The famous Carthaginian general who crossed the Alps during the Second Punic War is Hannibal Barca. Renowned for his military prowess, Hannibal led his army, which included war elephants, from North Africa through Spain and into Italy via the treacherous Alpine passes. This audacious maneuver aimed to catch the Roman forces off guard and took them by surprise during the early stages of the war. Despite winning several significant battles, such as the Battle of Cannae, Hannibal could not secure a decisive victory that would lead to Rome's surrender and ultimately, he was forced to retreat.