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Who is Hannibal? Legendary "father of strategy"

Hannibal Barca combines in his destiny the role of the victor and a kind of vanquished. The name of this great personality is surrounded by multiple conjectures and legends. Who is Hannibal? This is an outstanding commander of his era. He entered the world history as the most serious rival of the mighty Rome, against whom he managed to lead a successful war for fifteen years, far from Carthage.

About him, many Roman writers and historians who represent the enemy side wrote a lot. And they paid him tribute as a military leader, whose military art was often based on personal heroism. Who is Hannibal in history: the winner or the defeated?

He was the son of Hamilcar Barca and came from the ancient Carthaginian trade-aristocratic family of Barqida, who gave the history of many famous politicians and commanders. The genus originated from one of the companions of the founder of Carthage - the legendary queen of Dido. The Barquis in Spain had a special influence.

Hannibal Barca (247-183 BC.) - the most famous representative of the genus Barkid. As the first-born in the family, he was destined, according to the ancient custom of the Punjians, to sacrifice to the god Baal. But Hamilcar Barca replaced his son as a child slave, and Hannibal was sent to Iberia and only years later returned to Carthage. He was raised as an irreconcilable enemy of a long-standing enemy - Rome - and even gave an oath before the altar all his life to fight a powerful rival.

It is worth noting that the father and son played a significant role in the struggle between Carthage and Rome. It became a kind of natural completion of all the previous development of the countries of the Western Mediterranean.

Hannibal participated in military campaigns in Spain, led by his father, in the conquest of Iberian tribes. In 221 BC. He was proclaimed commander-in-chief of the army of Carthage. Having attacked Sagut in 219, he actually provoked the second Punic war. In 218 BC. E. His invasion of Italian lands inflicted several defeats on the enemy, including the most significant of them - with Cannes. But the Romans, having seized the initiative, went on the offensive in Spain and in Africa. Carthage was forced to seek help from Hannibal. Called to Africa, he was defeated at Zama, which resulted in the conclusion of peace with Rome.

There is almost no exact information about what Hannibal was doing in the years after the signing of the treaty. It is known that he was brought to trial, accusing him of appropriating military booty, and also because Rome was not occupied with them. However, in the eyes of the people, despite the defeat, Hannibal continued to be considered a national hero. Also, there were no penalties for "crimes" because of the strong enough influence of the Barkids. In addition, Carthage needed a commander capable of retaining a mercenary army. He was also appointed to the post of the highest official of Carthage - the suffet. Due to his reform against the oligarchs, it was possible to pay indemnities to Rome.

By this action, he made a lot of enemies. He was accused of anti-Roman sentiments, in secret conspiracies with Antiochus III - king of Syria - to unleash a war with Rome. The Senate called Hannibal to account, but he did not appear before the Council of Elders. Provided the situation, the commander sailed ostensibly with an important mission to the Seleucid power in Tire.

In 186 BC. E. He manages to move to Prussia, to the king of Bithynia, from whom they subsequently demanded the extradition of Barca. Probably, currying before the Romans, he betrayed Hannibal. Not wanting to surrender to the enemy, the commander accepted the poison, which was stored just in case in the ring and was always with him.

There is much discussion: was Barca a national hero, is his merit in the struggle against Rome so great, what is his place in history, who is Hannibal? First of all, he was a genius commander. Among the outstanding strategists of antiquity: Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Scipio and others - Hannibal took his place. The commander, who was named the military historian Theodor Airo Dodge "the father of strategy." Even his sworn enemies borrowed from him many elements of military art. Modern historians, along with the Romans, pay tribute to his maneuvers, cunning, reliability of intelligence and personal courage.

Few will not answer the question of who Hannibal is. A man whose name inspired an incredible fear of the Romans. The famous expression "Hannibal ante portas", meaning "Hannibal at the gate", became a winged expression in Rome. It will be heard during the uprising of Spartacus as the embodiment of fear and danger of taking the city.

Hannibal is a great commander who shared the hardships and dangers of war with his warriors. He never ordered others to do something they could not do personally. This alone won him considerable authority both among the Carthaginian army and among the enemy's soldiers.

This is the largest strategist of his time, who made a significant contribution to the development of world military art. His ability to correctly characterize the military-political situation, carefully organize intelligence, concern for the rear of the army, supply bases, a thorough study of the theater of operations, and the provision of long-term transitions of his troops were highly appreciated by modern historians.

The basis of his army was the land forces, and the maneuverable African cavalry - the main striking force. Skilful use of the terrain, suddenness, excellent knowledge of his opponent's tactics, bold maneuvers and a decisive blow to the battlefield are the main features of Hannibal's tactics, most pronounced in the battle of Cannes. An example of the encirclement of the enemy's largest forces on the two flanks and its complete destruction became the crown of the military art of the genius commander, who was highly appreciated in his time by his irreconcilable enemies.

The poison from the ring interrupted the life of the greatest personality in history. Later, Cicero will utter the words that fellow Hannibal expelled him, and our enemy is glorified in memory and writings. Indeed, it is amazing that it was in the writings of the Romans that the memory of Hannibal Bark for descendants was preserved.

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