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Hannibal, the leader of the Carthaginian army, invaded Italy from his base in Spain. Before this, hed at victories in the Battle of the Trebia River and Lake Trasimene prior.
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Hannibal heard the rumours, deciding to encourage it. He ordered troops to purposefully not attack Quintus' property. As well, Quintus missed an opportunity to get Hannibal, getting tricked by the torches on 2000 oxen horns. By the Roman Senate orders, two consuls, Lucius and Caius, replaced Quintus.
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From their defeat in the Battle of Lake Trasimene, they sent dictator Quintus to delay Hannibal. Quintus' strategy was using smaller raids, which wore down Hannibal's army. However, since it wasn't direct confrontation, the strategy was unpopular and many assumed he was scared of Hannibal, or secretly working for him.
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Hannibal moved to Gerunium, near Cannae, a Roman storage town. Roman's travelled to Hannibal, deliberately on open land, for they had an advantage with their weaponry. Hannibal quickly realised, strategizing on what to do. Hannibal was at a loss, numbers of 40,000 men and 10,000 cavalry small compared to the Roman numbers of 80,000 men and 6,400 cavalry.