Friday 16 December 2011

Hannibal and Christmas

Christmas is a great time of year - even if you are not religious. But here's a thought: would it have become such a big celebration without Hannibal's victory at Lake Trasimene?

Hannibal in Armenia?

http://nshankiramidzhyan.com/
After Hannibal was forced to go on the run (after the Second Punic War) he sought refuge with a number of rulers beyond the reach of Rome. In one story founded on the accounts given by Plutarch (Lucullus 32.3) and Strabo (XI.xiv.6) he joined the rebel forces in Armenia and that he helped to found the new royal city of Artaxata.



Hannibal in the East

After the defeat of Carthage in the Second Punic War, and over the following 50 years, the Romans waged a series of wars in the east - wars in which Hannibal often re-appeared, although now in a more minor role.

Tuesday 13 December 2011

Hannibal, Antiochus III and the Syrian War


Antiochus III
After his defeat at Zama and his adventures during the Macedonian Wars, continuing his battle against Rome, Hannibal turned up at the court of Antiochus III - 'Antiochus the Great', the Syrian king and ruler of the Seleucid Empire. Here Hannibal was temporarily sheltered from the Romans, although this refuge did not prove to be long-lived.


Philip V of Macedon and Hannibal

Philip V of Macedon
After his defeat at Zama, Hannibal was hounded by Rome and eventually had to flee Carthage. Where better to go than to the court of a potential ally against Rome - Philip V of Macedon? Hannibal and Philip had plotted together during Hannibal's time in Italy. Now was the time to make good those plans.

What followed was a series of wars in the East - the Macedonian Wars.