Hannibal Barca led his troops and 37 elephants, but all but one died crossing the Alps in 218 BC. The surviving elephant, possibly named Surus, was an Asian elephant and may have been the one Hannibal rode most frequently. The elephants may have crossed the Rhone River by swimming or on rafts, and Hannibal may have used alcohol and foot-stabbing to make them attack Roman troops. The Romans defended themselves by blowing trumpets.
Ancient Carthaginian general Hannibal Barca led his troops, including 37 elephants, across the Alps mountain range to fight the Romans. Unfortunately, all but one of Hannibal’s elephants died while crossing the mountains in 218 BC Although 36 of the 37 elephants Hannibal brought on the journey were African elephants, most likely from Morocco and Algeria, he was the only Asian elephant survived. Historians believe that the surviving elephant was the one Hannibal rode most frequently; historical records indicate that he may have been called Surus, or “the Syrian.”
Read more about Hannibal’s elephants:
With elephants in tow, it took Hannibal and his troops two weeks to cross the Rhone River on their way to the Alps. There is no definitive evidence as to how the elephants crossed the river, but the more likely theories are that they swam or have been ferried on rafts.
Historical legend says that Hannibal gave alcohol to elephants and stabbed them in the feet, to make them angry and attack the Roman troops.
The Romans reportedly defended themselves against Hannibal’s elephants by blowing trumpets to drive them away.
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