The world has already witnessed many great military leaders throughout history. Most of such leaders are known for their courage, never say die attitude and also in leading the masses. So keeping this in mind, let’s have a look at the names of the most famous military rulers in history, as compiled by The Richest.
Alexander The Great: King of Macedonia and conqueror of the Persian Empire, Alexander The Great is considered one of the greatest military geniuses of all times. He was inspiration for later conquerors such as Hannibal the Carthaginian, the Romans Pompey and Caesar, and Napoleon.
Alexander was born in 356 BC in Pella, the ancient capital of Macedonia. He was the son of Philip II, King of Macedonia, and Olympias, the princess of neighboring Epirus.
Against irresistible odds, he led his army to victories across the Persian territories of Asia Minor, Syria and Egypt without suffering a single defeat. His greatest victory was at the Battle of Gaugamela, in what is now northern Iraq, in 331 BC. The young king of Macedonia, leader of the Greeks, overlord of Asia Minor and pharaoh of Egypt became 'great king' of Persia at the age of just 25.
Alexander was born in 356 BC in Pella, the ancient capital of Macedonia. He was the son of Philip II, King of Macedonia, and Olympias, the princess of neighboring Epirus.Against irresistible odds, he led his army to victories across the Persian territories of Asia Minor, Syria and Egypt without suffering a single defeat. His greatest victory was at the Battle of Gaugamela, in what is now northern Iraq, in 331 BC. The young king of Macedonia, leader of the Greeks, overlord of Asia Minor and pharaoh of Egypt became 'great king' of Persia at the age of just 25.
Napoleon Bonaparte: A French military leader and emperor, Napoleon Bonaparte is one of the greatest rulers the world has ever come across. He was also known as Napoleon I, and conquered much of Europe in the early 19th century. Born on the island of Corsica, Napoleon rapidly rose through the ranks of the military during the French Revolution.
Sharp, ambitious and a skilled military strategist, Napoleon successfully waged war against various coalitions of European nations and expanded his empire. However, after a disastrous French invasion of Russia in 1812, Napoleon abdicated the throne two years later and was exiled to the island of Elba. In 1815, he briefly returned to power in his Hundred Days campaign. After a crushing defeat at the Battle of Waterloo, he abdicated once again and was exiled to the remote island of Saint Helena, where he died at 51.
Sharp, ambitious and a skilled military strategist, Napoleon successfully waged war against various coalitions of European nations and expanded his empire. However, after a disastrous French invasion of Russia in 1812, Napoleon abdicated the throne two years later and was exiled to the island of Elba. In 1815, he briefly returned to power in his Hundred Days campaign. After a crushing defeat at the Battle of Waterloo, he abdicated once again and was exiled to the remote island of Saint Helena, where he died at 51.
Genghis Khan: A great Mongolian warrior and ruler, Genghis Khan rose from humble beginnings to establish the largest land empire in history, the Mongol Empire, by destroying individual tribes in Northeast Asia. After uniting the nomadic tribes of the Mongolian plateau, he conquered huge chunks of central Asia and China.
Just at the age of 20, he began building a large army with the intent to destroy individual tribes and unite them under his rule. He was successful; the Mongol Empire was the largest empire in the world before the British Empire, and lasted well till his death.
The early success of the Mongol army owed much to the brilliant military tactics of Genghis Khan, as well as his understanding of his enemies' motivations. However, many people were slaughtered in the course of Khan’s invasions. But, he granted religious freedom to his subjects, abolished torture, encouraged trade and created the first international postal system.
Just at the age of 20, he began building a large army with the intent to destroy individual tribes and unite them under his rule. He was successful; the Mongol Empire was the largest empire in the world before the British Empire, and lasted well till his death.The early success of the Mongol army owed much to the brilliant military tactics of Genghis Khan, as well as his understanding of his enemies' motivations. However, many people were slaughtered in the course of Khan’s invasions. But, he granted religious freedom to his subjects, abolished torture, encouraged trade and created the first international postal system.
Skanderbeg: Hailed as a national hero in Albania, Skanderbeg was one among the military rulers who successfully ousted the Ottoman Turks from his native land for over two decades, halting Turkey's efforts to spread Islam through an area mostly dominated by Roman Catholic Western Europe.
Kidnapped by the Ottoman Turks at a very young age,
this Albanian freedom fighter was raised under Islam and trained as a general within the ranks of the Turkish military. As commander of Albania's warlords, he sparked a national revolt in 1444 and held off numerous efforts by the Ottomans to take back Albania and bring that country once again under Muslim rule.
Kidnapped by the Ottoman Turks at a very young age,
this Albanian freedom fighter was raised under Islam and trained as a general within the ranks of the Turkish military. As commander of Albania's warlords, he sparked a national revolt in 1444 and held off numerous efforts by the Ottomans to take back Albania and bring that country once again under Muslim rule.
Attila The Hun: 5th century king of the Hunnic Empire, Attila The Hun is one of the most successful barbarian rulers of the Hunnic Empire. He united the tribes of the Hun kingdom and was said to be a just ruler to his own people. Attila was also known as an aggressive and ruthless leader. He expanded the rule of the Huns to include many Germanic tribes and attacked the Eastern Roman Empire in wars of extraction, devastating lands from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean, and inspiring fear throughout the late Roman Empire. He was never successful in invading Constantinople or Rome, and left a divided family following his death in 453.
