who crossed the alps and invaded italy with an army of elephants during the second punic war
Hannibal's crossing of the Alps Hannibal's crossing of the Alps in 218Â BC was one of the major events of the Second Punic War, and one of the most celebrated achievements of any military force in ancient warfare.[2] Bypassing Roman and allied land garrisons and Roman naval dominance, Hannibal managed to lead his Carthaginian army over the Alps and into Italy to take the war directly to the Roman Republic.