Hannibal Barca was born in 247 BC in the city of Carthage, located in present-day Tunis, or the northern tip of Africa. His father, Hamilcar Barca, was a great Carthaginian army general who fought in the First Punic War between Rome and Carthage, which the latter lost. At a very young age, Hamilcar made Hannibal promise “eternal hatred towards Rome” (Lendering, 1). Around the age of nine, Hannibal accompanied his father on an expedition to settle in Spain. It was during this time that Hannibal probably acquired most of his military knowledge which greatly helped him later in life. When Hannibal's father and older brother died in 229 and 226, Hannibal was elected commander-in-chief of the Carthaginian army. About ten years later, Hannibal, in keeping with his promise to his father, attacked the Roman-controlled city of Sagantum in Spain. This attack led to the start of the Second Punic War between Carthage and Rome. Even before the war started, Hannibal knew what he was going to do. As Carthage had no navy, there was no hope of passing directly from Carthage to Italy via the Mediterranean Sea. Hannibal came up with a dangerous but ingenious plan. To reach Italy by land, Hannibal and his army would have to travel from Carthage-controlled Spain, cross the Alps, and penetrate into the heart of the enemy. Hannibal set out in the cold winter of 218 BC with 50,000 infantry, 9,000 cavalry, and 37 war elephants. Crossing the Alps, “Hannibal’s force suffered greatly from the elements and the hostility of local tribesmen” (Beshara, 3). By the time they reached Italy, after only fourteen days, over 9,000 men had perished along with most of the elephants, but this number was quickly replenished after 14,000 rebels from northern Gaul joined the army of Hannibal. This group of 60,000 men proved superior to the Roman forces, and after at least three major victories were recorded, the Roman Senate was infuriated. An army of 80,000 Roman soldiers was sent to stop Hannibal's army, which now numbered 50,000, once and for all. In July 216 BC, the Romans engaged the Carthaginians in “the district of Cannes, on the Italian east coast” (Lendering, 2). Vastly outnumbered, Hannibal realized he would have to win through strategy, and that's exactly what he did. As the two lines met, Hannibal's cavalry gained the flanks and, moving up the sides, attacked the rear of the Roman line..