Battle of Cannae

Hannibal’s double envelopment annihilated a far larger Roman army — the textbook encirclement ever since.

Core Principles & Analysis

• Hannibal’s deliberately sagging center drew the legions in while his cavalry closed the ring behind them.
• Ancient sources put Roman losses around fifty to seventy thousand men in a single day.
• Staff colleges still teach Cannae as the archetype of the battle of annihilation.

Specifications & Metrics

• YEAR: 216 BC