Researchers Identify Hannibal’s Likely Alpine Route

Researchers at the Center for Integrative Biodiversity Research (Idiv) in Leipzig, Germany, calculated the most probable route Hannibal took when crossing the Alps with his army in 218 BC. The team used bioenergetic models, based on data from modern African elephants, to assess the energy expenditure required for different Alpine passes.

Their calculations suggest the Col de la Traversette, a 2947-meter-high pass between France and Italy, was the most feasible route for Hannibal’s army of around 40,000 soldiers, 7,000 horses, and 37 war elephants. Alternative routes, including the Col de Montgenèvre, Col du Clapier, and Col du Mont Cenis, would have required significantly more energy.

The study also indicated the immense physical strain the Alpine crossing placed on the army, estimating soldiers lost around 19% of their body fat reserves. While the purpose of Hannibal employing elephants during the Punic Wars remains debated, researchers theorize it was either for tactical advantage or to impress and recruit Celtic tribes.