What was hannibal army composed of

The historian Livy penned the first mention of Scipio in the historical record, recounting that in B. After his father was killed in the Second Punic War in B. He was a brilliant tactician, and a string of victories in Spain led to his ultimate victory over Hannibal in North Africa, a triumph that earned him the title Africanus. The city prospered through silver mining and trade, particularly in purple dye. The imposing harbor was said to hold vessels.

Merchants built large houses—some six stories high—above the harbor on Byrsa Hill. Carthage reached its peak around B. After the Roman conquest in B.

All rights reserved. Culture Reference. Who was Hannibal? General Hannibal was one of the most creative military strategists in history. Carthage, hub of trade. Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. Merchants in Carthage did a lively buisiness, buying and selling ivory, wine, p ottery, glass trinkets, and precious metals. Share Tweet Email. Why it's so hard to treat pain in infants. This wild African cat has adapted to life in a big city.

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Go Further. Animals Climate change is shrinking many Amazonian birds. Animals Wild Cities This wild African cat has adapted to life in a big city. The Romans rebounded, however, driving the Carthaginians out of Spain and launching an invasion of North Africa. Hannibal was born in B.

Hamilcar died in B. Hannibal swiftly consolidated control in the region from the seaport base of Cartagena New Carthage ; he also married a Spanish princess. Carthaginian forces besieged Saguntum for eight months before the city fell. The march that followed—which covered some 1, miles 1, kilometers through the Pyrenees, across the Rhone River and the snowcapped Alps, and finally into central Italy—would be remembered as one of the most famous campaigns in history.

With his forces depleted by the harsh Alpine crossing, Hannibal met the powerful army of the Roman general Publius Cornelius Scipio on the plains west of the Ticino River.

Late in B. By the spring of B. While the Roman general Varro massed his infantry in the center with his cavalry on each wing—a classic military formation—Hannibal maintained a relatively weak center but strong infantry and cavalry forces at the flanks. When the Romans advanced, the Carthaginians were able to hold their center and win the struggle at the sides, enveloping the enemy and cutting off the possibility of retreat by sending a cavalry charge across the rear.

In northern Italy in B. This time it was the Romans with the help of their North African allies, the Numidians who enveloped and smothered the Carthaginians, killing some 20, soldiers at a loss of only 1, of their own men. In honor of his great victory, Scipio was given the name Africanus.

In the peace agreement that ended the Second Punic War, Carthage was allowed to keep only its territory in North Africa but lost its overseas empire permanently.

It was also forced to surrender its fleet and pay a large indemnity in silver, and to agree never again to re-arm or declare war without permission from Rome. Hannibal, who escaped with his life from the crushing defeat at Zama and still harbored a desire to defeat Rome, retained his military title despite accusations that he had botched the conduct of the war. In addition, he was made a civil magistrate in the government of Carthage. For most of this time, Hannibal fought with little aid from Carthage.

He was able to inflict heavy casualties on the Roman army in the battles of Trebbia, Trasimene and Cannae, but at a heavy cost in men and many of his elephants. He was able to get within three miles of the capital before a stalemate ensued. Hannibal did not have the numbers to successfully push into Rome, and Scipio didn't have the superior forces to defeat him. Meanwhile, Rome dispatched forces to Iberia and North Africa, raiding Carthaginian towns and villages. They used trumpets to stampede the remaining few elephants, which circled back and trampled the Carthaginian troops.

Hannibal's army was scattered and many of his soldiers were gradually hunted down and killed by the Romans. The Roman terms for peace were extremely harsh on the Carthaginians, severely reducing their military and extracting large reparations. After being elected a chief magistrate, Hannibal spent the next several years in Carthaginian politics.

During this time, he instituted elections for military judges and changed terms of office from life to two-years. However, the Romans eventually became concerned about Hannibal's growing power and in B. Hannibal moved to Ephesus Turkey and became a military adviser. Hannibal's army was defeated, and he fled to Bithynia. The Romans demanded he be turned over to them, but he was determined not to fall into enemy hands and fled. In approximately B.

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