Hannibal was here or hereabouts

Many theories are written of Hannibal's epic trek over the Alps into Italy There is no question he left Cartegena (Carthago Nova in those days) south of Valencia, with a massive army of a hundred thousand and, famously, with 37 war elephants. His goal as leader of the Carthaginian forces to catch the Romans by surprise and to defeat them in their own back garden.

As a youth Hannibal Barca had sworn an oath of undying hatred of Rome. Crossing the River Ebro in Spain signified an act of war as north of the Ebro was land under the control of Rome. The River Rhone would be the next big physical hurdle to cross. That crossing point is known but beyond that many theories exist about which route he took over the Alps.

Descending into the Po Valley Hannibal gathered his forces, or what was left of them, in Turin (Taurino in those days). He beat the forces of the Roman General Scipio in his first battle in Ticino near Pavia. The rest is history as they say.

The map gives an overview of possible crossing points. My route shown in red is roughly following the one recently considered tge favourite one.

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