Hannibal Barca In Armenia.....

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some interesting material...

 

Rome inflicted a devastating defeat upon its enemy and Antiochus had to accept that what is now Turkey was to be added to the small kingdom Pergamum, a Roman ally. One of the Seleucid governors became independent: his name was Artaxias and he proclaimed himself king of Great-Armenia. Hannibal, whose life was in danger when he remained at the Syrian court, stayed with Artaxias, who followed his advice to built a new capital, Artaxata (modern Yerevan).

 

from LINK

 

another LINK

 

About 189 B. C., the capital Artaxata is said to have been founded. Delightfully situated on the Araxes, the almost sacred river of the Armenians, surrounded on all sides by plains exceedingly rich and beautiful, the grand entrepot of trade between the eastern and western world, the rich staffs of India, Persia, and China filling her extensive markets, adorned, too, with many magnificent temples and palaces, it was a long time the largest commercial city, and most splendid capital of the ancient Armenian kingdom.

 

In ancient history the building of this capital is ascribed to the influence of Hannibal, the great Carthaginian general. It is said that when the Romans took Carthage, Hannibal fled to Antiochus the Great. Soon after, however, the latter, in war with the Romans, being defeated, was required to deliver up their old and inveterate enemy. But Antiochus, having a very high regard for Hannibal, secretly assisted him in fleeing to Armenia. Here he was welcomed by the Armenian ruler, Artaces, and soon became his favorite and confidant.

He also rendered great assistance to the king in perfecting and

strengthening the administration of his government. “Hannibal,” says the Armenian historian, “during his sojourn with Artaces, drew the plan of a city afterwards built by the latter near the river Araxes, which is connected with the river Medzamore, and he called it after his own name, Artashat. To this place, which afterwards became one of the greatest cities in Armenia, Artaces transferred the scat of his government.”

 

Strabo and Plutarch also say that Autiochus the Great, king of Syria, compelling Hannibal, the chief enemy of the Romans, to leave his kingdom, this Carthaginian general, persecuted by an evil fortune, fled to Artaces, and, being with this prince suggested to him the design of building the city of Artaxata, which was named in honor of its founder. Strabo says it was very favorably situated on almost an island made by the waters of the Araxes, which surrounded every part with the exception of one point, and this was defended by a fosse and a rampart.

 

from 2nd post HERE

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....btw, thats the same Hannibal of Carthage that came closest to defeating Rome before she became an Empire. He is most famous for marching his troops all the way from Spain into Italy via the Alps (with elephants!) and a number of brilliant victories over Rome, including arguably the most famous battle of the Ancient times: Cannae.