Hannibal : the Greatest Carthaginian general
"I will either find a way or make one..." Face Reconstruction of Hannibal, by Alessandro Tomasi Who is Hannibal Barca? Hannibal, the Carthaginian general, began his illustrious military career at a young age. When Carthage, the Phoenician commerce and military powerhouse in North Africa, was lost in the First Punic War against Rome in 241 B.C., he was only six years old. The peace pact, which required Carthage to forfeit the lucrative province of Sicily and pay remunerations to Rome, infuriated Hannibal's father, general and politician Hamilcar Barca. According to Roman historians, Barca had Hannibal swear a blood oath of perpetual hate toward the Romans. New sources of wealth and manpower: Carthage needs fresh sources of income and men to recover her fortunes, rebuild its army, and prepare for reprisal against Rome. It tracked them down in Spain. Hannibal followed Barca on the campaign, which resulted in his father gaining control of most of the Iberian Peninsula and