abram petrovich gannibal, also hannibal or ganibal, or abram hannibal or abram petrov (; 1696 – 14 may 1781), was a russian military engineer, general, and nobleman of african origin. kidnapped as a child, gannibal was taken to russia and presented as a gift to peter the great, where he was freed, adopted and raised in the emperor's court household as his godson.