Hannibal (247 – 182 BC.) was the son of Hamilcar Barcas, a Carthaginian general during the First Punic war between Carthage and Rome, which Carthage lost. Hannibal vowed to his father to avenge this defeat and he kept his promise. In 218 BC he marched a huge army through Spain and France and over the Alps into Italy. In Spain he defeated Rome’s ally Sagentum, who had no defence against Hannibal’s brilliant strategy. Moreover, Hannibal made use of a fearsome weapon: forty African war elephants. Their thick skin was impenetrable for most of the armoury used at that time and the enemy was literally trampled underfoot.