Hannibal was a brilliant Carthaginian general and military strategist who lived from 247-182 BCE. He is best known for his surprise attack on Rome by crossing the Alps with his army. His most famous victory was the Battle of Cannae in 216 BCE, where he used a pincer movement tactic to surround and destroy a larger Roman army, a maneuver still taught in military schools today. However, despite his tactical successes, Hannibal ultimately failed to defeat Rome in the Second Punic War.