Hannibal Tactics

Hannibal, also known as Hannibal Barca, was a Carthaginian military general often referred to as one of the greatest generals in history and antiquity, together with Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Scipio Africanus, and Pyrrhus of Epirus. He led Carthage through many battles. However his most known was the Second Punic War against Rome. His tactics are still studied and used in the present day. Hannibal was born in 247 BC in Carthage, Tunisia. He was born into a family of military history. His father, Hamilcar Barca, was a Carthaginian leader. After Carthage’s defeat during the first Punic War, Hamilcar moved forth to improve his family’s fortunes. He headed to Spain and invited Hannibal, now just 9 years old, to accompany him. Hannibal
By early August, both the Romans and Carthaginians were deployed along the River Aufidus. Hannibal had roughly 40,000 troops and 10,000 cavalry. The Romans, however, had nearly 80,000 troops with 6,000 cavalry. On August 2, the two armies prepared for a battle they would never forget and never expected. The Romans, who were set up in block formation, had plans to break the center of the Carthaginian lines. Hannibal, who expected this type of line-up, had his army designed to use the Romans’ momentum against them. He placed the weak troops, which contained the Gallic Celts and the Spaniards, at the center of the line. His Libyan infantry was near the rear. Hannibal had a strong strategy for this battle and thought the ranks’ positions out thoroughly. Hannibal’s line resembled a crescent with him at the front of the line with the Spaniards and the Gauls. When the trumpets sounded, the battle began. Javelins, spears, shields, swords and other projectiles were among the weapons used for battle. Hannibal’s line was slowly pushed farther and farther back into what eventually formed a concave pocket. However, the Romans did not know it was all part of Hannibal’s plan. He wanted the Romans to believe they were winning so he could lure them into a position they could not successfully get themselves out of. By pushing both flanks forward and breaking through the Roman lines, the Carthaginians were able to circle behind the Roman center and surround the Roman army. Hannibal gave the signal and the Libyans attacked full force, closing the left and right Roman flanks in a vise. By sunset that day, the plain had turned from a dusty field to a bloodbath with 50,000 to 70,000 Roman soldiers dead. Hannibal had only lost 6,000