The Battle of Cannae

The Battle of Cannae, fought in 216 BC during the Second Punic War, was a pivotal encounter between the Roman Republic and the Carthaginian general Hannibal. Hannibal, outnumbered, executed a brilliant tactical maneuver, encircling and defeating a much larger Roman army. His forces lured the Romans into a trap, leading to a devastating loss for Rome, with tens of thousands of soldiers killed or captured. This battle is often studied in military strategy for its innovative use of tactics and the effective use of terrain, demonstrating how a smaller, well-led force can triumph against overwhelming odds.