Hannibal- Quick facts

Hannibal was a Carthaginian general, an implacable and formidable enemy of Rome.

When Hannibal was just nine years of age Hamilcar brought him out to Spain where Hannibal learnt the art of warfare. Hamilcar made Hannibal swear an oath that he would do everything possible to harm the Roman Empire.

The Battle of Cannae is one of the most famous battles ever fought. Hannibal used ingenious tactics to win this battle against a huge Roman army, greatly outnumbering his own army. The casualty figures cannot be established for cetain, but most historians agree that the Romans lost 50,000 to 70,000 men in the battle and Hannibal lost only around 4,000.

Renowned as a tactical genius.

Hannibal set out with a small army and planned to invade Italy by the overland route.

He was popularly credited as one of the most talented commanders in history.

One of his most famous achievements was at the outbreak of the Second Punic War, when he marched an army, which included war elephants, from Iberia over the Pyrenees and the Alps into northern Italy.