Courage of Carthage

What is amazing about Hannibal of Carthage is the will and innovation it took to carry out the logistics of uniting various tribes in Europe and bringing goods, weapons, elephants, and men from North Africa to Europe and to move this spectacle across mainland Europe and over the Alps into Italy itself.
The Romans thought Hannibal would never be able to attack Rome directly with the Alps protecting their back but Hannibal overcame these obstacles with force of will and genius. An army that went through the trials and tests of this journey was more than ready and hardened to face the Roman army in Italy.
When his men were at the foot of the towering peaks of the Alps the Roman historian Livy writes of Hannibal's speech,

"...you aim to conquer: how can you feel that anything, however hard, however dangerous, can make you hesitate?...steel your hearts to march forward."




It is believed Hannibal took 45,000 men up the Alps and 37 elephants. By the time his army was in Italy he had lost up to 20,000 men and most of his elephants...but even after this Hannibal's hardened army faced larger Roman armies and defeated them in battle. In one of the most lethal battles in history Hannibal's men slaughtered up to 50,000 Romans in the battle of Cannae. One day of casualties that equal the many years of American casualties for the whole Vietnam War.

"We have nothing left in the world but what we can win with our swords. Timidity and cowardice are for men who can safety at their backs-who can retreat without molestation along some easy road and find refuge in the familiar fields of their native land; but they are not for you: you must be brave; for you there is no middle way between victory or death-put all hope of it from you, and either conquer, or, should fortune hesitate to favour you, meet death in battle rather than in flight.
Think on these things; carry them printed on your minds and hearts. Then-I repeat-success is already yours. God has given to man no sharper spur to victory than contempt of death."

-Hannibal Barca (Livy)