That mode of carrying on the war was necessary, because the single element which Hannibal had to throw into the scale against so many disadvantages--his military genius--only told with its full weight, when he constantly foiled his opponents by unexpected combinations; he was undone, if the war became stationary.

That aim was the aim dictated to him by right policy, because, mighty conqueror though he was in battle, he saw very clearly that on each occasion he vanquished the generals and not the city, and that after each new battle the Romans remained just as superior to the Carthaginians as he was personally superior to the Roman commanders.

That Hannibal even at the height of his fortune never deceived himself on this point, is worthier of admiration than his most admired battles.
Hannibal Crosses the Apennines It was these motives, and not the entreaties of the Gauls that he should spare their country--which would not have influenced him--that induced Hannibal now to forsake, as it were, his newly acquired basis of operations against Italy, and to transfer the scene of war to Italy itself.

Before doing so he gave orders that all the prisoners should be brought before him.

He ordered the Romans to be separated and loaded with chains as slaves--the statement that Hannibal put to death all the Romans capable of bearing arms, who here and elsewhere fell into his hands, is beyond doubt at least strongly exaggerated.