2006-10-22 07:51:50 · 11 answers · asked by Asif 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
Hannibal was by far the better general. In a head to head battle he would use his superior tactical knowledge and his ability to improvise to devastating effect and even without his elephants, which were over-rated, would of defeated caesar's legion's. Unfortunatly as cannae shows us he could of sacked rome afterwards if he had wanted to but was a man of honour and did not want to continue the slaughter. Caesar on the other hand was ruthless and tenacious and although he would lose the battle would then resort to bribery and betrayal as he did many times in the gallic wars to rob Hannibal of his allies and supplies . So ultimately Caesar the bigger bastard would of won over Hannibal the better soldier. Also Caesar had more support from his own people than Hannibal did, carthage was happy for him to fight their battles but bottled it when he needed help in return.
2006-10-23 04:57:16 · answer #1 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It depends if the Caesar already knew him before fighting since the romans on their first battle didn't know what Hannibal was actually capable of. If the did know about him ,caesar would win definately although Caesar as beaten by a gaul by the name of Vercigorix, of course hannibal has his war elephants from Carthage, but it was Scipio(a ROMAN commander) who used Hannibal's very own techniques to defeat him. But if they didn't know about hannibal, I assume that the romans would just throw a gigantic army at him thinking that sheer numbers would break him. That's what they did at Trebia. Obviously meaning that Poeni infantry would definately best Roman legions.
2006-10-22 10:18:08 · answer #2 · answered by The Raging Monkey 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Really impossible to say since they were in different time frames:
Hannibal: 247-182 BCE
Julius Caesar: July 12 or July 13, 100 BC – March 15, 44 BC
By Caesar's time, the Roman legions had improved a lot, in strategy and tactics.
Plus, it should be remembered that another Roman general defeated Hannibal:
"Hannibal tried to repeat his Cannae tactics, but Scipio had better cavalry than the unfortunate consuls fourteen years before. Hannibal's encircling movement failed, and the Carthaginians were defeated. Hannibal escaped to Carthage, where he advised negotiations. In 201, peace was signed. Rome asked an enormous prize: it demanded the Carthaginian fleet, recognition of the Roman conquests in Iberia, and an indemnity of no less than 10,000 talents, to be paid in fifty annual installments. And it forced Hannibal to resign as a general."
However, if everything were "equal", I'd go with Hannibal:
"Hannibal is universally ranked as one of the greatest military commanders and tacticians in history. Military historian Theodore Ayrault Dodge once famously christened Hannibal the "father of strategy"[6] because his greatest enemy, Rome, came to adopt elements of his military tactics in their strategic canon. This praise has earned him a strong reputation in the modern world and he was regarded as a "gifted strategist" by men like Napoleon Bonaparte and the Duke of Wellington. He has also been the basis for a number of films and documentaries."
2006-10-22 08:01:29 · answer #3 · answered by johnslat 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If I am not in the middle between them!
Hannibal will win.
The minute Caesar turn his back on him, Hannibal will take him down, cut his liver and eat it with some fava beans and nice glass of wine.
Different Hannibal, I know, but almost same personality.
Caesar would want to consult the Senate, where as Hannibal is more take charge kind of person and gets the job down now.
2006-10-22 07:56:04 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hannibal, he'll eat Caesar up, literally.
2006-10-22 08:20:35 · answer #5 · answered by RAG 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hannibal, would win hands down his strategy was far more impressive then anything the romans came up with. He employed elephants and this enabled him to cross the alps where other armies perished. In fact the romans were so thirsty on there trek they were given wine to drink which only caused them such thirst it drove them mad.
2006-10-22 07:55:05 · answer #6 · answered by Deirdre O 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Caesar would WIN-he wouldn't stop to eat.
2006-10-22 07:55:25 · answer #7 · answered by Denise W 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i would say caesar, because the romans found out ways to defeat the elephants. then it's just a matter of men to men and tatics.
2006-10-22 08:37:00 · answer #8 · answered by gets flamed 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ceasar that's for sure! He made the greatest arm of all the times, the romans have discipline and they were more organized!! those damn cartagian elephants couldn't stand before the roman troops!!
The latins are the best!!!
2006-10-22 10:11:12 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nero if he's the referee.
2006-10-22 07:55:08 · answer #10 · answered by squiggy72 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋