AHQ: Hannibal bypassing the Alps

[SunKing105]

So in 218 BC, the Second Punic War started after Rome allied with Saguntum, in violation of the treaty with Carthage that Rome was to remain north of the Ebro river, and Hannibal besieged and took the city. He continued, eventually crossing the Alps, where he lost much of his army and his elephants.

Could Hannibal use another route that would result in him losing less men, and having the numbers to be more successful than OTL? If so, what alternate routes could he use to cross into Italy?

 

[Sertorius126]

Much of his army is a bit of an exaggeration, he must’ve lost a couple thousand at most, crossing the Alps wasn’t that hard in itself, Hasdrubal didn’t have any problems, it was made hard by all the tribes who charged people for the passage. Hannibal did lose a good amount of elephants, but I don’t think he even expected them to survive long anyway, maintaining those beasts on unfamiliar enemy territory, and not even adapt for elephants, would have been a major pain for him. Indeed, after Trebbia they all died, save for one, which lasted a little longer.

The only other way would have been reaching Italy by sea, but considering he’d still have to start his campaign from Spain, it would have been incredibly risky, time consuming and pointless. Crossing the Alps was his only viable choice.

 

[raharris1973]

Much of his army is a bit of an exaggeration, he must’ve lost a couple thousand at most, crossing the Alps wasn’t that hard in itself, Hasdrubal didn’t have any problems, it was made hard by all the tribes who charged people for the passage. Hannibal did lose a good amount of elephants, but I don’t think he even expected them to survive long anyway, maintaining those beasts on unfamiliar enemy territory, and not even adapt for elephants, would have been a major pain for him. Indeed, after Trebbia they all died, save for one, which lasted a little longer.

The only other way would have been reaching Italy by sea, but considering he’d still have to start his campaign from Spain, it would have been incredibly risky, time consuming and pointless. Crossing the Alps was his only viable choice.

Aren't gaps in the Alps rather small, at least until you wrap around to their eastern end?

 

[Sertorius126]

Aren't gaps in the Alps rather small, at least until you wrap around to their eastern end?

Not so small to prevent armies from passing by. Once the area was conquered under Augustus, no Roman army ever had problems passing through.