The book of P.D. Armandi, a veteran of the Napoleonic Wars, was published by Librairie d'Amyot in Paris. Dedicated to a rare topic that was not considered in Russian literature, it is practically unknown to the Russian reader, although it occupies a worthy place among books on military-historical topics, as it gives an extensive and thorough overview of the use of elephants in wars. In Europe, elephants first appeared in the army of Alexander the Great after his campaign in India, then they became an important part of the armed forces of the Hellenistic rulers and Carthaginians. In the II century. BC elephants begin to be used by the Romans. Tracing the reasons for victories and defeats in battles involving elephants, the author draws attention to the attitude of different peoples to this military tool, explaining the differences with ideas about the principles of warfare and the dissimilarity of their attitude. Written enthusiastically and vividly, illustrated in detail by the translator, the book can be of interest not only to specialists, but also to everyone interested in the history and military affairs of the ancient world.