
notion that the war wasn’t going to be an easy win, and the chances of winning the war
Gaius Caesar Germanicus is the name given to the Roman Emperor who so quickly went from being loved, to being hated by many. Gaius was a man of leadership that unfortunately, due to health issues, caused him to lose all his love from his people. He grew up having role models that taught him how to rule at such a young age. His yearning to lead showed to many allowing him to be put into a high position of leadership so early in life. Many items were changed in his power that brought the people a great deal of joy. Unfortunately, due to falling ill he was changed for the worse. Germanicus was a great Roman Emperor until he was changed from an illness.
For some time the Army has been using a certain expression to defines what an Army leader actually is. To keep it basic, the three words be, know and do explains it all!
Trapp, James. The art of war: a new translation. New York: Chartwell Books, 2012. Print.
Amongst military theorists and practitioners who studied war, its origin and implications, Carl von Clausewitz assumes a place among the most prominent figures. With his book On War, he demonstrated his capability to provide thorough historical analysis and conclusions of the conflicts in which he was engaged, and as a philosopher he reflected about all encompassing aspects of war. Today, Western armies conduct modern warfare in a dynamic environment composed of flexible and multiple threats in which civilians form a substantial part. Studying Clausewitz provides current military and political leadership useful insights to understand twenty-first century warfare. He explains the nature of war, provides an analytical tool to understand the chaos of warfare, and he argues for well educated and adaptable leadership capable of creative thinking. Although he died before his work was complete, his writing style was ambiguous and unclear at some moments, and current technology reduced some of his tactics obsolete, his work still arouses and inspires military and political strategists and analysts.
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.
A tragic hero is the antithesis for the common protagonist. Most protagonists show how they overcome great obstacles however, the tragic hero shows a more humane character, that stumbles and falls. The tragic hero usually exhibits three specific traits that lead to his or her downfall. In the play, Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, the characters of Brutus and Caesar both exhibit the three attributes of a tragic character. The first trait of any tragic hero is a high rank and potential for greatness. Both Brutus and Caesar hold his trait, as they are beloved high ranking Romans. The second characteristic a tragic hero must possess; is a fatal flaw that dominates their personality, and Brutus’ sense of justice and Caesar’s ego, fulfill this
Mastering the fundamentals is a professional obligation and provides the basis by which Army leaders operate and demonstrate competence in a complex JIIM