1-632-978 - Historica Graphica Collection/Heritage Images

Hannibal and his war elephants crossing the Alps, 218 BC (19th century). During the Second Punic War, the Carthaginian general Hannibal led his army, including elephants, across the Alps into northern Italy to confront the Roman army. He defeated the Romans in three battles, the Trebia (218 BC), Lake Trasimene (217 BC) and most decisively at Cannae (216 BC).