Map: Battle of Cannae (216 BCE) – Encirclement & Destruction of the Roman Army

This map depicts the final phase of the Battle of Cannae, showcasing Hannibal’s double envelopment tactic that led to one of the worst defeats in Roman military history. The Carthaginian cavalry, having routed the Roman horsemen, returned to attack from the rear, while Libyan infantry closed in from the flanks. This maneuver trapped the Roman army in a tightening pocket, leading to the death of over 40,000-70,000 Roman soldiers.