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Biography of Hannibal BarcaName: Hannibal BarcaBirth Date: 247 B.C. Death Date: 183 B.C. Place of Birth: Africa Nationality: Carthaginian Gender: Male Occupations: military leader Hannibal Barca Hannibal Barca (247-183 BC) was a Carthaginian general and one of the greatest s of the ancient world. A brilliant strategist, he developed tactics of outflanking and surrounding the enemy with the combined forces of infantry and cavalry.As a boy of 9, Hannibal begged his father, Hamilcar Barca, to take him on the campaign in Spain, but Hamilcar, before fulfilling this childish wish, made him solemnly swear eternal hatred of Rome. As a young officer in Spain, Hannibal won his first laurels under the command of Hasdrubal, Hamilcar's successor and son-in-law.Livy gives a remarkable portrait of Hannibal's physique and character at this time: to the old soldiers he seemed a Hamilcar reborn, as he possessed the lively expression and penetrating eyes of his father; the younger men were won over by his bravery, endurance, simplicity of life, and willingness to share all hardships with his troops. The accusations of cruelty, …showed first 150 words…
…showed last 150 words…Pergamum, Rome's ally. When another senatorial commission was sent to demand from Prusias the surrender of the famous Carthaginian exile, Hannibal poisoned himself. Further Reading The major ancient sources for the life of Hannibal are Livy, Polybius, and Cornelius Nepos. Among the numerous modern biographies are T. A. Dodge, Hannibal (2 vols., 1891); W. O'C. Morris, Hannibal (1897); George P. Baker, Hannibal (1929); Harold Lamb, Hannibal: One Man against Rome (1958); Leonard Cottrell, Hannibal: Enemy of Rome (1960); Robert N. Webb. Hannibal: Invader from Carthage (1968), especially designed for young people; and Gavin de Beer, Hannibal: Challenging Rome's Supremacy (1969). On Hannibal's crossing the Alps see H. Spenser Wilkinson, Hannibal's March through the Alps (1911); Cecil Torr, Hannibal Crosses the Alps (1924); and Gavin de Beer, Alps and Elephants: Hannibal's March (1955). Recommended for general historical background are T. Frank, Roman Imperialism (1914); The Cambridge Ancient History, vol. 8 (1930); and A. J. Toynbee, Hannibal's Legacy: The Hannibalic War's Effects on Roman Life (2 vols., 1965). |