Hannibal\'s Army

[ruski94]

Does anyone know anything about the army Hannibal had during the Second Punic War as he crossed the Alps. Other than elephants what other types of units did he have? Is there anything out their about what kind of weapons and armor they had?

[Albertomv]

Hannibal had heavy infantry and cavalry of libio-phoeny (Peter Connolly refer the infantry as falangites), libian ligth troops (thureophoroi type), mulipropose infantry and cavalry iberan and celtiberan, numidian riders (the best skirmishig cavalry of its time).

These would be the troops that he brought from Spain, in the crossing of the Alps he was joined by diferent celtic tribes, providing him of infantry and heavy cavalry.

And when they come to Italy was joined by italic peoples.

There are a book of Peter Connolly entitled Hannibal and the Enemies of Rome that shows the troops of Hannibal, and with the advantage that it is fully illustrated.

You may be interested on read Ancient Warfare issue III-4 'Implacable enemies: the Barcids at War'

[Vindex]

Try John Lazenby's book on Hannibal too.

[markdienekes]

I wrote a little something up on another site in regards to this, here is the link:

http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=445020

[Ultilatie]

This pic shows heavy infantry in the middle of the acies and heavy iberian and celtiberian infantry at the left...




Initial moments of the Battle of Cesse (Tarragona) around summer 217 b. C.


Roman veles attacking the Carthaginian first line. To the right, the Carthaginian light infantry (thureophoroi)


Roman and Carthagininan first lines collision and (in first plain) Iberian auxiliary running through the Roman lines.


You can also see http://bellvmannibalicvm.blogspot.com

[joeandmich]

Hannibal had Greek hoplites?

[Ultilatie]

No he doesn't, of course!! Those Corinthian helmets and some of their shields drawings are an anacronism.

But his african infantry was probably armed as classical hoplitic armies, not as macedonian falangites as is supossed to be...