One of the names most synonymous with brilliant military strategy is Hannibal. He was the legendary Carthaginian general who marched elephants over the snowy Alps and took on Rome, the growing power in Europe at the time. He outsmarted the best strategists that Rome had to offer and twice sat in front of the gates of Rome with his army. There was never any doubt that Hannibal would serve his country in the military, but no one could have predicted just how well he would serve Carthage. Even centuries later, Romans used the phrase "Hannibal's at the gates!" as a way of indicating misfortune or fear. Even natural disasters were compared to him. His actions would go on to haunt the Romans for centuries. Because of the threat he had been to them, the Roman Republic was forced to learn how to outsmart their opponents and not just beat them. The actions of Hannibal helped to shape and form Rome into the military power that it became because they realized early on that they were not as safe as they had thought they were.