How did Hannibal cross the Alps in 218 BC?
Hannibal had 40 elephants and 30 to 40,000 troops. 10,000 men and 36 elephants died during the 15 day journey across the Alps. With a relatively small army of select troops he set out to invade Italy by the little-known overland route. He fought his way over the Pyrenees and reached the Rhne River before the Romans could block his crossing, moved up the valley to avoid their army, and crossed the Alps. He was as they say a great general. In a winter camp in 217 BC he suffered a serious eye infection and eventually lost his eye. Hannibal never made others do what he wasnt willing to do himself. Not much is known about him and all the writings on him were done by his enemies. They too, knew he was a great military leader. No one knows whether Hannibal took African or Asian elephants. The Roman Emperor Septimus Severus issued coins depicting elephants which appear to be a combination of the two species. From the net.
