The Ancients

Hannibal vs Rome: Hannibal's Greatest Victory

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Episode notes

One of the most studied military victories in history, and arguably one of the worst Roman defeats - what went wrong for the Romans at Cannae?

In our final episode in the Hannibal mini-series, Dr Louis Rawlings explains just what happened at Cannae in 216BCE, and why that battle is still so important today.

With 50,000 Romans dead, 20,000 captured, and only 10,000 managing to escape - Cannae is truly Hannibal's greatest victory. Using tactics that are still studied and used in modern military academies and in the field, Cannae demonstrates the importance of knowing your terrain, dividing forces - and never underestimating an enemy that's smaller than you.

Previous Episodes

Hannibal vs Rome: Terror at Trasimene (Episode 1)

Hannibal vs Rome: The Road to Cannae (Episode 2)

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