Hannibal's African Veterans

Hannibal fought several major battles against the Romans following his invasion of Italy, which began in 218 BC. At the River Trebia and Lake Trasimene, Hannibal crushed Rome’s Legions, killing thousands. He took the best of the armour and weapons from the fallen, and re-armed his African troops. By the time of his greatest victory, at Cannae in 216 BC, Polybius says that Hannibal’s Libyans were indistinguishable from their Roman foes.