Hannibal Should Not be a Leader Choice ...

[Alchemind]

I just got finished watching a documentary I got from the library, "Ancients Behaving Badly" (History Channel, narrated by 'Mutant X's' Tom McCamous) and there is a segment on Hannibal which discusses his exploits as a leader. After watching it I am very upset!!!!!!



WELL, it turns out that his decision making in traversing the frigid Alps ...

... a journey by which is tormenting by merit of natural landscapes, that he was fond of War Elephants. War Elephants that he could not then proceed to go across rivers, climb mountains nor keep alive until he actually got to Italy. By the time the destination was reached, most of the War Elephants were dead --Hannibal not taking into account the rigors of the voyage.

The only reason why Hannibal was not considered much more then a dunce that Historians are now figuring him to be, is because Rome's leaders helped propagate how "great" he was, and in that way Rome would be even "greater" in defeating him after an 11 year stand-off.


Sorry, but we've all been fooled by our Western overlords, and if not for the Romans grandiosely celebrating how great Hannibal was, Sid Meier would have never chose the noob to be leader of the Carthaginians. Traits: Charismatic, Financial, Elephant Murderer.

 

[coanda]

The only reason why Hannibal was not considered much more then a dunce that Historians are now figuring him to be, is because Rome's leaders helped propagate how "great" he was, and in that way Rome would be even "greater" in defeating him after an 11 year stand-off.

I believe some of his battles (e.g., Battle of Cannae) are still studied in military academies today. In hindsight, marching through the Alps was probably an overly optimistic strategic decision... but one misjudgment does not invalidate a pretty impressive career otherwise.

 

[ecuwins]

What about Stalin?

 

[Doshin]

Cornelius Nepos also tells us about his flagrant disregard for the lives of snakes. He was a monster.

 

[calibur]

The Romans set flaming pigs upon the elephants to bring the fear/shock factor to their side. Does that make the generals bad for killing pigs?

 

[TheMulattoMaker]

Didn't he also eat some guy's liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti? What a sick, sick man.

 

[calibur]

Qin shihuang ushered in legalism, an extremely strict doctrine dominating china for the next thousand+ years. They would chop off people's hands for stealing gum (small stuff).
Do I even need to talk about Khan?

 

[Te_Wheki]

Hannibal's use of flanking manoeuvres were considered architypical until gunpowder warfare.

 

[calibur]

Do you mean flanking manouvers he pioneered were revolutionary or just that the ones he used were typical even during his day?

 

[Culture Bomb]

Maybe this is why he doesn't have an elephant UU.

 

[TiglathPileser]

Maybe this is why he doesn't have an elephant UU.

Bingo. His command of a multi ethnic army (Gauls, Spanish, Africans, you name it) and use of cavalry tactics, involving Spanish and Numidian cavalry, was incredible. That's why they're in the game!

 

[CocoIsKing28]

Who else would be in for Carthage? Dido? She is shrouded in myth and mystery, and everybody with a basic knowledge of ancient history knows him, not her.

 

[capnvonbaron]

Hamilcar Barca (Han's pops) was nearly as instrumental in the rise of Carthage as an ancient power, he could've been used too.

Don't even try and say Hannibal isn't a quality civ leader though. Many civs in CivIV have very shaky selections for true leaders. Stalin and Mao were two of history's greatest mass murders. Brennus and Boudica are stretches for leaders at best. Sitting Bull was really a very minor leader in terms of many of the other civ leaders, since the only thing he really oversaw was the eventual subjugation of the native American peoples. The list goes on.

 

[reddishrecue]

Hamilcar Barca (Han's pops) was nearly as instrumental in the rise of Carthage as an ancient power, he could've been used too.

Don't even try and say Hannibal isn't a quality civ leader though. Many civs in CivIV have very shaky selections for true leaders. Stalin and Mao were two of history's greatest mass murders. Brennus and Boudica are stretches for leaders at best. Sitting Bull was really a very minor leader in terms of many of the other civ leaders, since the only thing he really oversaw was the eventual subjugation of the native American peoples. The list goes on.

Having Hamilcar Barca in the BTS expansion with Carthage would've made that already big expansion even bigger.

 

[CocoIsKing28]

Having Hamilcar Barca in the BTS expansion with Carthage would've made that already big expansion even bigger.

If they did add another leader, it would've been Dido, since they seem to have been shooting for the female leaders (like Boudicca).

 

[AdamCrock]

Well I will have just one sentence to You my friend "Hannibal at portas" ... learn and be wise And You are wise indeed all of the decisions of humanity "best" leadears were flawed but heck ... just throw Your stone, it is easier that way hehe

 

[Goodfella]

The developers didn't place figures in the game based on how clever they were. The only criterion is fame.

 

[CocoIsKing28]

The developers didn't place figures in the game based on how clever they were. The only criterion is fame.

That is true. Except for FDR. He was the best

 

[Timhotep]

If you need to cross a desert, and you ride your camel to death then walk the last ten miles, does that make you a dunce for having brought the camel in the first place?

 

[damerell]

If you need to cross a desert, and you ride your camel to death then walk the last ten miles, does that make you a dunce for having brought the camel in the first place?

But Hannibal did not bring war elephants primarily for use as transport.