Scipio had the superior army at Zama, and the defection of the Numidians all but sealed Carthage's fate. The other point I would make is that there never would have been a Zama if Hannibal wasn't hamstrung by politicians in Carthage. If Hannibal had been head of state like Alexander, Rome most likely loses the 2nd Punic War.

I personally think Hannibal was the greatest general in antiquity. Alexander was brilliant as well, but he commanded the world's best military machine at the time. His main enemy, the Persians, fielded little more than large peasant armies. Hannibal on the other hand commanded a motley force of mercenaries than was inferior to the legions commanded by Rome, and he defeated larger Roman armies repeatedly. In my opinion Hannibal's victories at Trebia, Lake Trasimene and Cannae have always been more impressive than any of Alexander's.

Reply