Maharbal

Maharbal (Punic: 𐤌‬𐤄‬𐤓𐤁‬𐤏𐤋, MHRBʿL;^[1] Ancient Greek: Μαάρβας;^[2] fl. 3rd century BC) was a Numidian army commander in charge of the cavalry under Hannibal and his second-in-command during the Second Punic War. Maharbal was a very close friend to Hannibal and admired him greatly.^[3] He was often critical to the battlefield success of Carthage over Rome. Throughout his Italian campaign Hannibal maintained numerical superiority in cavalry, and thus relied upon them and Maharbal to give his army an advantage.

Maharbal is best known for what he possibly^[a] said during a conversation with Hannibal immediately following the Battle of Cannae. According to Livy, Maharbal strongly urged an immediate march on the city of Rome. Hannibal responded by saying "I commend your zeal, but I need time to weigh the plan which you propose." Maharbal then replied, "Assuredly, no one man has been blessed with all God's gifts. You, Hannibal, know how to gain a victory; you do not know how to use it."^[5] The Latin for the last sentence of the conversation is: "Vincere scis, Hannibal; victoria uti nescis."

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