HANNIBAL’S JOURNEY ACROSS THE ALPS

More than 2,100 years ago, there lived a famous general of Carthage named Hannibal. At age 29 he was faced with an enormous problem. Hannibal had promised his dying father, also a great Carthaginian general, that he would avenge the defeats his country had suffered in the First Punic Wars with the Romans. Hannibal sat in his large tent on the grassy plains of Spain. His mind wandered to his boyhood days as the sun slowly slipped behind the mountains.

As a young boy Hannibal had often gone with his father on trips to the various Carthaginian colonies. Carthage was a mighty seaport on the coast of North Africa. The people were great merchants and superior seamen. They enjoyed sailing their ships in search of new lands and adventure. Carthage’s major rival for power and trade was Rome. Hannibal remembered sailing on the Mediterranean on warm summer nights. The rhythm of the galley’s oars cutting the water made him want to sleep. He remembered fishing from the bow of his father’s ship anchored off of Sicily. He could almost taste the breads from the villages of Northern Spain, and smell the wines from France, as he looked back at his childhood. He saw himself riding his first horse along the sandy beaches, and felt the wind on his face. He remembered sitting around the night fire listening to the soldiers’ stories of great battles. It was a great heritage. He had assumed a great responsibility.

Suddenly Hannibal was brought back to the present by the sounds his army was making as they prepared for the next day’s activities. Tomorrow they would begin their march to Italy. They would march through Spain and southern France, and attempt to cross the Alps. Surprise is what Hannibal hoped for. He wanted to surprise the Romans and attack them when and where they least expected it - from the north. No army had ever crossed the Alps. The Alps were considered to be a natural fortress.

Hannibal’s army of 90,000 infantry, 12,000 cavalry and 40 elephants traveled all through the autumn. When they reached the Alps, the high mountain tops were covered with snow. The cold breezes could be felt even at the foot of the mountains. Should the Carthaginians set up winter camp in the protected lower plains and wait for spring, or should they attempt to cross the Alps? Hannibal decided to press on. The Romans would never expect an attack from the north, and least of all from an army making the crossing during the winter. His promise to his father fueled Hannibal’s desire to march on.

The narrow mountain road through the Alps was treacherous. Some horses lost their footing and tumbled into the deep ravines, with their riders still astride. Wagons with supplies were also lost. The elephants had to be led very carefully and, in some cases, special trails were cut to assist their passage.

The snowstorms and howling winds took the lives of many of the soldiers. Some were overexposed, and froze to death. Others starved because they became separated from the main army. It was a miserable journey. Everyone was mentally and physically exhausted: the animals, the soldiers, and the generals. With great persistence and courage the Carthaginians continued. They were inspired by Hannibal’s constant vigilance and leadership. He assisted and encouraged his men. He slept on the cold snow with them, and endured all of the same hardships, never putting himself above them.

Slightly more than half of Hannibal’s army made it over the Alps. They rested, regrouped, and prepared themselves to meet the Romans. Their journey had strengthened their inner resolve to fulfill their purpose. They were the first to do the impossible!

In early spring the surprised Romans sent a hastily gathered army to meet Hannibal. The Carthaginians were victorious. Hannibal began a fifteen year march through Italy, mostly unopposed. He defeated the Romans the few times they chose to do battle with him.