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If
people remember nothing else about Hannibal, they recall he crossed the
Alps "with the elephants." In fact, Hannibal lost most of his elephants
in his crossing of the Alps, and the survivors (and resupplied
elephants) proved to be of lim ited military value once the Romans
learnt how to deal with them..
Alexander
the Great encountered them as far east as India, where they were
used--none too effectively--by his opponent King Porus, in the Battle
of the Hydaspes River in 326 BC. (see War Elephants, Greek War
Elephants)
The use of elephants at Porus
Although
his crossing of the Alps with the elephants is widely remembered,
Hannibal made surprisingly little use of them. War elephants proved
useful against Iberian tribal forces, though they were somewhat less
effective when facing disciplined regulars (see The Trouble with
Elephants). In fact, most of the 34 elephants he started with died
during the mountain passage or during the severe winter that followed.
The last few died after the battle of Trebbia, leaving only one
(Serus?) to carry Hannibal through the Etrurian marshes. |
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