Hannibal: A Quest for Revenge

''Hannibal: A Quest for Revenge '' [[Bibliography]] [[Begin->Hannibal 1st]]

You make the decision to entrust Spain to Hasdrubal is made as you stand in the bustling port city of Cartagena, the heart of Carthaginian power in Iberia. Your army is vast: 90,000 infantries, 12,000 calvary, and your prized war elephants, their tusks capped with bronze. The march begins northward, following the Ebro River’s course. The soldiers move in disciplined columns. But as you cross into hostile Gallic territory, the terrain grows more rugged, the air colder. At first, the Gallic tribe appear indifferent to your presence, watching from their villages as your army passes. But soon their warriors gather, sensing an opportunity to weaken the invaders. The first ambush strikes in a narrow, wooded valley; rocks rain down from above, and Gallic swordsmen attack from behind the trees. Your infantry forms tight ranks, shields locking together as spears thrust forward, fending off the attackers. But skirmishes like this become a daily threat. Morale begins to waver. Supplies are stolen in night raids, and deserters leave. Yet, your leadership holds the army together. At last, you reach the foothills of the Alps, the towering peaks stretching into the clouds. Your army climbs upward along steep, narrow trails that cling to the slopes of the Alps. Your elephants struggle through the uneven ground of the mountains. Hostile Gallic tribes are a constant problem. Your soldiers counterattack whenever possible, but the narrow paths leave little room to maneuver. Men and animals tumble into the ravines below. Food becomes scarce as the march continues, but your army presses forward. Discipline and your unyielding presence prevent total collapse. You ride alongside your troops, refusing to let despair take hold. After 15 days of grueling hardship, the mountain peaks finally give way to lush Po Valley. You can see the land become flatter and flatter. The scale of your losses is staggering. Of the 90,000 infantry and 12,000 cavalry who left Spain, only 20,000 infantry and 6,000 cavalries remain. The elephants are fewer in number but still imposing. The Alps are behind you, and Rome lies ahead. You can almost taste vengeance. Launch an [[attack->Ticinusandreal]]. You will wait for a short period, and then, at the start of December, you will head to the Ticino River to attack the Romans. Scipio, a Roman commander will be there, and you very much want to defeat him. [[Wait]]. Your troops are worn from the hard journey. It's definitely taken a toll on everyone, and it may benefit your army to hold off before going into more battle. You will end up until the middle of December to do anything. You realize that either decision you make as made much more difficult as your expected allies, the Berbers and the Celtiberians, have not arrived yet. Their presence is very possibly the difference between victory and loss in a Roman confrontation. (cycling-link:"†","The options I have written or in short, wait and attack, or wait longer and then make a decision. I think it would have very reasonable for Hannibal to have considered waiting longer than he did, because of how many calvary and men he lost in the Alps. He didn't wait too long, which was most likely to his benefit. Hannibal's allies did show up later than expected, but their arrival allowed them to win the battle of Ticinus. Reality sources: Harold Lamb, 'Journey over the Alps,' in Hannibal: One Man against Rome (Garden City, NY: Doubleday & Company, 1958), 78-89. Mark Cartwright, 'Second Punic War,' Worldhistory.org, World History Encyclopedia, last modified May 2016, accessed November 24, 2024, https://www.worldhistory.org/Second_Punic_War/.")

(if:$late is true)[ Surveying the fleet of over 200 ships in the nearby harbor, you see row upon row of ships bristling with weaponry, their decks packed with soldiers ready to face Rome. Your navy, bolstered by experienced sailors and engineers, is formidable. Supplies are gathered, and scouts report favorable conditions along the western Mediterranean. A naval assault could deliver his army directly to the Roman coast, bypassing the perilous mountains. However, because you have waited to make your decision, you need to get your warships moving significantly faster. You aren't able to have as many scouts with you as you would like, but you are still pretty confident about the assault. You set sail into the east-following and keeping your distance from the southern coastline of mainland Europe-and strike at the Romans. [[Launch->AltNavalAttack]] your naval assault](else:)[Surveying the fleet of over 200 ships in the nearby harbor, you see row upon row of ships bristling with weaponry, their decks packed with soldiers ready to face Rome. Your navy, bolstered by experienced sailors and engineers, is formidable. Supplies are gathered, and scouts report favorable conditions along the western Mediterranean. A naval assault could deliver your army directly to the Roman coast, bypassing the perilous mountains. You still are aware of the potential risks of the attack, but your decision is made. You will sail into the east-following and keep your distance from the southern coastline of mainland Europe-and strike at the Romans. [[Launch->Attack by Sea]] your naval assault.] (cycling-link:"†","Rome's navy has by this point advanced even further than it had during the First Punic War, where Carthage was still unable to defeat the Romans. Mark Cartwright, 'Carthaginian Naval Warfare,' Worldhistory.org, World History Encyclopedia, last modified June 9, 2016, accessed November 23, 2024, https://www.worldhistory.org/Carthaginian_Naval_Warfare/. Mark Cartwright, 'Roman Naval Warfare,' Worldhistory.org, World History Encyclopedia, last modified April 13, 2014, accessed November 23, 2024, https://www.worldhistory.org/Roman_Naval_Warfare/.")

You order your forces to fortify their position, ration supplies, and harass Roman supply lines. You instruct your Gallic allies to feed Romans false information and lure their forces into vulnerable positions. The ultimate goal would be to draw the Romans deeper into the plains, where their larger and slower army will struggle to survive. When the weather clears, and your forces have had time to recover, you will strike decisively at a weakened and demoralized enemy. This approach minimizes immediate risk but prolongs the suffering of your soldiers in the cold. It requires patience and cunning, but it may lead to a far greater victory in the coming months. Your scouts and Numidian cavalry raid Roman caravans, striking quickly and retreating before reinforcements can arrive. The Celtiberians and Gauls, familiar with the terrain, take to the forests and mountains, harassing Roman foraging parties with relentless ambushes. As the Roman army presses north, they find themselves stretched thin, their soldiers hungry and freezing in the unforgiving winter. False reports, fed to the Romans through your Gallic allies, mislead them into believing you are far weaker than you are. By early spring, your patience pays off. With your army rested and reinvigorated, you launch a surprise assault, overwhelming their weakened army. The victory solidifies your power over northern Italy, leaving Rome scrambling to your campaign. (cycling-link:"†","I chose to write this ending more positively than the other ending from the waiting option because it is different from what happened, where Hannibal did well attacking in reality. The earlier source for Gauls is used here and in the other ending from the most recent choice.")

You pause to regroup, knowing your men need rest and the remaining elephants must recover. The valley provides some relief, but the bitter cold of winter soon sets in, testing your armies even more. The days grow shorter, and by mid-December, freezing winds make life miserable. Tents barely shield your soldiers from the cold, and frostbite becomes a real risk. You begin to start rationing your supplies. As the freezing cold continues, Celtiberian warriors arrive with their distinctive long swords, ready to reinforce your campaign. Shortly after, a band of Berber riders from Numidia appear, their swift horses bringing much-needed strength to your cavalry. Their arrival relieves a great burden. Just as they arrive you learn that the Romans have discovered your army. You will need to make a snap decision. [[Wait it out->attrition]]. Instead of risking an immediate battle, you could use the harsh winter to your advantage. You can bait the Romans into stretching their supply lines. When they are at their weakest, you will strike. Your supplies may run low as well. You can [[confront->confrontation]] them by leading your cavalry across the plain. It would be a fierce battle, but Roman troops do not entirely know the speed and precision of your Numidian cavalry. Victory here could bolster your troops' morale and destabilize Rome's northern defenses. (cycling-link:"†","These are both reasonable options Hannibal had. It was December, so it was more than likely both armies were rationing food. When rationing is going on, it is a common military strategy to do attrition, or let the enemy supplies slowly run out. His other option would be to attack, which is closer to what he did. Harold Lamb, 'Journey over the Alps,' in Hannibal: One Man against Rome (Garden City, NY: Doubleday & Company, 1958), 92-94.")

Your 20,000-strong force marches onto the plain of the Po River Valley. The ground beneath your feet is firm. Across the plain, you can see the Roman army. The Celtiberians and the Berbers have arrived, giving your army a good size advantage. The battle starts and your Numidian cavalry surge forward. The Romans counter with their light infantry and calvary, and the clash is brutal. Spears shatter and horses scream. Placing the light infantry in front with the calvary proves to be a major tactical mistake for the Romans. The battle rages, and the center begins to move. Your infantry advances, their shields locked in a wall as they push toward the Roman lines. The Romans are entrenched, overwhelmed and outnumbered. The Romans fight back but the assault is too strong. The Romans fight desperately, but their lines crumble. Their cavalry flees first, and then their infantry begins to break. The battlefield is chaotic, filled with the cries of the wounded and the clash of steel. As the sun dips lower, the Roman army is in full retreat. Victory is yours. The battlefield is littered with Roman dead, with Scipio wounded. You feel invigorated and ready to take on Rome. (cycling-link:"†","The Romans placed their light infantry in front with their calvary which turns out to be a crucial mistake in this battle. Celtiberians and Berbers give a large numbers advantage, and this ending is the historical ending. T. Editors of Encyclopaedia, 'Second Punic War,' Britannica.com, Encyclopedia Britannica, last modified September 2024, accessed November 19, 2024, https://www.britannica.com/event/Second-Punic-War. Jeremiah McCall, 'Hannibal and Campania,' in The Sword of Rome (Barnsley, UK: Pen & Sword Books, 2012), 32-33.")

You stay where you are and contemplate how you are going to send messages to your allies about your decision to stay. You stand and watch the sun setting over the Atlantic. After a week the call of revenge is as loud as ever as recall your father, Hamilcar Barca, who fell fighting Rome. Staying here is no longer an option; Carthage must take the fight to the seas. This war is personal. You order preparations for an invasion by sea to begin. You are restless, you need revenge. You completely rule out taking the Alpine pass. You feel it is far too risky to let nature decide if you win or lose. You will fight in the seas, which is more familiar territory than traversing mountains that are said to be impassable. Launch a [[Naval Invasion]]. (set:$late to true) (cycling-link:"†","Hannibal's reason for being a general in the Second Punic War was partially because of his want for vengeance after Carthage lost the First Punic War. Hannibal's father, Hamilcar, had an intense hatred of the Romans. He viewed them as his mortal enemies and when he lost, not only was it a strategic defeat, but it was a moral defeat. I also wrote in that he couldn't cross the mountains because he waited as it was easier to do that than to write in more passages but also because it was simply not likely for Hannibal to sit and make an obviously strategically risky decision if he is at this point written to be so driven by revenge he can't contain it and wait for allies in Spain. Defeating Rome in a naval battle appears less risky because no one had made such a bold strategic move as crossing the Alps at that point. Information found here: Victor Silva, 'Hannibal's Revenge: Elephant General of Carthage,' Warhistoryonline.com, last modified August 26, 2018, accessed November 20, 2024, https://www.warhistoryonline.com/instant-articles/hannibal-barca-the-great-general.html.")

You are standing on top of the warship, awaiting the arrival. You can see the oars of your men rowing forward, then back, then forward. Sometimes one side will row with more strength to turn the ship. Back and forth, back and forth. Ahead lies Rome’s coast, your chance to bring vengeance to the heart of the Republic. Then it happens. From behind coastal cliffs, Roman triremes emerge like animals. Their sails their oars propelling the ships at a hard pace. You think Roman scouts saw your ships and prepared an ambush, but you can't do anything about it anymore. Roman ships surround your fleet. Their ships ram into yours, splintering wood and capsizing vessels. You ram into a Roman ship with hard crash as you and your men jolt forward. Immediately after, you hear the oars of the port side snap off as a Roman trireme barrels through them. You know your ship has been disabled, and another Roman vessel rams your ship. It splits and you feel a large piece of wood impale your thigh while you fall into the water. You are overwhelmed with pain, and your vision begins to blur during your flailing attempts to keep your head above the water. Your final thoughts are bitter. You have failed Carthage and failed to continue your father's legacy. The Romans have defeated you. As the waves lap at remaining ships, you sink into the depths of the sea. And then there is nothing. (cycling-link:"†","As noted earlier, Rome's naval capabilities have increased significantly since the First Punic War, which is why I have written both naval attack outcomes as Roman victories. The reason I have written this outcome with an ambush coming from the Romans is because Hannibal in this situation doesn't have the reconnaissance necessary to spot it. Being indecisive and overly driven by revenge costs Hannibal his life. Sources on the Navies here: Mark Cartwright, 'Carthaginian Naval Warfare,' Worldhistory.org, World History Encyclopedia, last modified June 9, 2016, accessed November 23, 2024, https://www.worldhistory.org/Carthaginian_Naval_Warfare/. Mark Cartwright, 'Roman Naval Warfare,' Worldhistory.org, World History Encyclopedia, last modified April 13, 2014, accessed November 23, 2024, https://www.worldhistory.org/Roman_Naval_Warfare/.")

Your warships push toward Italy’s coast, your sails assisting the oars of the men below the deck. The coastline comes closer, and victory feels in reach. Roman triremes emerge and you spot them from afar. You prepare your men, but you begin to lose confidence watching so many ships approach in their tight formation. You tell your fleet to keep their formation tight. The Romans continue to rapidly approach. You await the impending bloodbath. You hear the wood of over 20 ships bust apart at once. Your men dexterously maneuver your vessel away from a Roman ship attempting to split off the oars of your starboard side. You are able to spot a ship you hit, and you get your men to row towards it. Your vessel rams into the Roman trireme, and you are thrashed about because of the force of the impact. This change in position allows you to see your other ships. You realize in horror you are losing as Roman fireballs set your warships ablaze, and men jump overboard to avoid the flames. Knowing the battle is lost, you signal for retreat. A handful of ships can break free from the Roman blockade, yours among them. As you sail away, the coast of Italy fades into the smoke of your shattered fleet. The Romans don't even bother chasing you down because of their staggering victory and your unambiguous loss. Defeat is painful, but you live. You know this isn’t the end. Rome has won today, but the war is far from over. Your mind races, with vengeance driving it. (cycling-link:"†","As noted earlier, Rome's naval capabilities have increased significantly since the First Punic War, which is why I have written both naval attack outcomes as Roman victories. The reason I write this outcome better is simply the timeframe in which Hannibal prepared and how he was able to have more scouts, so it wasn't an ambush, and the Romans simply outfought the Carthaginians. Information on Naval war tactics found here: Mark Cartwright, 'Carthaginian Naval Warfare,' Worldhistory.org, World History Encyclopedia, last modified June 9, 2016, accessed November 23, 2024, https://www.worldhistory.org/Carthaginian_Naval_Warfare/. Mark Cartwright, 'Roman Naval Warfare,' Worldhistory.org, World History Encyclopedia, last modified April 13, 2014, accessed November 23, 2024, https://www.worldhistory.org/Roman_Naval_Warfare/.")

You are Hannibal. It's late in 218 BC. Rome looms large, an ever-growing threat to Carthage’s power. Your staff, mainly Maharbal, Hanno and Bomilcar, are waiting for you to make a key tactical decision To the north are [[the Alps.->crossAlps]] If you march your army across, it will be a high risk but a high reward. You would bypass Roman defenses and catch them unprepared. The Gauls, could also join you. Your elephants could strike terror into the Roman legions. It could lead to a staggering victory or your troops dwindling away in the mountains. Or you could [[take to the seas.->Naval Invasion]] Carthage’s navy remains formidable, and a naval invasion could deliver you directly to the coast of Italy, near Rome itself. Fewer risks from nature, but at sea, storms could bring disaster. Also, since the first Punic war, the Roman fleet has grown substantially and will be much riskier to attack. You shudder, remembering how the First Punic War was lost at sea. You also have the option to [[stay where you are.->Spain]] You have allies in Spain that will support you but you also will not be able to get your revenge unless you launch an offense. You are fighting this war because you are in such great need of revenge, so you may lose your patience in Spain and decide to attack anyway. (cycling-link:"†"," The historical decision was to cross the Alps demonstrated here: Jeremiah McCall, 'Hannibal and Campania,' in The Sword of Rome (Barnsley, UK: Pen & Sword Books, 2012), 35. DMAC said that Hannibal could go to Spain (not get revenge) or attack by sea (and be defeated by Roman fleets). He also said that it was ok to note him in the footnotes for that. I also thought it was reasonable due to Hannibal's strategic position. Hannibal's staff: Harold Lamb, 'Journey over the Alps,' in Hannibal: One Man against Rome (Garden City, NY: Doubleday & Company, 1958), 75.")

''Bibliography'' Cartwright, Mark. "Carthaginian Naval Warfare." Worldhistory.org. World History Encyclopedia. Last modified June 9, 2016. Accessed November 23, 2024. https://www.worldhistory.org/ Carthaginian _ Naval_ Warfare/. ———. "Roman Naval Warfare." Worldhistory.org. World History Encyclopedia. Last modified April 13, 2014. Accessed November 23, 2024. https://www.worldhistory.org/Roman_Naval_Warfare/. ———. "Second Punic War." Worldhistory.org. World History Encyclopedia. Last modified May 2016. Accessed November 24, 2024. https://www.worldhistory.org/Second_Punic_War/. Lamb, Harold. "Journey over the Alps." In Hannibal: One Man against Rome, 66-107. Garden City, NY: Doubleday & Company, 1958. McCall, Jeremiah. "Hannibal and Campania." In The Sword of Rome, 29-57. Barnsley, UK: Pen & Sword Books, 2012. Silva, Victor. "Hannibal's Revenge: Elephant General of Carthage." Warhistoryonline.com. Last modified August 26, 2018. Accessed November 20, 2024. https://www.warhistoryonline.com/ instant-articles/hannibal-barca-the-great-general.html. T. Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Second Punic War." Britannica.com. Encyclopedia Britannica. Last modified September 2024. Accessed November 19, 2024. https://www.britannica.com/event/ Second-Punic-War.

You assemble your cavalry. Leading them to the plains by the Ticino River, you confront the Roman force under their general, Scipio. The battle begins and immediately your cavalry clash with the Romans. Victory here would send a powerful message: even in Rome’s own territory, you are an unstoppable force. Your Numidian riders dart in and out of Roman formations, hitting their ranks with javelins. The Roman general, Publius Cornelius Scipio, attempts to counter with his heavier cavalry, but the Numidians' speed leave them vulnerable. You watch as your riders flank the Romans as Gallic warriors in your ranks charge. The shaken Romans retreat in an orderly but frantic fashion, Scipio himself wounded. The victory is important, but it is a costly battle. Many of your cavalry lie dead or injured. Despite the hardships, this triumph sends a clear message to Rome: you are here, and their northern defenses have been breached. Yet, as you regroup, you know Rome will eventually respond with greater force as you have taken heavy losses, and still have the upcoming winter to survive. (cycling-link:"†","This is written to be a version of reality where Hannibal still wins, but it is less positive than the historical victory. I did this because I thought it would be interesting to put a slightly less positive ending to the battle than in the other written version of the battle. ")