Hannibal Barca: Military Strategist

Historical Context

• Hannibal Barca: Carthaginian general, sworn enemy of Rome.
• Contemporary of Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar.
• Considered by Theodore Harold Dodge as the "father of strategy".

Origins and Youth

• Born in Carthage, present-day Tunisia, around 247 BC.
• Son of Hamilcar Barca, who fought in the First Punic War.
• Education marked by hatred of the Romans, passed on by his father.

Military Career

• Took command of the army at 26 years old.
• Led the Iberian campaign, married Princess Imilce.
• United Iberian tribes under his army.

Campaign Against Rome

• 218 BC, marched towards Rome with 100,000 soldiers and 40 elephants.
• Crossed the Pyrenees and the Alps, losing a large part of his troops.
• Arrived in Italy with 20,000 soldiers, 6,000 cavalry, 37 elephants.
• Fought Scipio Africanus in several battles: Tessa, Trebia, Trasimene, Cannae.
• Won several battles without reinforcements from Carthage due to his strategies.

Victories and Defeats

• Victory at the Battle of Cannae, inflicted a major defeat on Rome.
• Rome sent troops to Africa, Hannibal had to defend Carthage.
• Defeat at the Battle of Zama against Scipio.
• Roman tactics: use of trumpets to scare the elephants.

End of Life

• Hannibal exiled in Bithynia after his defeat.
• Committed suicide to avoid capture by the Romans.

Legacy

• Considered one of the greatest military strategists in history.
• His exploits remain etched in the history of humanity.

Conclusion

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