DBWI: Hannibal survives Cannae?

Dorozhand

Banned
What if Hannibal Barca had survived the Battle of Cannae?

He seemed poised to conquer Rome itself, but his death at the end of the battle cut his victory off at the bud. What if he survived? Could we be speaking a Punic derivative language as citizens of a Punic successor state today?
 

Dorozhand

Banned
Well for me it's every single one, but I was just voicing my discontent.

Go on, if everybody really loves it so much I won't stop you!

This one is pretty run-of-the-mill, but I've seen some really clever ones. It's just for fun anyway.
 
The other posters seem quite confused...

Honestly, judging by the statistics and his past victories, Hannibal was a genius. I think if he hadn't died at Cannae he would've almost certainly conquered the Romans. With Rome out of the way the entire west Mediterranean would be punic, although whether or not the Carthaginians would've extended their equivalent empire from Polskia to Nubia is questionable.
 
I personally think that a more meaningful discussion can occur if we avoid using DBWI. DBWI can often be an avenue whereby people can continue to throw out more common assumptions about history.

Instead of asking whether Hannibal even have the means and resources to conduct a siege of Rome in the first place, we are wasting our time debating whether the Carthaginian will or will not siege Rome.
 
Honestly, judging by the statistics and his past victories, Hannibal was a genius. I think if he hadn't died at Cannae he would've almost certainly conquered the Romans. With Rome out of the way the entire west Mediterranean would be punic, although whether or not the Carthaginians would've extended their equivalent empire from Polskia to Nubia is questionable.

Yeah, because winning field battles and being able to besiege a major city the thing right?

Let's not forget that the Romans managed to reorganised their army post-Cannae and have huge walls to make it difficult for people to capture Rome. Hanibal's army can hardly march into Rome expecting an empty gate.

It is important to note that even after the battle of Cannae, the Roman army was NOT completely destroyed. Such is their manpower advantage that they can still have enough troops to make life miserable for Hannibal's army even after they lost 80,000 men.
 
I personally think that a more meaningful discussion can occur if we avoid using DBWI. DBWI can often be an avenue whereby people can continue to throw out more common assumptions about history.
It's for fun. There's technically no use in any of alternate history.

Yeah, because winning field battles and being able to besiege a major city the thing right?

Let's not forget that the Romans managed to reorganised their army post-Cannae and have huge walls to make it difficult for people to capture Rome. Hanibal's army can hardly march into Rome expecting an empty gate.

It is important to note that even after the battle of Cannae, the Roman army was NOT completely destroyed. Such is their manpower advantage that they can still have enough troops to make life miserable for Hannibal's army even after they lost 80,000 men.
Though I haven't researched the subject as much as I would like (can somebody point me to wiki equivalent for real history that's better than wikipedia?) I believe getting Hannibal his reinforcements (ex. by severely weakening Hanno II the great and his faction) you would bring down Italy, if not Rome itself.
 

Dorozhand

Banned
Yeah, because winning field battles and being able to besiege a major city the thing right?

Let's not forget that the Romans managed to reorganised their army post-Cannae and have huge walls to make it difficult for people to capture Rome. Hanibal's army can hardly march into Rome expecting an empty gate.

It is important to note that even after the battle of Cannae, the Roman army was NOT completely destroyed. Such is their manpower advantage that they can still have enough troops to make life miserable for Hannibal's army even after they lost 80,000 men.

Keep in mind that Hannibal was operating in enemy territory, with zero reinforcements, and only the supplies that could be gained by living off the land.

I think it's perfectly possible to get a complete conquest of Rome if you could get the Carthaginian government to realize that it has no choice but to place its trust in Hannibal. If they decide to use the Navy to help him out, and send him supplies, reinforcements, and siege equipment, Hannibal could have taken Rome under the right circumstances.
If the Carthaginian state bends all its capability towards Hannibal's war, he is more than capable of achieving victory.
 
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