Maharbal facts for kids

Maharbal (Punic: 𐤌‬𐤄‬𐤓𐤁‬𐤏𐤋, MHRBʿL; fl. 3rd century BC) was an important army leader from Numidia. He was in charge of the cavalry (soldiers on horseback) for Hannibal, who was a famous general. Maharbal was also Hannibal's second-in-command during the Second Punic War, a big war between Carthage and Rome.

Maharbal was a close friend of Hannibal and looked up to him a lot. He played a key role in many of Carthage's victories against Rome. During Hannibal's battles in Italy, his army often had more cavalry than the Romans. This meant Hannibal relied on his cavalry and Maharbal to help him win battles.

Maharbal is most famous for something he might have said to Hannibal right after the Battle of Cannae. This was a huge victory for Carthage. According to the historian Livy, Maharbal strongly suggested that they should march straight to the city of Rome. Hannibal replied that he needed time to think about it. Maharbal then said, "No one person has all of God's gifts. You, Hannibal, know how to win a victory; you do not know how to use it." The Latin words for this famous quote are: "Vincere scis, Hannibal; victoria uti nescis."

Early Military Actions

Maharbal was the son of a man named Himilco. He is first mentioned leading the attack on the city of Saguntum in 219 BC. This happened when Hannibal, the main commander, was away. Livy wrote that Maharbal led the attack so strongly that it barely felt like Hannibal was gone.

After Hannibal arrived in Italy, he sent Maharbal with some cavalry to raid the flat lands near the Po River in northern Italy. Later, Maharbal was called back to join Hannibal for the Battle of Ticinus in 218 BC. In this battle, the Roman leader Publius Cornelius Scipio was badly hurt. His son, Scipio Africanus, who would become very famous, appeared in Roman history for the first time here.

Battle of Lake Trasimene (217 BC)

At the Battle of Lake Trasimene, about 6,000 Roman soldiers escaped the fighting. They found a strong position in a nearby village. Maharbal promised them safety if they gave up their weapons. So, they surrendered.

However, Hannibal refused to agree to the surrender. He said Maharbal had gone beyond his orders. Hannibal let the soldiers who were from Rome's Italian allies go free without payment. But he kept the Roman citizens as prisoners of war. Even though Maharbal was a cavalry commander, he also led Iberian skirmishers (lightly armed soldiers) and foot soldiers to gather the Romans who had survived the battle.

Another Roman leader, Gnaeus Servilius Geminus, was on his way to meet his fellow consul, Gaius Flaminius. He had sent his cavalry ahead, led by a commander named Gaius Centenius. After the Battle of Trasimene, Maharbal led a group of spearmen and cavalry. He successfully stopped Centenius and his group of 4,000 cavalry. When Maharbal's force met Centenius, half of the Romans were killed. The rest retreated. The remaining Roman cavalry were followed to a hill where they eventually surrendered.

After this battle, Maharbal was sent with the Numidian cavalry to raid the rich farmlands of Falernia.

Battle of Cannae (216 BC)

Maharbal's exact role in this very famous battle is not fully clear. Roman historians disagree about whether he was even there. The most reliable historian, Polybius, does not mention him at all.

According to Livy, Maharbal commanded the right side of the Carthaginian army at Cannae. But Polybius says that side was led by Hanno, son of Bomilcar. Another historian, Appian, agrees with Polybius. He says Maharbal commanded the reserve cavalry (extra horsemen kept ready) instead.

Livy claims that right after the big victory, Maharbal urged Hannibal to ride with his cavalry straight to Rome. He promised Hannibal that if he did, they would be eating dinner in the Capitol (Rome's main temple) within five days. When Hannibal refused, Maharbal is said to have made his famous remark: that Hannibal knew how to win battles, but not how to use his victories.

However, modern historians have a different view of Hannibal's decision. They believe Hannibal was right not to march on Rome. His army was very tired, Rome could quickly gather new soldiers, and the city itself had strong walls. Also, Hannibal did not have the large machines needed to break down city walls.

After Cannae

What happened to Maharbal after the Battle of Casilinum is not fully known. A person with the same name is mentioned by another historian, Frontinus. This person was used by the Carthaginians to fight against some African tribes that had rebelled. But it is not certain if this was the same Maharbal who was Hannibal's cavalry commander. He might have died around the time of the Siege of Casilinum, or soon after.

See also

In Spanish: Maharbal para niños