Ever since the First Punic War tensions between Rome and
Carthage were boiling. Hannibal at last pushed them to a breaking point at the
city of Saguntum, a Hellenized Iberian coastal
city with diplomatic contacts with Rome.
There had been political storms
in the city for some time. They ended at last when the Carthaginian supporters within
the city were assassinated. Hannibal besieged the city and took it.
The story goes that envoys came to Rome, demanding Carthage
back down. So goes the story, the Roman envoy asked the Carthaginian Senate “Do
you want peace or do want war?”
“You decide for yourself.”
“I choose war.” And so war it would be.
It is a rule of thumb in warfare that you do not want to
fight in your own front yard, but rather in your enemies’. Hannibal decided to
invade Italy, hoping to gain Rome’s allies to his side. There were two ways,
along the coast, where there was a Roman army, and through the Alps. He had
about forty thousand men, and about forty elephants. He disappeared, and finally
showed up again in Italy.
Hannibal, like Napoleon later, had one great asset, himself.
He was a great leader. His story shows what can be accomplished when brothers
work together. According to some, he lost nearly half of his force in crossing
the Alps. But he had accomplished the impossible. They had to deal with natives
within the passes, freezing cold, and getting men in full armor up rock walls.
There is even a story of using vinegar to aid in getting through, mixed with
fire. Showing up for the battle is half of winning. Hannibal had shown up, and
now it was time to fight.
The thunderbolt had fallen, but it was not thunder that got things
done, it was lightning. The Second Punic War was in its second year, it had
about fifteen more to go. Back in Carthage, the Senate was determined to leave
him hanging. Hannibal was determined to destroy Rome. The outcome of the battle
would determine the history of the world.
Andrew C. Abbott
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