At Cannae, Hannibal executed a maneuver that military academies still teach as the perfect battle. He invited the Roman legions to attack his center, which slowly retreated, drawing them into a sack.
The Bait is Set
Hannibal places his weakest troops (Gallic and Spanish infantry) in a convex bulge at the center, with elite African veterans hidden on the flanks.
He placed his weakest troops in the center, not to hold the line, but to bend. As the Romans pushed forward, sensing victory, they were unknowingly walking into a trap.
💡 PRINCIPLE: Let the enemy commit to a "winning" position that is actually a losing one.
Once the Romans were fully committed, Hannibal's elite African infantry swung in from the flanks, and his heavy cavalry struck from the rear. The Roman army was not defeated; it was deleted.
💡 PRINCIPLE: Strike from multiple angles when the enemy cannot retreat or reorient.