Maior et clarior victoria: Hannibal and Tarentum in Livy

Livy's narrative of events at Tarentum during the Second Punic War reveals additional complexities to the historian's presentation of Hannibal, who emerges as an adept politician through his establishment of a positive working relationship with the city. Hannibal captures the city and endeavors to win the hearts and minds of his new allies. Hannibal thus emerges as an enemy who can defeat Rome in battle and undermine her political hegemony in the Italian peninsula. Roman recapture of the city under Fabius Maximus prophesies Rome's eventual victory in the war.