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Maharbal was Hannibal's cavalry commander during the Second Punic War. He was often critical to the success of the side of Carthage over Rome. Throughout his Italian campaign Hannibal maintained an edge in mounted soldiers and thus relied upon them and Maharbal to give himself a sizeable edge.

At the Battle of Lake Trasimene Maharbal, despite being a cavalry commander, led Spanish skirmishers and infantry to round up the Romans who had survived the battle. After the battle, Gnaeus Servilius Geminus, who was en route to meet with Flaminius, sent his cavalry ahead, led by C. Centenius. Maharbal led a detachment of spearmen and cavalry to stop Centenius. When Maharbal's force met with Centenius half of the Romans were killed and the rest retreated. The surviving Roman cavalry were followed to a hill where they eventually surrendered.

Maharbal is most famously known for what he said in a conversation with Hannibal immediately following the Battle of Cannae. According to Livy the conversation went like this after Maharbal expressed interest on marching to Rome immediately: 'I commend your zeal,' he (Hannibal) said to Maharbal; 'but I need time to weigh the plan which you propose.' 'Assuredly,' Maharbal replied,'no one man has been blessed with all God's gifts. You know, Hannibal how to gain a victory; you do not know how to use it.' -Livy, The History of Rome 22.51

The famous Latin for the last sentence of the conversation goes like this: "Vincere scis, Hannibal; victoria uti nescis."

• Lazenby, J.F., Hannibal's War, 64-6, 85 University of Oklahoma Press, 1998 ISBN 0-8061-3004-0