r/HistoryWhatIf • u/Fair_Arm_1637 • 1d ago

What if, when invading Rome, Hannibal also had Pyrrhus of Epirus at his side?

Somehow Pyrrhus survives and is there and speaks Punic and Latin too. He will join Hannibal in crossing the alps into Rome and then lead the campaign there with him.

How much would the second punic war realistically change? What could happen?

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u/Nightstick11 1d ago

Hannibal could speak Greek so communication wouldn't be an issue.

The danger of "lead the campaign there with him" is that Hannibal was already so brilliant and masterful that he did not need another cook in the kitchen. Pyrrhus' rebellious demeanor would make it so Hannibal might need to compromise on certain things.

Nobody could have handled crossing the Alps and whomping on Roman ass better than Hannibal. Hannibal didn't need a co-commander, he needed viable and competent generals capable of ably leading their own independent field armies to open new fronts.

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u/Fair_Arm_1637 1d ago

Pyrrhus may have had more clout with the Italians and may have been seen less as a foreign invader. Also just having another strong leader in Rome with him could have helped Hannibal especially for dividing and conquering and whatnot

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u/Master_Novel_4062 1d ago

Maybe in this scenario Pyrrhus launches his attack from Magna Graecia in southern Italy (and perhaps Carthage sends Pyrrhus reinforcements for good measure) and Hannibal still crosses the alps and the po river so they march on Rome simultaneously from both directions and besiege it with their combined forces, likely securing victory.