Battle of Cannae
Second Punic War · 216 BC
Battle of Cannae
Carthage ⚔ Roman Republic · Apulia, Southern Italy
Command this battle — execute Hannibal's double envelopment or break the encirclement
In 216 BC, Hannibal lured a vastly larger Roman army into the Aufidus plain, then executed history's most perfect encirclement. His center feigned retreat while African veterans pivoted inward on both flanks, trapping 80,000 Romans who were annihilated almost to the last man.
Carthage · ~50,000
Hannibal Barca
Rome · ~80,000+
Varro · Paullus
Phase I
Roman army advances on Carthaginian center
Phase II
Carthaginian center retreats — drawing Romans in
Phase III
African infantry pivot inward on both flanks
Phase IV
Cavalry completes encirclement — total destruction
Rome
67,000–80,000 casualties
Carthage
~6,000 casualties
The most catastrophic defeat in Roman history — a masterclass in double envelopment still studied in military academies today.
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