Hannibal Barca

Dramatic, torchlit scene of a boy putting his hand on an altar, symbolizing the oath against Rome.

The Hannibalic Paradox – Part 1: The Blood Oath and the Logistical Gamble

The Hannibalic Paradox: Genius, Grand Strategy, and the Fall of Carthage 1 The Hannibalic Paradox – Part 1: The Blood Oath and the Logistical Gamble 2 The Hannibalic Paradox – Part 2: Cannae and the High Cost of Tactical Perfection 3 The Hannibalic Paradox – Part 3: Why Hannibal's Grand Strategy Failed in Italy 4 The Hannibalic Paradox – Part 4: Scipio's Strategic Reversal in Iberia and Africa 5 The Hannibalic Paradox – Part 5: The Fateful Encounter and the Price of Punic Caution ← Series Home 237 BC Year of Hannibal's oath ...

A map-like diagram showing military formations at Cannae: red lines (Romans) pushed into a blue crescent (Carthaginians), with flanking maneuvers completing the encirclement.

The Hannibalic Paradox – Part 2: Cannae and the High Cost of Tactical Perfection

The Hannibalic Paradox: Genius, Grand Strategy, and the Fall of Carthage 1 The Hannibalic Paradox – Part 1: The Blood Oath and the Logistical Gamble 2 The Hannibalic Paradox – Part 2: Cannae and the High Cost of Tactical Perfection 3 The Hannibalic Paradox – Part 3: Why Hannibal's Grand Strategy Failed in Italy 4 The Hannibalic Paradox – Part 4: Scipio's Strategic Reversal in Iberia and Africa 5 The Hannibalic Paradox – Part 5: The Fateful Encounter and the Price of Punic Caution ← Series Home 216 BC Year of the Battle of Cannae ...

Conceptual artwork showing a large, cohesive Roman unit facing a diverse, loosely connected Carthaginian army composed of many different allied groups.

The Hannibalic Paradox – Part 3: Why Hannibal's Grand Strategy Failed in Italy

The Hannibalic Paradox: Genius, Grand Strategy, and the Fall of Carthage 1 The Hannibalic Paradox – Part 1: The Blood Oath and the Logistical Gamble 2 The Hannibalic Paradox – Part 2: Cannae and the High Cost of Tactical Perfection 3 The Hannibalic Paradox – Part 3: Why Hannibal's Grand Strategy Failed in Italy 4 The Hannibalic Paradox – Part 4: Scipio's Strategic Reversal in Iberia and Africa 5 The Hannibalic Paradox – Part 5: The Fateful Encounter and the Price of Punic Caution ← Series Home over a decade Hannibal's time in Southern Italy ...

An ancient map showing Hannibal's route across the Alps with elephants.

The Poisoned Chalice – Part 4: The General Who Won Every Battle and Lost the War

The Poisoned Chalice 1 The Poisoned Chalice – Part 1: The Man Who Inherited the Tsar's Bomb 2 The Poisoned Chalice – Part 2: The Accountant of the Doomed Fleet 3 The Poisoned Chalice – Part 3: The Senator Who Tried to Save the Republic 4 The Poisoned Chalice – Part 4: The General Who Won Every Battle and Lost the War ← Series Home The Poisoned Chalice – Part 4: The General Who Won Every Battle and Lost the War 202 BC Year of Hannibal's final defeat at Zama ...

Cinematic scene of a Roman general (Scipio) watching huge fires burn in the distance at night.

The Hannibalic Paradox – Part 4: Scipio's Strategic Reversal in Iberia and Africa

The Hannibalic Paradox: Genius, Grand Strategy, and the Fall of Carthage 1 The Hannibalic Paradox – Part 1: The Blood Oath and the Logistical Gamble 2 The Hannibalic Paradox – Part 2: Cannae and the High Cost of Tactical Perfection 3 The Hannibalic Paradox – Part 3: Why Hannibal's Grand Strategy Failed in Italy 4 The Hannibalic Paradox – Part 4: Scipio's Strategic Reversal in Iberia and Africa 5 The Hannibalic Paradox – Part 5: The Fateful Encounter and the Price of Punic Caution ← Series Home Publius Cornelius Scipio Roman general who defeated Hannibal ...

Detailed photorealistic image of two ancient generals meeting on horseback on a dusty plain.

The Hannibalic Paradox – Part 5: The Fateful Encounter and the Price of Punic Caution

The Hannibalic Paradox: Genius, Grand Strategy, and the Fall of Carthage 1 The Hannibalic Paradox – Part 1: The Blood Oath and the Logistical Gamble 2 The Hannibalic Paradox – Part 2: Cannae and the High Cost of Tactical Perfection 3 The Hannibalic Paradox – Part 3: Why Hannibal's Grand Strategy Failed in Italy 4 The Hannibalic Paradox – Part 4: Scipio's Strategic Reversal in Iberia and Africa 5 The Hannibalic Paradox – Part 5: The Fateful Encounter and the Price of Punic Caution ← Series Home 203 BC Hannibal's return to Africa ...