Showing results for "Hannibal" in Rome

More than 2,000 years ago one of the greatest military leaders in history almost destroyed Rome. Hannibal, a daring African general from the city of Carthage, led an army of warriors and battle elephants over the snowy Alps to invade the very heart of Rome's growing empire. But what kind of person would dare to face the most relentless imperial power of the ancient world? How could Hannibal, consistently outnumbered and always deep in enemy territory, win battle after battle until he held the very fate of Rome within his grasp?

Hannibal is often considered the finest general the world has ever known. Setting out from Carthaginian-dominated Spain with a small army of select troops, he fought his way over the Pyrenees and crossed the Alps with elephants and a full baggage train. Descending into Italy, he destroyed the main Roman army at Lake Trasimeno and came close to conquering Rome itself.

Hannibal (247-183 v. Chr.) war einer der begabtesten Militärs der Antike und Angstgegner der Römer. Karl Christ porträtiert in seiner Biographie den Feldherrn, der an der Spitze seines Heeres Pyrenäen und Alpen überquerte, und den Sieger von Cannae, der zu allen Zeiten die Menschen faszinierte. Der Autor entwirft das Bild einer Persönlichkeit, ihrer Leistungen und Siege. Er führt uns einen Mann vor Augen, der die äußersten Höhen und Tiefen menschlicher Existenz durchlebte und dabei konsequent und kompromisslos immer derselbe blieb: eine in jeder Hinsicht große Gestalt.

Hannibal’s military campaign against Rome inspired its citizens with the same panic that would later terrify Europeans beset by Mongol invaders from the East. A sworn enemy of Rome, Hannibal succeeded as leader of the Carthaginian forces at the age of 26, following the death of his brother-in-law Hasdrubal. On joining his troops, Hannibal launched an attack on the Roman-held city of Saguntum, beginning the Second Punic War and a process that seemed almost predestined as his army swept like a scourge round the Mediterranean shores.