Hannibal, also referred as Hannibal the Barcid was a Carthaginian general and statesman, noted for commanding the Carthaginian forces in second of the three Punic Wars fought between Carthage and Rome, the two main powers of western Mediterranean during early 3rd century BC. Hannibal was a distinguished military commander and tactician of classical antiquity compared with the likes of Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar. According to a general belief, Hannibal made a pledge to his father Hamilcar Barca "to never be a friend of Rome" and kept his pledge till his last breath, emerging as perhaps the greatest and fiercest enemy of the Roman Republic. His crossing over the Alps with North African war elephants to invade Italy is counted among the most significant events of Second Punic War, and among the most celebrated feats achieved by any military force in ancient warfare. Initially, Hannibal won several battles in the Second Punic War including the famous Battle of Cannae, however lost the crucial Battle of Zama that ended the war with Roman victory. The political and financial reforms that he enacted as suffete (chief magistrate) of the Carthaginian state post-war led to quick economic recovery of Carthage, however was not well-received by the Carthaginian aristocracy and Rome following which he took voluntary exile. For some time, he served as military advisor to Antiochus III the Great, however after the Romans defeated Antiochus and compelled him to accept their terms, Hannibal fled again. He was eventually betrayed to the Romans in Bithynia following which he took his own life.