The African Nemesis Of The Roman Empire
After various findings and research, it has been proven that the renowned Hannibal was indeed an African. Hannibal, the most significant black military General who Conquered Europe, had the full name of Chenu Bechola Barca and was an intelligent warrior of Carthaginian origin.
His military prowess and antics are still being taught in many western schools.
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 relatively robust 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 power by requesting aid from Rome to get Carthage off Messana. On the other hand, Rome 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 paid Rome reparation.
In his bid to restore some dignity, Hannibal’s Father, General Hamical Barca, 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 known as Hannibal, means “he who has the favour 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 at 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 vehemently responded by daunting Carthage’s again balanced economy when the Carthaginian heads refused to denounce Hannibal’s act publicly.Â
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 at the Rhone, which he travelled with his Indian and African elephants.
The Roman authorities were shocked to hear that Hannibal could go through these 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 in 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 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; Hannibal gave this plan due to 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, and those who managed to escape Hannibal and his men didn’t survive the winter cold. Hannibal took Lake Trebbia.
 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, which 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, destroying their bridges, burning down farmlands and hiding in wooden fortifications. Hannibal faced 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 strategies. 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 events, the state of affairs was relatively 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 beg 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 return to Carthage to protect his homeland because the son of General Scipio attacked its possessions in Spain and started causing Carthage to succumb to his attacks. However, Hannibal’s negotiations with Scipio failed, and the battle began. His brothers died in the fighting 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.Â
Eventually, Hannibal died at the age of 64.Â
General Chenu Bechola Barca, aka Hannibal, will always be remembered for his military exploits. And to this day, he is considered one of the greatest military generals. He recorded victories in almost impossible situations. His military science is still being taught in western schools to date.
