Hannibal took command of the army at an early age

Hannibal's father was a Carthaginian general and a respected and inspiring commander. He happened to win every war for which he was responsible. He died in 228 BC, when Hannibal was 20 years old. Hasdrubal the Fair, Hamilcar's son-in-law, took over the position. Unfortunately, he was killed after only 5 years in command. So, at the age of 26, Hannibal was saddled with all of the responsibilities. Despite his youth, he commanded successfully, following in his father's footsteps.

He was a brilliant general with admirable strategic ideas and plans. He was also kind, intelligent, and generous. Additionally, the leadership skills he developed while traveling with his father starting at age 9 were aided by that experience. He had been on the road for about 16 years and had picked up useful knowledge of military tactics, methods, and techniques.

While making him vow he would never be a friend of Rome, his father allowed him to accompany him during battle. He took the Roman Army's defense very seriously and worked tirelessly to do so.