Hannibal
Created | Updated Jan 28, 2002
Hannibal, son of Hamilcar Barca of Carthage (247BC-182BC) was the greatest tactical mastermind of his time. As a child, his father made him swear eternal emnity toward Rome. He was the only general who ever defeated the powerful Roman army. He did this in 218BC during the Second Punic War by crossing the alps with his army and attacking Rome from the North. He is most noted for his use of elephants. However, because of lack of assistance from Roman allies, little support from Carthage, and eventually being called back to Carthage to defend against the invading army of Scipio Africanus, his campaign prematurely ended. At Zama in 202BC, he was decisively defeated and turned to political reform as a weapon against Rome. Unfortunately, he was met with such opposition that he voluntarily exiled himself to Bithynia where he commited suicide to avoid Roman capture.
