8. The Element of Surprise
Hannibal’s victory at Cannae hinged on surprise as much as strategy. By masking his true intentions and exploiting speed, he kept the Romans perpetually uncertain and reactive. His unpredictable deployments and feints sowed confusion among the enemy ranks—an approach echoed in modern warfare by commanders favoring agility and deception. As noted in JSTOR, the principles of surprise and misdirection remain cornerstones of military success even centuries later.
