Hannibal, the black military general who conquered Europe
After numerous findings and research, it has been proven that the renowned Hannibal was African. Hannibal, the greatest black military general who Conquered Europe’s full name is Chenu Bechola Barca and was an intelligent warrior of Carthaginian origin.
His military prowess and antics are still being taught in western schools to this day.
The Carthaginian civilization today in Tunisia was founded in 3422 (African era) by the primordial blacks of the Middle East who were referred to as Phoenicians. Carthage had a rather powerful economy through which they conquered the Maghreb, Sicily, Libya, Southern Spain, Corsica, Sardinia, and the Balearic Islands.
However, the conflict between Carthage and Rome began when Italian mercenaries seized the Messana port in Sicily and imposed their authority with the help of the Carthaginian military, they refused the African authority by requesting aid from Rome to get Carthage off Messana. Rome, on the other hand, did not want the Carthaginian domination near its terrain, so it decided to take not just Messana, but the whole of Sicily.
This conflict degenerated into the first Punic war and lasted for 23 years, causing hundreds of thousands to die, and rendering Carthage militarily and economically handicapped. Carthage lost Corsica, Sicily, and Sardinia and also paid reparation to Rome.
Hannibal’s Father General Hamical Barca, in his bid to restore some dignity, fought and won back the north-east of Spain, but made his son Hannibal swear in the course of a ritual to one day defeat Rome and exterminate the European empire.
Chenu Bechola Barca, also referred to as Hannibal which means “he who has the favor of Baal [god]” was born in 247. He started accompanying his father when he was a child and Hannibal had taken up his family’s legacy after the death of his brother-in-law Hasdrubal the fair by the time he was 25.
The second Punic war started after Hannibal went against the counsel of Carthaginian authorities and attacked Saguntum, a Roman ally. The empire responded vehemently by daunting the again balanced economy of Carthage when the Carthaginian heads refused to publicly denounce Hannibal’s act.
Although 7,000 of his men were exhausted from the task and abandoned their ranks, this did not deter the great military general from crossing the mountains and arriving the Rhone, which he crossed with his Indian and African elephants.
The Roman authorities were in shock to hear that Hannibal was able to go through this tasking terrains and he continued undeterred and even had more men join his army.
He, however, began to lose men in their thousands to ravines, hostile tribes, and the winter cold and arrived Italy after 15 days of hell through the Alps, with 22,000 men, 12,000 of which were Africans.
When the Italian general, General Scipio, found out that Hannibal had lost his men, he waited confidently with his great army for the first battle and was defeated. This made him retreat in other to escape impending death. Hannibal advanced unhindered as he had General Simpronius to deal with next.
The Carthaginians attacked the Romans unexpectedly, pretended to be conquered and retreated, this plan was given by Hannibal as a result of his understanding of the General’s choleric nature. As expected, the General pursued Hannibal and his men and fell into an ambush.
The Romans were encompassed, and the Africans dealt ruthlessly with them. Hannibal’s elephants were as wild as lions, the killings were terrible, those who managed to escape Hannibal and his men didn’t escape the winter cold. Lake Trebbia was taken by Hannibal.
Enthralled by Hannibal’s military prowess, 60,000 Gaulics joined his army and prepared to face the newly elected General Flaminius. He caught an eye infection while crossing the swamps and that caused him to be partially blind, but he still defeated the General and 50,000 Romans fell when Hannibal encircled them with men who hid by his sides.
The Romans were frightened and this made them destroy their bridges, burnt down farmlands and hid in wooden fortifications. Hannibal was faced with Roman authorities and was unwilling to face the battle squarely, so he started to take Rome city by city.
He was able to defeat due to his wisdom and knowledge of numerous strategy. Hannibal portrayed his very African humanity at all times and as was his custom, he gave dignified burials to high ranking fallen enemies.
Following those series of events, the state of affairs was quite calm for 15 years as only minor battles were fought. Hannibal took over most of the ports and sent his brother Mago to Carthage to inform the authorities about his victories and begging for aid to defeat the Roman city. Howbeit, he didn’t receive the support he pleaded for.
The second Punic war ended when Hannibal had to go back to Carthage to protect his homeland because the son of General Scipio attacked its possessions in Spain, and had started causing Carthage to succumb under his attacks. However, Hannibal’s negotiations with Scipio failed, and the battle started. His brothers died in the battles against Scipio and ended in Zama with Carthage defeated.
Hannibal subsequently became the Head of the Republic and was able to revive Carthage’s economy to a level that caused the Romans to panic.
Eventually, Hannibal died at the age of 64.
General Chenu Bechola Barca aka Hannibal will always be remembered for his military exploits. And to this day, he is considered as one of the greatest military generals that existed. He recorded victories in almost impossible situations. His military science is still taught in western schools to date.
