Hannibal’s Crossing of the Alps

In October of 218 BCE, at the start of the Second Punic War, Hannibal invaded Italy through a Pass in the Alps.
Hannibal’s army was accompanied by 37 African War Elephants.

As Rome controlled the seas between Carthage and Italy, Hannibal was unable to land his army in Italy by sea.
He therefore decided to march his army through Iberia and invade Italy from the north.
He began with the siege of Saguntum near Valencia in 219 BCE.
Saguntum was loyal to Rome, and when Hannibal sacked Sagunto and enslaved the population, Rome declared war on Carthage, which began the Second Punic War (218-202 BCE).
Hannibal then divided his army into three divisions and rapidly crossed the Ebro, into territory of Roman influence, in order to reach Gaul.
Although a fleet of 60 ships was despatched to Spain, the Roman army was too slow to intercept Hannibal.
This enabled him to pass over the Pyrenees without meeting Roman opposition, and head towards the Rhone.
By successfully defeating the Cavates tribe who were blocking the river crossing, Hannibal was able to move his army across the Rhone, and climb the Alps in October.

The crossing took place in October, the month where major snowfalls can block the higher Passes but leave some lower Passes still open.
Hannibal allied himself with the Centrones Tribe who lived in the area of the Little Saint Bernard Pass, but as they reached the chosen Pass, the Centrones attacked and Hannibal’s army had to fight to get through. After successfully defeating the Centrones, they rested for three days.
Historians remain divided about which Mountain Pass Hannibal used. The contested options are:
1. Mont Cenis Pass Elevation 11,850 ft (3,612m) (The highest, closing earlier than the other Passes)
2. Col de la Traversette Elevation 9,669 ft (2,947m)
3. Col de Clapier Elevation 8,125 ft (2,477m)
4. Roman Great St. Bernard Pass Elevation 8,100 feet (2,469m) (Napoleon used this Pass in 1800 CE)
5. Little St. Bernard Pass. Elevation 7,178 ft (2,188m)
6. Mont Genevre Pass Elevation 6,083 ft (1,854m) (The lowest, remaining open longer than the higher Passes)
Finally, despite the steep descent, Hannibal made a path for his army to march down out of the Pass. After three days of marching, his army, reduced in size but still intact, camped near Ivrea in Italy.

The last surviving War Elephant was named ‘Surus’, meaning ‘the Syrian’, as narrated by Plautus (254-184 BCE).
Surus may have carried Hannibal on a seat on his back.

Mont Genevre Pass (Possible Route)