Hannibal

Carthaginian general and politician. General who fought against Rome in the Second Punic War. First son of Hamilcar Barcas. At a young age, he went to Spain with his father and managed the country. After his father's death, his brother-in-law Hasdrubal, who succeeded him, was defeated, and he was elected general at the age of 25 in 221 BC. In the spring of 219 BC, he attacked the Roman ally city of Saguntum and captured it, starting the Second Punic War (also known as the Hannibal War) the following year. After crossing the Pyrenees from Spain and sweeping through southern France, he crossed the snowy Alps and invaded northern Italy, defeating the Roman army in battles around the Trebia River and Lake Trasimene. He showed his military tactics in the decisive battle of Cannae in 216 BC, one of the greatest battles in military history, and at one point even approached the capital, Rome. In 202 BC, he was defeated by the Roman army under Scipio the Elder at the Battle of Zama, ending the Second Punic War with a Carthaginian defeat.

He continued to hold the position of general even after the peace treaty between Rome and Carthage was concluded, and in 196 BC he was elected administrative governor, where he reformed the national system to a more democratic one, with financial reform at its core, and sought an opportunity to retaliate against Rome, but due to the machinations of the pro-Roman faction and Roman interference he was forced to flee Carthage, and sought refuge with Antiochus III in Syria. However, his anti-Roman struggle was ultimately unsuccessful, and he later moved to Bithynia in Asia Minor, where he committed suicide when he saw that Rome was reaching out to him.

He is known as one of the greatest generals of the ancient world, alongside Alexander the Great and Pyrrhus the Great, for his brilliant strategy and skill in military tactics. On the other hand, there are some who are critical of his political skills, but he can be considered an excellent politician, based on his Mediterranean vision shown in the alliance treaty with Philip V of Macedonia, and his administrative reforms after the defeat of Carthage. As for his humanity, even if we take into account the bias of existing historical sources, we can view him positively, given his self-control, self-restraint, and above all, his ability to fully control mercenaries for many years.

[Hasegawa Hirotaka]

"Hannibal: The Battle for Hegemony of the Mediterranean World" by Hirotaka Hasegawa (Humanity and History Series: The West 3, 1973, Shimizu Shoin)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

カルタゴの将軍、政治家。ローマに対して第2回ポエニ戦争を戦いぬいた将軍。ハミルカル・バルカスの長子。幼くして父とともにスペインに渡り、スペイン経営を進めた父の死後、その後を継いだ義兄ハスドルバルHasdrubalが倒れるや、紀元前221年、25歳で将軍に選ばれた。前219年春、ローマの同盟市サグントゥムを攻撃して、これを陥落させ、翌年第2回ポエニ戦争（ハンニバル戦争ともいわれる）を起こした。スペインからピレネー山脈を越えて南フランスを席巻(せっけん)したのち、雪のアルプスを越えて北イタリアに侵入し、トレビア河畔、トラシメヌス（トラジメーノ）湖畔の戦いをはじめイタリア各地で大いにローマ軍を破った。とくに前216年のカンネーの決戦では用兵の妙を発揮し、戦史上屈指の大殲滅(せんめつ)戦を展開、一時は首都ローマにも迫った。しかし持久戦に持ち込まれたため戦線はしだいに膠着(こうちゃく)し、その後はイタリア半島の南端で戦い続けた。前203年、本国カルタゴに召還されたのち、アフリカの地で戦ったが、前202年のザマの決戦で大スキピオの率いるローマ軍に敗れ、第2回ポエニ戦争はカルタゴの敗北に終わった。

　その後、ローマ、カルタゴ間の平和条約締結後も将軍職を保ち、前196年には行政上の長官に選ばれて、財政改革を中核とする民主的な国制の変革を行い、ローマへの報復の機会をねらったが、親ローマ派の策動、ローマの干渉により、カルタゴから脱出せざるをえず、シリアのアンティオコス3世のもとに身を寄せた。しかし結局反ローマ闘争も実を結ばず、その後は小アジアのビテュニアに移ったが、ローマの手の伸びたのをみて自殺して果てた。

　戦略の妙、用兵の巧みさなど、アレクサンドロス大王、ピロス大王などと並ぶ古代世界屈指の名将として知られる。一方、政治的手腕に関しては、否定的な見解もあるが、マケドニアのフィリッポス5世との同盟条約の示す地中海世界規模の視野、カルタゴ敗戦後の行政改革などから、優れた政治家とみなすことができよう。また人間性に関しては、現存史料の偏向性を含みに入れても、自制心、節制、なによりも長年にわたり傭兵(ようへい)を十分に掌握し通したことから肯定的にみることが許されよう。

［長谷川博隆］

『長谷川博隆著『ハンニバル――地中海世界の覇権をかけて』（『人と歴史シリーズ　西洋3』1973・清水書院）』

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