Hannibal’s name is synonymous with ambition and audacity. His vision and daring enabled him to do what no other man ever accomplished — bringing Rome to its knees.
Nothing embodies Hannibal's spirit better than his crossing of the Alps. Against all odds, he led his army through one of the harshest terrains on earth. When he finally emerged onto the northern plain of Italy, he shook the Roman world to its core.
It was a feat that seemed impossible to everyone — except Hannibal. Today we explore his incredible journey, and what you can learn from his daring Alpine crossing...
The Vision
At the outbreak of the Second Punic War, the Carthaginian general Hannibal knew he couldn’t defeat Rome through conventional methods. Rome’s navy dominated the seas, and their armies were deeply entrenched across the Italian peninsula.
Worse, Roman armies were massing for a strike on Carthage. They were enabled to do so in large part because of the Alps — the so called "walls of Rome." The natural protection they provided meant Rome could focus all its firepower on Carthage to the south, as the Roman homeland was impenetrable from the north.
Or was it?
Knowing Carthage couldn't compete with Rome on a level playing field, Hannibal chose the unexpected — strike Rome from the north.
He determined to lead his army out of Spain, through the hostile territories of Gaul, and over the Alps — a snow-choked, unforgiving mountain range that no army had ever crossed.
The scale of the task was staggering. How could he ever move more than 50,000 infantry, 10,000 cavalry, and 37 war elephants over the most perilous mountains in Europe?
Hannibal's allies questioned his sanity, and even his own men whispered their doubts. In the face of their disbelief, Hannibal had one retort:
“We will find a way — or make one.”
The Ordeal
Reality hit harder than anyone could have imagined.
For 15 days, Hannibal’s army faced death at every turn. Temperatures plummeted below freezing, snow blinded their vision, and avalanches buried entire units alive. Supplies ran out. Horses and elephants slipped off icy cliffs into bottomless ravines.
The men were starving, frostbitten, and losing faith. Each day they climbed higher, the path ahead seemed more hopeless. The Alps felt less like a mountain range and more like a tomb.
But Hannibal refused to stop. He marched with his soldiers, enduring the same cold and hunger they did. When morale wavered, he reminded them of their purpose: beyond the mountains lay Rome — and glory.
At one point, the army reached an impassable rock face. Turning back would mean certain defeat. Hannibal ordered a fire lit against the rocks, heating them until they cracked. Then his men doused the stones with vinegar, causing them to shatter. Slowly, the soldiers carved a new path out of the solid rock.
The climb continued.
By the time Hannibal's troops finally emerged on the other side of the Alps, half of the army had been lost. Men, horses, and elephants had died in their thousands. But those who survived looked down and saw Italy stretched before them.
The impossible had become reality...
Triumph
Hannibal’s men were battered, but their spirit was unbroken. While they had suffered major losses in the crossing, none of it was unexpected. Hannibal had already made plans for how to recruit northern Italian tribes to fight against Rome, and he got to work putting that plan into action.
His forces amassed, Hannibal then marched to three unprecedented victories:
His first strike came at the Battle of Trebia. There, Hannibal lured the Romans into crossing a freezing river, attacking them when they were cold, soaked, and unprepared. 20,000 Romans were annihilated.
Next came Lake Trasimene, where Hannibal hid his troops in the hills and ambushed the Romans in thick fog. It was the largest ambush in military history — this time, 25,000 Romans were killed or captured.
But as impressive as these victories were, neither of them came anything close to what happened at Cannae.
Facing a Roman army twice the size of his own, Hannibal executed a maneuver still studied in military academies today. He drew the Romans into a trap, encircled them, and slaughtered 55,000 men — the worst defeat Rome had ever suffered.
Rome had once seemed invincible, and Hannibal shattered that illusion. His crossing of the Alps had been a gamble — but now, with victory after victory, it was clear: the price had been worth it.
Hannibal had achieved the impossible, precisely because he refused to believe in that very word.
Takeaways
1) Go Where They Least Expect
The Romans took for granted that their northern flank would be protected, as no one would be crazy enough to cross the Alps. As they found out, Hannibal wasn’t just crazy enough to do so — he was wise enough to actually pull it off.
Whether it’s sport, business, or in whatever form of competition you find yourself, ask yourself what people might underestimate or take for granted about you. Then double down where they least expect, and raise a toast to victory.
2) Lead Alongside Your Men
When his army faltered in the freezing cold, Hannibal didn’t just give orders — he marched alongside his men, sharing their hunger, exhaustion, and fear.
Hannibal’s actions proved his resolve, showing his soldiers that he understood the weight of the task before them — and more importantly, that he was willing to endure its hardships. When the going gets tough, you can inspire your men by demonstrating just how ready and willing you are to face what’s tough alongside them.
3) Plan for Victory by Planning for Defeat
Hannibal knew he’d incur heavy losses crossing the Alps. But he simply accepted this fact and made plans for how to rebuild his forces on the other side.
Had he not been willing to stomach the initial losses, Hannibal’s later victories never would have happened. Greatness often requires an upfront investment — you have to be willing to suffer a present loss for the sake of future victory.
Want to dive deeper?
James and I go live on X this Thursday at 9am ET to dive into Hannibal’s incredible journey through the Alps — and the stunning victories that followed.
Click here to access the livestream — once it ends, the stream will be added to our Members-Only Video Archive for you to catch the replay.
Also on Thursday, our paid subscribers will receive a deep dive analysis of Hannibal’s campaign in Italy — how he brought Rome to its knees, and how Rome ultimately prevailed…
If you’re not already a premium subscriber, please consider joining below — or upgrading to our exclusive Praetorian Guard tier of membership.
Ad finem fidelis,
-Evan