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General of Ancient Times:
Hannibal
Main
Life Accomplishments:
He
was a Punic military commander and tactician, later also working in other
professions, who is popularly credited as one of the finest commanders in
history. He lived during a period of tension in the Mediterranean, when
Rome (then the Roman Republic) established its supremacy over other great
powers such as Carthage, Macedon, Syracuse and the Seleucid empire. He is
one of the best-known Carthaginian commanders.
Basics:
Born: 247
BC, Carthage
Died: ca. 183 BC, Libya
Nationality: Middle-Eastern
Religion: Pagan
Fields: Politics, Military
Main Accomplishments: His most famous achievement 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.
Chronology
of Life Events:
247
BC
Birth
of Hannibal
c.
240 BC
Mercenary
War take place in Carthage
228
BC
Hamilcar
killed in a battle, Hasdrubal commander in chief
221
BC
Hasdrubal
assassinated; becomes commander in chief
c.
220 BC
Rome
forges an alliance with the city-state of Saguntum
218
BC
Lays
siege to Sagurtum; Second Punic War breaks out
Jun
217 BC
Scores
a victory at the Battle of Lake Trasimere
Aug
216 BC
Destroys
Roman’s at Cannae; Capua joins Hannibal
215
BC
Attacks
Nola unsuccessfully for a second time in one year
214
BC
Last
attempt to take Nola but fails.
212
BC
Victorious
at Silarus; Capua holds out; Syracuse falls
211
BC
Romans
lay siege to Capua for the second time
210
BC
Defeats
Romans at 2nd Battle of Herdonia
209
BC
Romans
under Scipio defeat Carthaginians
208
BC
Stalemate
at Grumentum; Hasdrubal KIA at Metaurus
206
BC
Battle
of Crotora ends in a draw
204
BC
Defeated
at Bragbades; recall from Italy ; routed at Great Plains
203
BC
Carthaginians under Hannibal defeated at Zama
Oct 202 BC
Carthage
sues for peace; End of Second Punic War
200-196
BC
Hannibal
pursues a successful political life
c.
195-190
Hannibal
enters into exile at Tyres
190
BC
Welcomed
to Ephesus by Artiochus III
c.
190– 182 BC
Commits
suicide by drinking poison
Early
Life:
Hannibal
Barca ("grace of Baal", Baal being the patron god of Carthage)
was the son of Hamilcar Barca. Barca was not a family name, but it was
carried by his sons. It is from a Semitic triliteral root B-R-Q, cognate
with Hebrew Baraq or Arabic Barqa. Hannibal was of originally Tyrian-Phoenician
descent. The inhabitants of Tyre, the then Phoenician city on the coast of
what is known as modern day Lebanon, were the original founding colonists
of the city of Carthage. Historians refer to the Hamilcar's family as the
Barcids to avoid confusion with other Carthaginians of the same name.
After Carthage's defeat in the First Punic War, Hamilcar set out to
improve his family's and Carthage's fortunes. With that in mind and
supported by Gades, Hamilcar began the subjugation of the tribes of the
Iberian Peninsula. Carthage at the time was in such a poor state that its
navy was unable to transport his army to Iberia (Hispania); instead,
Hamilcar had to march it towards the Pillars of Hercules and ferry it
across the Strait of Gibraltar (present-day Morocco).
According
to Livy, Hannibal much later said that when he came upon his father and
begged to go with him, Hamilcar agreed and demanded him to swear that as
long as he lived he would never be a friend of Rome. Other sources report
that Hannibal told his father, "I swear so soon as age will
permit...I will use fire and steel to arrest the destiny of
Rome."
Hannibal's
father went about the conquest of Hispania. When he was killed in battle,
Hannibal's brother-in-law Hasdrubal succeeded to his command of the army.
Hasdrubal pursued a policy of consolidation of Carthage's Iberian
interests, even signing a treaty with Rome whereby Carthage would not
expand north of the Ebro River, so long as Rome did not expand south of
it.
Hannibal
spent two years consolidating his holdings and completing the conquest of
Hispania south of the Ebro. However, Rome, fearing the growing strength of
Hannibal in Iberia, made an alliance with the city of Saguntum which lay a
considerable distance south of the River Ebro and claimed the city as its
protectorate. Hannibal perceived this as a breach of the treaty signed
with Hasdrubal and so he laid siege to the city, which fell after eight
months. Rome reacted to this apparent violation of the treaty and demanded
justice from Carthage. In view of Hannibal's great popularity, the
Carthaginian government did not repudiate Hannibal's actions, and the war
he sought was declared at the end of the year. Hannibal was now determined
to carry the war into the heart of Italy by a rapid march through Hispania
and southern Gaul.
Wife
Background:
His
wife is Imilce.
Father
Background:
Was
a Carthaginian general and statesman, leader of the Barcid family, and
father of Hannibal.
Hamilcar
is perhaps the same as Mel karth, the Tyrian god. Baraq means
"lightning" in the Punic language.
He
distinguished himself during the First Punic War in 247 BCE, when he took
over the chief command in Sicily at a time when the island was almost
completely in the hands of the Romans. Landing suddenly on the north-west
of the island with a small mercenary force he seized a strong position on
Mount Ercte (Monte Pellegrino, near Palermo), and not only maintained
himself against all attacks, but carried his raids as far as the coast of
south Italy.
In
244 BCE he transferred his army to a similar position on the slopes of Mt.
Eryx (Monte San Giuliano), from which he was able to lend support to the
besieged garrison in the neighbouring town of Drepanum (Trapani). By a
provision of the peace of 241 BCE Hamilcar's unbeaten force was allowed to
depart from Sicily without any token of submission.
Upon
returning to Africa, his troops, which had been kept together only by his
personal authority and by the promise of good pay, broke out into open
mutiny when their rewards were withheld by Hamilcar's opponents among the
governing aristocracy, starting the conflict later named the Mercenary
War. The serious danger into which Carthage was brought by the failure of
the aristocratic generals was averted by Hamilcar, whom the government in
this crisis could not but reinstate. By the power of his personal
influence among the mercenaries and the surrounding African peoples, and
by superior strategy, he speedily crushed the revolt (237 BCE).
After
this success Hamilcar enjoyed such influence among the popular and
patriotic party that his opponents could not prevent him being raised to a
virtual dictatorship. After recruiting and training a new army in some
Numidian forays, he led on his own responsibility an expedition into
Hispania (236 BCE), where he hoped to gain a new empire to compensate
Carthage for the loss of Sicily and Sardinia, and to serve as a base for a
campaign of vengeance against the Romans.
In
eight years by force of arms and diplomacy he secured an extensive
territory in Hispania, but his premature death in battle (228 BCE)
prevented him from completing the conquest. Hamilcar stood out far above
the Carthaginians of his age in military and diplomatic skill and in
strength of patriotism; in these qualities he was surpassed only by his
son Hannibal, whom he had imbued with his own deep hatred of Rome and
trained to be his successor in the conflict.
He
is sometimes confused with Hamilcar, another Carthaginian general.
SuperAttainer
ANALYSIS
SECTION:
1. Early Success
When
did the SuperAttainer first display ability that was greatly above average
and what were his accomplishments?
REFERENCES:
1.
2. Contrarian
What actions did the SuperAttainer take that demonstrated a mindset that was
very different from those around him?
REFERENCES:
1.
3. Conceited
What are the actions and documented statements that exhibit an elevated
sense of self importance of the SuperAttainer?
REFERENCES:
1.
4. Hard-Knocked
During what events did the SuperAttainer experience personal misery and
severe anxiety?
REFERENCES:
1.
5. Loner
Is there evidence of the SuperAttainer being comfortable spending time apart
from others?
REFERENCES:
1.
6. Mentored &
Motivated
Who was vital to developing the SuperAttainer and guiding his career and
what significant actions were taken?
REFERENCES:
1.
7. Discontent
What evidence is there that the SuperAttainer was unsatisfied with even
great personal accomplishment?
REFERENCES:
1.
8. Promoted
What actions or events were responsible for publicizing the tremendous
achievements and abilities of the SuperAttainer?
REFERENCES:
1.
Overall
Score:
x
out of 8 = xx%
PASS
SuperAttainer
Type:
Describe
the factors in the SuperAttainer’s background to indicate whether he is a
Come-From-Nothing or Aristocratic type..
Conclusion:
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