this post was submitted on 20 Feb 2025
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[–] PugJesus@lemmy.world 6 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Explanation: Scipio Africanus and Hannibal Barca were the most revered generals on their respective sides during the Second Punic War. Hannibal, leading the forces of Carthage, cowed the mighty Roman Republic with his stratagems, terrorizing Italy itself for over a decade; while Scipio Africanus took the Roman Republic's exhausted forces and led them from the defensive to a stunning offense which ended the war in Rome's favor.

Nonetheless, both men did not recieve the full accolades that one might expect from their exceptional service to their polities. Scipio was popular for a time, but that same popularity was his downfall, as it made enemies of his fellow politician-aristocrats, who were jealous of his fame and suspicious of Scipio's interest in foreign (especially Greek) culture. Though Scipio escaped several political incidents by appealing to the people, his bitterness over his treatment by the Senate eventually led him to a self-imposed exile in the countryside, staying out of politics for the rest of his life. Supposedly, the epitaph on his tomb, markedly outside of the surrounds of Rome, said "Ungrateful fatherland, you will not even have my bones!"

Hannibal tried to revive the Carthaginian Republic by his energy and brilliance, turning to politics instead of war. He made enemies primarily due to his anti-corruption efforts - leading his domestic political enemies to sell him out to Rome, which, by the punitive peace treaty which ended the Second Punic War, had a very keen interest in Carthaginian affairs. Reduced to the options of "Let the Carthaginian Senate sell him to the Romans to be crucified or something suitably horrific, or flee the country", Hannibal chose exile. Hannibal spent the rest of his life on the run from the Roman Republic, taking up positions as a commander and advisor to foreign powers, sometimes for money, but sometimes, in the service of Rome's enemies, just out of pure hatred for Rome.

[–] Melonpoly@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

You watched the oversimplified video didn't you?

[–] PugJesus@lemmy.world 6 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Funny enough, I don't watch any Rome youtubers. I'm just not much of a video person. XD

[–] deathmetal27@lemmy.world 3 points 10 hours ago

It's actually a great video series that puts a humorous spin on the whole war. I'd suggest anyone who wants an abridged retelling of the war to watch it.