Final answer:
Hannibal achieved a significant victory at Cannae during the Second Punic War, where his strategic brilliance led to a massive defeat of Roman forces. Despite his successes, he could not secure a decisive victory over Rome and was eventually defeated at the Battle of Zama.
Step-by-step explanation:
Yes, Hannibal won a great victory at Cannae. During the Second Punic War, Hannibal led his Carthaginian army to a series of victories over the Romans. Cannae, which occurred in 216 BCE, was one of the most significant. His army, although smaller, managed to encircle and defeat a much larger Roman force. Hannibal's clever tactics allowed him to crush Roman armies and brought him perilously close to Rome, but he was unable to force the Romans to sue for peace or capture the heavily fortified city.
The Battle of Cannae is remembered as one of the most lethal single days of fighting in history and a classic example of the double envelopment maneuver. However, despite this victory and others, Hannibal's campaign in Italy eventually faltered. He was cut off from reinforcements and supplies, and the Romans adapted their strategies to counter his threats. Ultimately, Hannibal was recalled to defend Carthage and was defeated at the Battle of Zama in 202 BCE by the Roman general Publius Cornelius Scipio, who gained the cognomen 'Africanus'.