Hannibal Makes himself king or emperor of Carthage after destroying rome

After Destroying rome in the 2rd Punic war.could Hannibal successfully grab the roman fleet and March on Carthage and declared himself king or emperior
 
It wasn't after destroying Rome but I remember I did have an abortive TL when I was relatively new to this board on that subject. Hopefully I'll get back to it in a few years :p
 
After Destroying rome in the 2rd Punic war.could Hannibal successfully grab the roman fleet and March on Carthage and declared himself king or emperior

1) The term of Emperor didn't existed before Rome created it.
2) Hannibal didn't wanted to destroy Rome, just reduce the size of the Roman republic.
So let's assume that Hannibal conquers Rome and forces the Senate to give up Sicily, Sardinia and Corsica and to recognize the independence of Capua and the other Italian allies.
3) Hannibal had some influential ennemies even in his home city.
4) Carthage was, by then, a republic and will stay it unless Hannibal uses force to seize power and become king.
5) If he does this, a civil war will soonly erupt in the Carthaginian Empire opposing the supporters of Hannibal (mainly his army) and his ennemies (mainly the senate of Carthage and its troops).
6) During the civil war, the Romans will have enough time to punish their former allies and rebuild their empire.
7) At the end, we will have either a Kingdom or a Republic of Carthage shattered by Civil War and a Roman republic having recovered from the Carthaginian campaigns.
8) Rome will continue to expand in the Mediterranean and still become the most important power, even if this happens a bit slower than OTL.
9) Carthage will be destroyed and punished even harsher than OTL, because they not only beat the Romans in a battle, but in a whole war.

No Hannibal, don't do this. Just don't do this.
 
I believe Hannibal is forced in to a war with the Carthaginian leadership in Monopolist's timeline, which leads him to eventually declare himself Malik essentially IIRC.
 
I believe Hannibal is forced in to a war with the Carthaginian leadership in Monopolist's timeline, which leads him to eventually declare himself Malik essentially IIRC

I remember dimly reading it. But he's assassinated while praying in a temple, and it's his heir who really became king, something like that. Just like Caesar.

Anyway OTL Hannibal spent his whole adulthood abroad, last time he saw Carthage, he was 9. The only support he will have is from his veterans. A military coup would make him looks like a power hungry tyrant in the eyes of the population, who will revolt against him at the first occasion.
 
I remember dimly reading it. But he's assassinated while praying in a temple, and it's his heir who really became king, something like that. Just like Caesar.

Anyway OTL Hannibal spent his whole adulthood abroad, last time he saw Carthage, he was 9. The only support he will have is from his veterans. A military coup would make him looks like a power hungry tyrant in the eyes of the population, who will revolt against him at the first occasion.

Personally I could see Hannibal leveraging his military victories and support to gain a position within the Carthaginian government, but not much else. Like you said the only way to become King/Dictator would be a coup, which would have no popular support, leading to revolts among the populace and high chances of assassination.
 
If hanibal conquered Rome or hypothetically defeated it wouldn't he be a hero in ATL? As such i think he could muster a great deal of popular support
 
If hanibal conquered Rome or hypothetically defeated it wouldn't he be a hero in ATL? As such i think he could muster a great deal of popular support

Not necessarily. He had little support at home, having forced the war by attacking Saguntum while most Carthaginian senators were trying to appease things with Rome. If he come back home triumphant and plays his cards well (but again, he's almost a stranger to his own country) he may gather some popular support, but a majority would be wary of his true intentions.
 
Not necessarily. He had little support at home, having forced the war by attacking Saguntum while most Carthaginian senators were trying to appease things with Rome. If he come back home triumphant and plays his cards well (but again, he's almost a stranger to his own country) he may gather some popular support, but a majority would be wary of his true intentions.

But weren't the Barcid clan the most prominent power in the Carthaginian senate? I mean it's in their favour to support their most powerful family member, Hannibal, to ascend to a high position.

And if Hannibal does descend a powerful position, what's to stop a Caesar-esque scenario happening with him becoming Negwid (a dictator equivalent) of Carthage?
 
I mean it's in their favour to support their most powerful family member, Hannibal, to ascend to a high position.

But was he? The Barcid were prominent, yes, but not undisputed and Hannibal was the eldest son of Hamilcar, but also a young commander with no track of victory of his own, having only served under his father and brother-in-law before. His intentions to attack Italy by land through the Alps in winter must have looked like complete madness. I wouldn't be surprised if the Barcid clan was preparing to distance themselves from him.

And if Hannibal does descend a powerful position, what's to stop a Caesar-esque scenario happening with him becoming Negwid (a dictator equivalent) of Carthage?

Nothing, I suppose. It's his best course of action: managing to be a king in all but name. But does he have the same political cleverness as Caesar to do so? I'm not sure. And he still risks meeting a Caesar-esque end as well: "Et tu, Hasdrubal?" indeed...
 
I'm not sure the leading families would take kindly to an attempt. Not that it couldn't be made, on the back of a victory against Rome (it needn't be total destruction - a favourable peace will do). But Carthage has a bit of a tradition about what to do with men who would be king. Hanno I tried it in what, to Hasnnibal, would have been living memory, and failed. He took a long time to die.
 
Top