Over the Alps

Historical Moment: Crossing the Alps

Hannibal is best known for crossing Europe's biggest mountain chain, the Alps with about fifty thousand men and forty elephants. More than two thousand years later we still don't know which path he took and this mystery continues to puzzle scholars and amateur adventurers. Julius Caesar and Napoleon Bonaparte had opinions on Hannibal's route and over the years more than half a dozen possible mountain crossings, or "cols", have been proposed.

There are no archaeological remains of the crossing so our guides for our test are literary: Polybius and Livy. Hannibal scholars have come up with these criteria lifted directly out of the descriptions of Hannibal's crossing in Polybius and Livy:
- A big bare or white rock where Hannibal sought refuge with part of his army when he was ambushed by hill tribes.
- A site suitable for an army to camp, on or near the summit.
- A spectacular view of Italy from the summit.
- A descent that is steeper than the ascent.
- At a high enough altitude to be covered with snow and ice all year round.
- On the descent, evidence of a landslide and burnt rocks where Hannibal forced his way through using fire and vinegar to crack open the rocks blocking his path.
- Pasture on the Italian side after the steep descent.

There are many options which fit these Criteria. We tested three - Montgenevre at 1850 metres, Col du Clapier at 2500 metres, and Col de la Traversette at 2950 metres high. After our journeys, Traversette and Clapier were ahead on the criteria, although archaeological evidence is really needed to confirm where exactly Hannibal went.