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Hannibal’s father Hamilcar, took
Hannibal at the age of ten to Spain to
try and expand Carthage rule in southern
Spain. Following the death of his father
in 229 BC, his brother in law Hasdrabul
took command. Eight years later, the
assassination of Hasdrabul by Celtic
tribesmen saw Hannibal elected
commander.
He soon began expanding Carthage rule
in Spain capturing Salamanca (in western
Spain) in 220 BC, and the following year
captured Saguntum (near modern day
Valencia in Eastern Spain). At that time,
Rome demanded Hannibal be handed over by
the Carthage government.
Hannibal appointed his brother
commander in Spain May 218 BC before
crossing the River Ebro in order to
complete the conquest of the Iberian
peninsular. On hearing of
Hannibal’s movements, Rome declared
they were at war with Carthage, the
Second Punic War.
Hannibal responded to the declaration
of war by Rome by leading an army of
50,000 infantry, 9,000 cavalry and 37
elephants across the Pyrenees and Alps
into northern Italy. By 218 BC, he had
arrived in the region of Turin. At that
time, the area of Turin was inhabited by
Gaul’s who were also against Roman
rule. As the Romans had been expecting
the invasion from the south, they had to
send an ill prepared army to intercept
Hannibal. After the defeat of that Roman
army, 14,000 Gaul’s joined Hannibal
in his quest to defeat the Romans and
take control of Italy.
Hannibal went on to defeat the Romans
for a second time at Piacenza. In March
217 BC, he left his winter headquarters
at Bologna, crossed the Apennines and
ravaged the Tuscany area. After defeating
another Roman army sent to Tuscany,
Hannibal thought he had done enough to
win over Rome’s allies. He then
made his base in the Apulia (the heel of
Italy). At that time, the Roman senate
raised an army of 80,000 men for one
decisive battle against Hannibal’s
50,000 men. Again Hannibal defeated the
Romans at the region of Cannae on
Italy’s east coast. Hannibal then
made Capua his capital in Italy and
secured his alliance with Macedonia.
Rome began a new tactic to defeat
Hannibal by cutting off his supplies from
the south coast and sending an army led
by the commander Scipio to capture Spain.
After taking control of Spain, the Romans
attacked Carthage, forcing the Carthage
government to recall Hannibal from
Italy.
On October 19th 202 BC, Hannibal met
the Roman army led by Scipio at Zama in
Tunisia. The Roman victory in that battle
forced Hannibal to flee to Carthage. In
201 BC, a peace treaty was signed with
Rome taking control of the Carthage fleet
and Hannibal being forced to resign.
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