What is the story of Hannibal?

Answer 1

Hannibal was the son of Hamilcar, a general who led the Carthaginian forces in the last phases of the First Punic War and later conquered southern Spain, which became a territorial possession of his family.

Hannibal was said to have provoked the Second Punic War by refusing to negotiate with the Romans after he seized a Spanish city which was a Roman ally. He invaded Italy, but could not attack Rome because he lost his siege machines while crossing the Alps in the snowy winter. He routed the armies of the Romans and their allies twice, once in northern Italy and once in central Italy. However, instead of heading for Rome he went to the south where he routed the Romans again at the battle of Cannae in what was one of the two worse defeats in their history. However, after this the Romans managed to regain control of southern Italy and Hannibal spent the last four years of his campaign stuck in the easily defensible mountains of Calabria (the toe of Italy). Finally he was recalled to Africa to fight the Romans who were campaigning there. He was defeated by the Roman general Scipio Africanus in the battle of Zama, the last battle of the war.

After the war Hannibal was elected leader of Carthage. He weakened the power of the council of judges which had become a dictatorial force, fought corruption and the privileges of the aristocracy and restored the economy of Carthage. The aristocracy accused Hannibal of planning an alliance against Rome with Antiochus III of Syria. The Romans set up a commission of inquiry. Hannibal fled to Antiochus's court. He became his military advisor during the Roman-Syrian War. When Antiochus was defeated by Rome Hannibal went to advise the King of Bithynia in western Turkey who was fighting the next door kingdom of Pergamon, which was an ally of Rome. He wan thee battles for Bithynia. However, the Romans coerced the king of Bithynia into handing them Hannibal. Hannibal committed suicide by poisoning himself before this happened.