Hannibal | The Death of Carthage

How Did Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus Rise to Power

July 26, 2022 By Robin Levin Leave a Comment

Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus was born in 236 B.C., the scion of a family that had been influential in Roman politics for over two hundred years. In 218 B.C. his father was elected to Consul. His uncle Gneius had been Consul two years before. That year, Hannibal invaded Italy. The elder Scipio had gone to […]

Filed Under: Ancient Rome, Carthage Tagged With: Battle of Cannae, Battle of Zama, Hannibal, Hasdrubal Son of Gisco, Marcus Claudius Nero, Marcus Porcius Cato, publius cornelius scipio africanus, Syphax

Why Did the Romans Not Sue For Peace After the Battle of Cannae?

April 26, 2022 By Robin Levin Leave a Comment

Hannibal fully expected Rome to surrender after the Battle of Cannae. He sent the nobleman Carthalo to the city to present them with terms. The Romans wouldn’t let him into the city. Besides that, they allowed a delegation of ten prisoners captured in the battle to present their case for ransom, then passed a resolution […]

Filed Under: Ancient Rome, Carthage Tagged With: Battle of Alia, Battle of Cannae, Battle of the Metaurus River, Brennus, Carthalo, Hannibal, Marcus Claudius Nero, Marcus Furius Camillus, Marcus Livius Drusus, Senones, Slava Ukraine.

Did Hannibal and Scipio Meet?

April 5, 2022 By Robin Levin Leave a Comment

According to Livy, Scipio and Hannibal met to negotiate just before the battle of Zama. Hannibal had sent spies to the Roman camp, and they were caught snooping around. Much to the shock of his underlings, Scipio told his tribune to release them and show them around the camp and answer any questions to their […]

Filed Under: Ancient Rome, Carthage Tagged With: Antiochus III, Battle of Zama, Hannibal, scipio

Tacticians Versus Strategists in the Second Punic War

March 7, 2022 By Robin Levin Leave a Comment

When it comes to comparing tacticians and strategists in the Second Punic War, I agree that Hannibal was a superb tactician but a poor strategist. As a superb strategist but not a tactical genius I point to Quintus Fabius Maximus, the architect of the “Fabian strategy.” Fabius realized that Hannibal was far more of a […]

Filed Under: Ancient Rome, Carthage Tagged With: Aemilius Paullus, Battle of Cannae, Battle of the Metaurus River, Hannibal, Marcus Tarentius Varrro, Publius Cornelius Scipio Aemilianus, quintus fabius maximus

Why Didn’t the Carthaginian Senate Support Hannibal?

December 3, 2021 By Robin Levin Leave a Comment

After the Battle of Cannae, Hannibal collected over two hundred gold signet rings from the bodies of upper-class Romans who had fallen on the battlefield and put them in an urn. He sent his younger brother Mago back to Carthage to persuade the Senate to provide more men and materiel to Hannibal’s cause. Mago poured […]

Filed Under: Ancient Rome, Carthage Tagged With: Battle of Cannae, Battle of Dertosa, Battle of the Metaurus River, Hannibal, Hanno the Great, Hasdrubal Barca, Mago Barca

What Were the Main Reasons for the Roman Victory over Carthage in the Second Punic War?

November 25, 2021 By Robin Levin 4 Comments

There were several reasons. Rome relied on citizen and allied soldiery while Carthage relied largely on mercenaries. Mercenaries have to be paid and are not as reliable as citizen soldiers and can be bought off. Carthage during the Second Punic War did not support its military to the same degree that Rome supported theirs. Carthage’s […]

Filed Under: Ancient Rome, Carthage Tagged With: Battle of Cannae, Battle of Zama, Hannibal, Hasdrubal Barca, Hasdrubal Son of Gisco, Mago Barca, publius cornelius scipio africanus, Quintus Fabus Verrucosus Cunctator

Why Did the Romans Oppose the Fabian Strategy?

October 28, 2021 By Robin Levin Leave a Comment

Quintus Fabius Maximus realized that Hannibal was a military genius and that the best thing to do was not to confront him in battle but to starve him out. He tried to prevent Hannibal’s men from foraging and he forbade farmers from sowing crops in the areas where Hannibal’s army traveled. It was sort of […]

Filed Under: Ancient Rome, Carthage Tagged With: Battle of Cannae, Battle of Zama, Gaius Terentius Varro, Hannibal, Lucius Aemilius Paullus, Marcus Minucius Rufus, Publius Cornelius Scipio, quintus fabius maximus

What Happened to Hannibal After the Second Punic War?

October 12, 2021 By Robin Levin Leave a Comment

The decision allow Hannibal to return to Carthage was made by Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus. After the Battle of Zama, Hannibal escaped to Hadrumetum. Scipio then had the decision whether to besiege and destroy Carthage, or to allow the city to negotiate a treaty on Roman terms. Besieging the city would have taken months. The […]

Filed Under: Ancient Rome, Carthage Tagged With: Battle of Magnesia, Battle of Zama, Hannibal, King Prusius of Bythinia, Scipio Africanus, Titus Quinctius Flamininus

Guest Post by S. Leung: What Advice would Sun Tsu have had for Hannibal?

August 31, 2021 By Robin Levin Leave a Comment

Taking the long way via the Alps to attack Rome, whilst Hannibal’s foundations in newly conquered Spain was still infirm may have achieved early success via initial surprise but may have been, strategically, a longer term mistake. By the time he reached Italy he had already lost a lot of men and almost all his […]

Filed Under: Ancient Rome, Carthage, Guest Post Tagged With: Fabius, Hannibal, Hanno, Kung Ming, Sun Tsu

Why Did Hannibal Not Besiege Rome After the Battle of Cannae?

July 9, 2021 By Robin Levin Leave a Comment

After the Battle of Cannae, according to the Roman historian Livy, Hannibal’s chief of cavalry, Maharbal offered to take the cavalry to Rome and besiege it. while waiting for the infantry to arrive. Hannibal turned down the offer. Maharbal commented “So the Gods don’t grant all their gifts to one person. You know very well […]