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Life of Hannibal

Cornelius Nepos

The only surviving ancient biography devoted entirely to Hannibal, covering his childhood oath against Rome, his career, exile, and death.

This is the only surviving ancient biography devoted entirely to Hannibal's life, covering his oath, career, exile and death.

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About this source

What it is

Written in Latin by the Roman biographer Cornelius Nepos, this short work is the only surviving ancient biography devoted wholly to Hannibal. It covers his famous oath of hostility to Rome, his period of political leadership in Carthage, his exile, and his eventual suicide.

Why it matters

Because full biographies of Hannibal written by his contemporaries have not survived, this short life by Nepos is especially valuable, even though it was written long after Hannibal's death. It shaped the lasting image of Hannibal as a brilliant but ultimately doomed enemy of Rome, undone as much by the jealousy of his own countrymen as by Roman arms.

Look closer

  • Why would a Roman writer admit that Hannibal was a skilled general, even while celebrating Rome's victory over him?
  • What does the opening comparison between Roman courage and Hannibal's cleverness suggest about Nepos's own biases?
  • What is missing from a short biography like this compared to a longer historical narrative?

This book is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Hannibal Barca on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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