Hannibal served in a war.
The Battle of Cannae ( [ ˈkæni ] or [ ˈkæneɪ ] ) was a major battle of the Second Punic War that took place on 2 August 216 BC in Apulia , in southeast Italy . The Battle of Zama , fought around 19 October 202 BC , marked the end of the Second Punic War . Hannibal . In his first few years in Italy , he won three dramatic victories -- the Trebia , Lake Trasimene , and Cannae , in which he distinguished himself for his ability to determine his and his opponent 's strengths and weaknesses , and to play the battle to his strengths and the enemy 's weaknesses -- and won over many allies of Rome . An enemy counter-invasion of North Africa forced him to return to Carthage , where he was decisively defeated by Scipio Africanus at the Battle of Zama .