HKB
19 passages · search this phrase →
Often appears with: conquest, plunder, and captives · siege and fortification · diplomacy and embassies · strategy and the aims of war · naval warfare and sea power · supply, logistics, and encampment · military discipline and training · justice as a virtue · forms of government · fate, destiny, and necessity · carthage · capua
Usually: narrative (11) · detachment (11) · argument (3) · commentary or gloss (3) · curiosity (3) · sudden reversal of fortune (2) · the fall of the great (2) · wonder (2) · law or decree (1) · speech or oration (1)
“Then please to allow me too now, O Romans, to maintain my authority by ’sailing back’ to see what I can get from Carthage.” Polybius, The Histories of Polybius, Vol. 1 (of 2) · wit
“For such false hopes, when they gain an entry into men’s minds, cause them to overrun their goal, and to miss opportunities for securing a certain good, on the chance of obtaining some thing better, but uncertain.” Niccolò Machiavelli, Discourses on the First Decade of Titus Livius · insight
“And hence it comes that a commonwealth endures longer, and has a more sustained good fortune than a princedom, because from the diversity in the characters of its citizens, it can adapt itself better than a prince can to the diversity of times.” Niccolò Machiavelli, Discourses on the First Decade of Titus Livius · insight
“It is with great difficulty that I understood his Greek, and had but little of my own. He assured me upon his honour “that he was not poisoned, but died of a bad fever by excessive drinking.” Jonathan Swift, Gulliver's Travels into Several Remote Nations of th · observation
“I was struck with a profound veneration at the sight of Brutus, and could easily discover the most consummate virtue, the greatest intrepidity and firmness of mind, the truest love of his country, and general benevolence for mankind, in every lineament of his countenance.” Jonathan Swift, Gulliver's Travels into Several Remote Nations of th · insight
“Then as to his military fame, by which, as by a dowry, he was recommended to notice, it was too splendid for an officer acting under a king.” Livy, The History of Rome, Books 27 to 36 · insight
Hannibal dispatches commissaries and sends chosen Carthaginian-allied youth to Carthage as garrison and hostages, then assigns his brother Hasdrubal Spain with a large mixed army and fleet before marching north from Gades.
time having sent commissaries into the different states, he orders four thousand chosen youth whom they had levied to be conducted to Carthage, both as a garrison and as hostages. 22. Thinking also that Spain ought not to be neglected (and the less because he was aware that it had been traversed by the Roman ambassadors, to influence the minds of the chiefs,) he assigns that province to his brother Hasdrubal, a man …
As Roman preparations alarm the Campanians, they urge Hannibal to besiege Capua; Hannibal moves from Arpi to Tifata, then to Lake Avernus to attack Puteoli and its garrison.
proclamation being armed and equipped by their masters, embarked with cooked provisions for thirty days. Then first it happened that the Roman fleet was manned at the expense of individuals. 12. These unusually great preparations alarmed the Campanians particularly, lest the Romans should commence the year's campaign with the siege of Capua. They therefore sent ambassadors to Hannibal, to implore him to bring his ar…
Crispinus at Venusia orders Marcellus to march to Venusia and reports his colleague’s death to Rome, prompting commissioners and senate directives, while Rome fights and raids near Clupea in Africa and other Greek reports circulate.
to the sea and their ships, leaving their works and the engines with which they battered the walls. Thus the siege of Locri was raised by the approach of Hannibal. 29. When Crispinus found that Hannibal had gone into Bruttium, he ordered Marcus Marcellus, a military tribune, to march the army, which his colleague had commanded, to Venusia. Having set out himself with his own legions for Capua, though scarcely able t…
Fabius Maximus argues against Scipio’s plan to make Africa his province and warns of danger from splitting forces, treacherous alliances, and Hannibal’s possible advance on Rome.
were sent to the several towns, requiring them to entertain the Spaniards kindly. The senate then took into consideration the state of public affairs, the levying troops, and the provinces. 40. It being generally reported that Africa, as a new province, was destined for Publius Scipio without casting lots; and he himself, not content with any moderate share of glory, asserting that he had been declared consul, not o…
With preparations for war against Antiochus underway, Livy lists Roman administrative decisions and religious dedications, then describes Antiochus’s delays at Smyrna, Alexandria Troas, and Lampsacus plus debates over sending ships to Africa and Hannibal’s role.
the Capitol, over the canopy of the shrine, and also twelve gilded bucklers. The same aediles built a portico on the outside of the Triple Gate, in the Carpenters' Square. 42. While the Romans were busily employed in preparing for a new war, Antiochus, on his part, was not idle. Three cities detained him some time, Smyrna, Alexandria in Troas, and Lampsacus, which hitherto he had not been able either to reduce by fo…
Machiavelli refines his fear advice: a prince should inspire fear without hatred by protecting property and honor, using justified force, and he cites Hannibal versus Scipio as cases of cruelty and leniency.
link of obligation which, owing to the baseness of men, is broken at every opportunity for their advantage; but fear preserves you by a dread of punishment which never fails. Nevertheless a prince ought to inspire fear in such a way that, if he does not win love, he avoids hatred; because he can endure very well being feared whilst he is not hated, which will always be as long as he abstains from the property of his…
Plutarch introduces Marcus Cato, explaining his Roman “new man” status, family background at Tusculum and the Sabines, his austere physical habits and legal skill, and his early soldiering against Hannibal’s invasion.
MARCUS CATO Marcus Cato, we are told, was born at Tusculum, though (till he betook himself to civil and military affairs) he lived and was bred up in the country of the Sabines, where his father's estate lay. His ancestors seeming almost entirely unknown, he himself praises his father Marcus, as a worthy man and a brave soldier, and Cato, his great grandfather too, as one who had often obtained military prizes, and…
Gibbon continues the narrative of Alaric’s advance, contrasting Rome’s long insulation from foreign invasion with earlier wars, and then surveys Roman civic-military capacity in the Punic era.
advanced with unabated vigor; and after he had passed through the stately arches, adorned with the spoils of Barbaric victories, he pitched his camp under the walls of Rome. 6 4 (return) [ Addison (see his Works, vol. ii. p. 54, edit. Baskerville) has given a very picturesque description of the road through the Apennine. The Goths were not at leisure to observe the beauties of the prospect; but the…
He argues that after victory or false hopes, rulers commit errors by overreaching rather than securing a certain win, illustrating with Hannibal’s Carthage, Alexander and Tyre, and the Spanish intervention in Florence leading to the sack of Prato.
The use of dishonouring language towards an enemy is mostly caused by an insolent humour, bred by victory or the false hope of it, whereby men are oftentimes led not only to speak, but also to act amiss. For such false hopes, when they gain an entry into men’s minds, cause them to overrun their goal, and to miss opportunities for securing a certain good, on the chance of obtaining some thing better, but uncertain. An…
He claims stable fortune comes from acting in accordance with the times, exemplified by Fabius Maximus versus Hannibal and the later contrast with Scipio, then links this to why commonwealths change slower than princes.
I have repeatedly noted that the good or bad fortune of men depends on whether their methods of acting accord with the character of the times. For we see that in what they do some men act impulsively, others warily and with caution. And because, from inability to preserve the just mean, they in both of these ways overstep the true limit, they commit mistakes in one direction or the other. He, however, will make fewes…
Hannibal crosses the river and receives friendly Gallic envoys from the Padus valley, who promise guidance into Italy; he orders preparations for battle after inspecting the Roman fleet’s position.
[Sidenote: Message from friendly Gauls.] +44.+ Being thus master of the passage of the river, and victorious over those who opposed him, the first care of the Carthaginian leader was to bring his whole army across. This being expeditiously accomplished, he pitched his camp for that night by the river-side, and on the morrow, when he was told that the Roman fleet was anchored off the mouths of the river, he detached …
Hannibal selects flat, treeless ground beside a stream with an overhanging thorny bank to stage an ambush, assigns Mago with selected cavalry and infantry, and plans a dawn attack to catch Romans unready.
[Sidenote: Hannibal prepares an ambuscade.] +71.+ Now he had some time before remarked a certain piece of ground which was flat and treeless, and yet well suited for an ambush, because there was a stream in it with a high overhanging bank thickly covered with thorns and brambles. Here he determined to entrap the enemy. The place was admirably adapted for putting them off their guard; because the Romans were always s…
Polybius explains why Byzantium’s sea position lets it control access to the Pontus, enabling the Byzantines to trade necessities and luxuries profitably and attract Greek support when threatened.
[Sidenote: Advantages of the situation of Byzantium.] As far as the sea is concerned, Byzantium occupies a position the most secure and in every way the most advantageous of any town in our quarter of the world: while in regard to the land, its situation is in both respects the most unfavourable. By sea it so completely commands the entrance to the Pontus, that no merchant can sail in or out against its will. The Po…
Polybius contrasts Capua and Petelia: Capua’s wealth breeds luxury until it calls in Hannibal and is punished by Rome, while Petelia stays loyal through a harsh eleven-month siege and surrenders with Rome’s approval.
CAPUA AND PETELIA [Sidenote: Capua and Petelia, the contrast of their fortunes.] +1.+ The people of Capua, in Campania, becoming wealthy through the fertility of their soil, degenerated into luxury and extravagance surpassing even the common report about Croton and Sybaris. Being then unable to support their burden of prosperity they called in Hannibal; and were accordingly treated with great severity by Rome. But …
After the plot against Hieronymus of Syracuse, he sends ambassadors to Hannibal in Italy (with brothers to Alexandria); Hannibal receives them warmly, returns envoys, and prompts Hieronymus to consider an alliance.
[Sidenote: The Roman praetor sends to remonstrate. A scene with the king.] +3.+ Meanwhile intelligence of this transaction had reached the Roman praetor at Lilybaeum, who immediately despatched legates to Hieronymus, to renew the treaty which had been made with his ancestors. Being thoroughly annoyed with this embassy, Hieronymus said that “He was sorry for the Romans that they had come to such utter and shameful gr…
A sworn treaty between Hannibal and King Philip V and their states is described, listing the officials, the gods who witness the oath, and key terms of mutual alliance against enemies of each side.
more conspicuous and widely known throughout Greece than is the case with any other man; as well as the contrast between the results accompanying the display of those opposite tendencies. Now that, upon his accession to the throne, Thessaly, Macedonia, and in fact all parts of his own kingdom were more thoroughly loyal and well disposed to him, young as he was on his succeeding to the government of Macedonia, than t…
In the siege of Capua, Hannibal surrounds Appius Claudius’s position, attacks with cavalry and infantry to try to draw the Romans out, fails, and withdraws to consult further tactics.
[Sidenote: Hannibal determines on creating a diversion by threatening Rome.] These considerations convinced Hannibal that it was impossible to raise the siege by an open attack, and he therefore changed his tactics. He imagined that if by a secret march he could suddenly appear in the neighbourhood of Rome, he might by the alarm which he would inspire in the inhabitants by his unexpected movement, perhaps do somethi…
The war restarts with intense anger; Hannibal strengthens cavalry by recruiting Tychaeus, a Numidian friend of Syphax, then Scipio raids Carthaginian towns and urges Massanissa to join him with an army of Roman cohorts.
[Sidenote: Hannibal’s cavalry reinforced by Tychaeus.] +3.+ This was the signal for the recommencement of the war in a fiercer and more angry spirit than before. The Romans on their part, looking upon themselves as having been treated with perfidy, were possessed with a furious determination to conquer the Carthaginians; while the latter, conscious of the consequences of what they had done, were ready to go all leng…
Using the governor’s permission to summon the dead, Gulliver calls up Alexander the Great, Hannibal, Caesar, Pompey, and Brutus, comparing their accounts and remarks, and concludes his viewing of history’s virtues and tyrant-destroyers delights him.
they lived in. And one thing I might depend upon, that they would certainly tell me the truth, for lying was a talent of no use in the lower world.” I made my humble acknowledgments to his highness for so great a favour. We were in a chamber, from whence there was a fair prospect into the park. And because my first inclination was to be entertained with scenes of pomp and magnificence, I desired to see Alexander the…