What is the most powerful weapon? Nuclear! Or maybe space technologies or the latest defense systems are coming to the fore? No! The most important weapon is people! The history of Russia is the courage, honor and bravery of our commanders. Ingenuity and competent tactics are what distinguish the heroes presented below. So, 30 great commanders in the entire history of Russia 1. Oleg Prince (Prophetic Oleg)
Prince of Novgorod (from 879) and Kiev (from 882), unifier of Ancient Rus'. He expanded its borders, dealt the first blow to the Khazar Kaganate, and concluded treaties with the Greeks that were beneficial for Rus'. The legendary commander about whom Pushkin wrote: “Your name is glorified by victory: Your shield is on the gates of Constantinople.” 2. Svyatoslav Prince 942 – 972
Prince of Novgorod, Grand Duke of Kiev from 945 to 972. The famous ancient Russian commander went down in history as a warrior prince. Karamzin called him the Russian Alexander of Macedno. Having lived only about 30 years, for the last 8 of them Svyatoslav personally led his squads on campaigns. And he invariably defeated stronger opponents or achieved a profitable peace with them. Killed in battle. 3. Monomakh Vladimir Vsevolodovich (1053 – 1125)
Prince of Rostov, Chernigov, Pereyaslavl, Grand Duke of Kiev (1113-1125), an outstanding ancient Russian statesman, military leader, writer, thinker. The best Russian commander of his time, Vladimir won one victory after another on the battlefield of Monomakh. From the age of 13 to 25, he had already completed 20 military campaigns - “great paths”, in the words of Monomakh himself. In total, there will be 83 “great paths” in his life. His Greek nickname, inherited from the Byzantine emperor, translates as “Combatant.” 4. Nevsky Alexander Yaroslavich (1221 – 1263)
Prince of Novgorod, Grand Duke of Kiev, Grand Duke of Vladimir. An outstanding Russian commander and statesman. His victories in the Battle of the Neva and the Battle of Lake Peipsi brought him posthumous fame, which surpassed the prince's lifetime fame. The image of the holy Prince Alexander Nevsky, defender of the Orthodox faith, grew from century to century... 5. Ivan III Vasilyevich January 22 (1440 - 1505)
The Grand Duke of Moscow from 1462 to 1505, also began to be called the Sovereign, under him Moscow was freed from the Horde yoke. Ivan the Great himself did not personally lead any operation or battle, but one can speak of him as the supreme commander-in-chief. And the results of the wars of the reign of Ivan III are the most successful in the entire history of Muscovite Rus'. 6. Ivan IV the Terrible August 25 (1530 – 1584)
The reign of Ivan the Terrible (1547-1584) is one of the key moments in Russian history. It was during these years that the fragments of the Golden Horde were put to an end - the Kazan and Astrakhan khanates, Russia achieved significant territorial expansion in the east, having crossed the Urals, beginning the development of Siberia, in the west it entered into the struggle for access to the Baltic, simultaneously putting an end to another centuries-old enemy - Livonian Order. Militarily, these were perhaps the most intense years of Russian history. All this creates a temptation to recognize the sovereign under whom all this happened - Ivan IV the Terrible - as a major military figure. These kinds of characteristics are quite common in the literature. To evaluate them, one should consider those events of Russian military history of the 16th century in which Grozny personally participated. 7. Pozharsky Dmitry Mikhailovich (1577 – 1642)
Prince Dmitry (baptismal name - Kosma) Pozharsky is a national hero of Russia. Military and political figure, leader of the Second People's Militia, which liberated Moscow during the Time of Troubles. When the foundations of the state were shaken, the governor invariably demonstrated loyalty to duty and his principles: to serve only the homeland and the legitimate monarch - and not to seize an opportunity. At that confusing time, the clarity of his position attracted people to him, making Pozharsky the people's leader. 8. Apraksin Fedor Matveevich (1661 – 1728)
One of the founders of the Russian fleet, associate of Peter I, admiral general, first president of the Admiralty Board. On land, Apraksin defended St. Petersburg from the Swedish army, which the Swedes were planning to raze to the ground, and on the sea he inflicted a decisive defeat on them in the skerries of Gangut. 9. Peter I the Great (1672 – 1725)
“Peter attracts our attention primarily as a diplomat, as a warrior, as an organizer of victory,” Academician E. Tarle said about him. Peter the Great created a new regular Russian army and navy, defeated the Swedes and “opened a window” to Europe. With the reign of Peter, a new - imperial - period of our history begins. The entire course of the 21-year war with Sweden was determined by the will and instructions of Tsar Peter. All campaigns and battles took place with his detailed instructions and under his guiding hand. And often - with his direct participation. 10. Golitsyn Mikhail Mikhailovich (1675 – 1730)
Russian commander, field marshal general, ally of Peter I, participant and hero of the Northern War. Perhaps the best Russian military leader of the Peter I era. “The winners are not judged,” Peter said about him after Golitsyn disobeyed his order to retreat and took the impregnable Noteburg. “I have never heard or seen such fire and decent action from our soldiers since I began to serve,” the king responded about his other battle... And for the naval victory at Grenham he awarded him a sword studded with diamonds. 11. Minikh Christopher Antonovich (1683 – 1767)
He gained fame as an invincible field marshal, a successor to the work of Peter the Great. Under his command, the Russian army first invaded Crimea and took the capital of the Khanate, Bakhchisarai. It was he who laid the foundation for the victorious wars between Russia and the Porte, opening a new page of Russian military glory. The most active military leader during the reign of Anna Ioannovna, statesman, engineer. 12. Spiridov Grigory Andreevich (1713 – 1790)
Outstanding Russian naval commander, full admiral (1769). The admiral's long naval career led him to the Mediterranean Sea - to his main battle at Chesma. Then, in one night, the Turks lost 63 ships in Chesme Bay - battleships, caravels, galleys, and galliots. Turkish losses amounted to more than 10,000 people. The losses of the Russian combined squadron amounted to 11 people: 8 on the battleship "Europe", 3 on the battleship "Don't Touch Me". 13. Rumyantsev Pyotr Alexandrovich (1725 - 1796)
Russian military and statesman, count, who ruled Little Russia for many years. A participant in the Seven Years' War, commander of Russian troops in the wars with Turkey under Catherine II, hero of the battles of Larga and Kagul, was awarded the title "Transdanubian". Field Marshal General (1770). In the iconic battles of the Seven Years and two Russian-Turkish Wars, he brilliantly demonstrated the effectiveness of the principles of offensive strategy and tactics he formulated. Count Pyotr Alexandrovich is rightfully considered the founder of Russian military doctrine. 14. Suvorov Alexander Vasilievich (1729 - 1800)
Count of Rymniksky (1789), Prince of Italy (1799). Generalissimo (1799). Great Russian commander and military theorist. The military genius of Suvorov is reflected in the coined formulation: “he did not lose a single battle, and all of them were won with the numerical superiority of the enemy.” A bright man in all respects, he became famous among his contemporaries not only for his victories, but also for his originality or, as they said then, eccentricities. For us, descendants, the lessons of Suvorov are his entire military journey, from Berlin and Warsaw to Izmail and Ochakov, from the Volga to the Alps. 15. Potemkin Grigory Alexandrovich (1739 – 1791)
G.A. Potemkin-Tavrichesky - an outstanding Russian statesman and military figure, His Serene Highness Prince, organizer of New Russia, founder of cities, favorite of Catherine II, Field Marshal General. The great Suvorov wrote about his commander Potemkin in 1789: “He is an honest man, he is a kind man, he is a great man: it is my happiness to die for him.” 16. Ushakov Fedor Fedorovich (1744 – 1817)
Great Russian naval commander, admiral, commander of the Black Sea Fleet. I never knew defeat in naval battles. Already in our days, the Russian Orthodox Church has ranked him among the general church saints in the ranks of the righteous. 17. Kutuzov Mikhail Illarionovich (1745 – 1813)
Great Russian commander. Count, His Serene Highness Prince of Smolensk. Field Marshal General. Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Army during the Patriotic War of 1812. His life was spent in battles. His personal bravery earned him not only many awards, but also two wounds to the head - both considered fatal. The fact that he survived both times and returned to duty seemed a sign: Golenishchev-Kutuzov was destined for something great. The answer to the expectations of his contemporaries was the victory over Napoleon, the glorification of which by descendants raised the figure of the commander to epic proportions. 18. Bagration Pyotr Ivanovich (1765 - 1812)
"Lion of the Russian Army", hero of 1812. At the turning points of the battle, General Pyotr Ivanovich Bagration, sometimes dismounting, went on the attack or to the battle line... Throughout his entire military career, Bagration did not suffer a single defeat. 19. Nakhimov Pavel Stepanovich (1802 – 1855)
Russian admiral, hero of the defense of Sevastopol in 1854-1855, who occupies an exceptional place among the remarkable Russian naval commanders as one of the most prominent representatives of the school of Russian military art. Nakhimov saw service in the navy as the only meaning and purpose of his life. 20. Kornilov Vladimir Alekseevich (1806 - 1854)
Famous naval commander, vice admiral of the Russian fleet, hero and chief of defense of Sevastopol in the Crimean War. Kornilov died during the first bombing, but his short emotional order remained with the defenders of the city of Russian glory: “We are defending Sevastopol. Surrender is out of the question. There will be no retreat. Whoever orders a retreat, stab him.” 21. Skobelev Mikhail Dmitrievich (1843 - 1882)
“Convince the soldiers in practice that you are fatherly caring for them outside of battle, that in battle there is strength, and nothing will be impossible for you,” said Skobelev. And with this conviction he won in Central Asia and the Balkans. The conqueror of Khiva and liberator of Bulgaria, he went down in history under the name of the “white general”. 22. Brusilov Alexey Alekseevich (1853 – 1926)
Russian and Soviet military leader, hero of the First World War, cavalry general. After the revolution he went over to the side of the Soviet regime. It was this person who was most often remembered in Soviet times and is remembered now when it comes to the history of the First World War. One of the most striking operations of this period, the “Brusilovsky breakthrough” of 1916, was named after the general. 23. Denikin Anton Ivanovich (1872 – 1947)
Over its more than thousand-year history, the Russian state has participated in a great many military conflicts. Often, success in resolving these conflicts depended on the tactical and strategic literacy of commanders, because, as one of the commanders of the Middle Ages correctly noted, “An army without a commander turns into an uncontrollable crowd.” The ten most talented Russian commanders will be discussed in this article.
10. Putyata Vyshatich (10??-1113)
Putyata Vyshatich was a Kyiv governor at the court of Prince Svyatopolk Izyaslavich in 1097-1113. He took part in the first internecine wars in Rus' and made a significant contribution to the defeat of the troops of Prince David in 1099. Subsequently, Putyata Vyshatich led the Kyiv army during campaigns against the Polovtsians. Outnumbered, he managed to defeat the Polovtsians in the battles of Zarechsk (1106) and Sula (1107). In 1113, Prince Svyatopolk Izyaslavich was poisoned, and a popular uprising occurred in Kyiv, during which Putyata Vyshatich was killed.
9. Yakov Vilimovich Bruce (1670-1735)
A representative of a noble Scottish family, Yakov Vilimovich Bruce was born and raised in Russia. In 1683, Yakov and his brother Roman enlisted in the tsarist troops. By 1696, Bruce had risen to the rank of colonel. He became one of the most prominent associates of the young Peter I and accompanied him during the Great Embassy. He carried out a reform of Russian artillery. Bruce became famous as a commander during the Northern War (1700-1721). There he commanded all Russian artillery and made a huge contribution to the main victories of the Russian troops: at Lesnaya and Poltava. Since then, in legends, he has gained a reputation as a “magician and warlock.” In 1726, Bruce retired with the rank of field marshal. He died in seclusion in 1735.
8. Dmitry Ivanovich Donskoy (1350-1389)
Prince of Moscow and Vladimir, son of Prince Ivan II. It was he who was able to unite the Russian princes against a common enemy, the Golden Horde. Thanks to a well-planned ambush, the Russian troops united by Dmitry managed to inflict a heavy defeat on the Golden Horde during the Battle of Kulikovo (1380). After this defeat, the power of the Horde over the Russian lands began to gradually weaken. The Tatar-Mongols were finally expelled from Russian lands by Dmitry's great-grandson Ivan III 100 years later, in 1480.
7. Alexey Petrovich Ermolov (1777-1861)
A hereditary nobleman, he was enrolled in military service in infancy, which at that time was quite a normal phenomenon. He received his first baptism of fire in 1794 during the suppression of the Polish Kosciuszko uprising. There he commanded an artillery battery and was awarded his first award, the Order of St. George, 4th class. Until 1796, Ermolov served under the legendary Suvorov and took part in the Italian campaign and the war of the first coalition. In 1798, Ermolov was stripped of his rank and dismissed from service on suspicion of participating in a conspiracy against Emperor Paul. In 1802 he was restored to his rank. Returning to service, Ermolov participated in coalition wars, and then in the Patriotic War. During the Battle of Borodino, he personally commanded the defense of artillery batteries for three hours. Then he took part in the foreign campaign of the Russian army and reached Paris. In 1819-1827, Ermolov commanded Russian troops in the Caucasus. It was during the Caucasian War that he showed himself at his best: well-established logistics and competent leadership of the army seriously influenced the outcome of the battles with the highlanders. An important role in Ermolov’s success in the Caucasus was played by his subordinate generals Andrei Filippovich Boyko and Nikolai Nikolaevich Muravyov-Karsky. However, after Nicholas I came to power, Ermolov and his subordinates were removed from their positions for “unjustified cruelty” towards the mountain peoples. Thus, in 1827 Ermolov retired. Until the end of his days he was a member of the State Council. Died in 1861.
6. Mikhail Nikolaevich Tukhachevsky (1893-1937)
Descendant of impoverished nobles. In 1912 he entered service in the Russian Imperial Army. He received his first baptism of fire in the First World War, in battles with the Austrians and Germans. In 1915 he was captured. On his fifth attempt, in 1917, he managed to escape. Since 1918 he served in the Red Army. He lost the first battle: the Red Army soldiers were unable to take Simbirsk, defended by Kappel’s army. On the second attempt, Tukhachevsky was able to take this city. Historians note “a well-thought-out plan of operation, the rapid concentration of the army in the decisive direction, skillful and proactive actions.” In the further course of the campaign, Tukhachevsky defeated the troops of Kolchak and Denikin, putting an end to the Civil War. Since 1921, Tukhachevsky was involved in reforming the Red Army. In 1935, Tukhachevsky was awarded the title of Marshal of the Soviet Union. He was a supporter of maneuverable tank warfare and insisted on the priority of developing armored forces, but his plan was rejected by Stalin. In 1937, Tukhachevsky was accused of high treason and executed. Posthumously rehabilitated.
5. Nikolai Nikolaevich Yudenich (1862-1933)
He came from the nobility of the Minsk province. Yudenich was accepted into the army in 1881, but received his first baptism of fire during the Russo-Japanese War. He distinguished himself in the Battle of Mukden (1905) and was wounded there. During the First World War, Yudenich commanded the troops of the Caucasian Front. He managed to completely defeat the outnumbered troops of Enver Pasha, and then win one of the largest battles of the First World War, the Battle of Erzurum (1916). Thanks to Yudenich's large-scale planning, Russian troops were able to take most of Western Armenia in the shortest possible time, as well as reach Pontus, capturing Trabzon. After the events of the February Revolution, he was dismissed. During the Civil War, Yudenich commanded the Northwestern Army, which he twice led to Petrograd, but was never able to take it due to the inaction of the allies. Since 1920 he lived in exile in France. He died in 1933 from tuberculosis (according to another version, he was poisoned by an agent of Soviet intelligence; supporters of this theory cite completely identical scenarios for the deaths of Yudenich and Wrangel).
4. Mikhail Illarionovich Kutuzov (1747-1813)
Representative of a military dynasty. In the army since 1761. Kutuzov served for almost thirty years under the command of Suvorov, whom he considered his teacher and mentor. Together they walked the path from the Ryabaya Grave to Izmail, during which time Kutuzov rose in rank to lieutenant general, and in one of the battles he lost an eye. He remained in the army after Paul I came to power, but fell into disgrace with Alexander I. Until 1804, Kutuzov was in retirement, and then returned to service. In the War of the Third Coalition (1805), he defeated the armies of Mortier and Murat, but suffered a crushing defeat at the Battle of Austerlitz. In 1811, Kutuzov took command of the Russian armies in the war with the Ottomans and in less than a year managed to lead Russia out victorious. During the Patriotic War of 1812, Kutuzov became famous for the Battle of Borodino, where his troops dealt a significant blow to the French. After the Tarutino maneuver, Napoleon's troops were cut off from supplies and began the Great Retreat from Russia. In 1813, Kutuzov was supposed to lead the Foreign Campaign, but he died of a cold at the very beginning.
3. Georgy Konstantinovich Zhukov (1896-1974)
Zhukov comes from peasant background. He enlisted in the army in 1915. In 1916, Zhukov took part in battles for the first time. He showed himself to be a brave soldier and was twice awarded the Order of St. George. After a shell shock, he dropped out of the personnel of his regiment. In 1918, Zhukov joined the ranks of the Red Army, in which he took part in the battles in the Urals and the assault on Yekaterinodar. In 1923-1938 he held staff positions. In 1939, Zhukov commanded the defense of the Soviet-Mongolian forces in the battles of Khalkhin Gol, where he earned his first Hero of the Soviet Union star. During the Great Patriotic War, Zhukov's armies took part in operations to break the blockade of Leningrad. Since 1943, he commanded large military formations. On May 8, 1945, Zhukov's troops took Berlin. On June 24 of the same year, Zhukov hosted the Victory Parade in Moscow as Supreme Commander-in-Chief. He was a real hero among soldiers and ordinary people. However, Stalin did not need such heroes, so Zhukov was soon transferred to command of the Odessa Military District in order to eliminate the high level of banditry in the region. He coped with the task excellently. In 1958, Zhukov was dismissed from the Armed Forces and took up journalism. Died in 1974.
2. Alexey Alekseevich Brusilov (1853-1926)
The son of a hereditary military man, Brusilov was accepted into the tsarist army in 1872. He took part in the Russian-Turkish War (1877-1878), distinguished himself in battles in the Caucasus. In 1883-1906 he taught at the Officers' Cavalry School. In the First World War, Brusilov received command of the 8th Army and, just a few days after the start of the conflict, took part in the Battle of Galicia, where he defeated the Austrian troops. In 1916, he was appointed commander of the Southwestern Front. In the same year, Brusilov had previously used a form of breaking through the positional front, which consisted of a simultaneous offensive of all armies. The main idea of this breakthrough was the desire to force the enemy to expect an attack along the entire front and to deprive him of the opportunity to guess the location of the real strike. In accordance with this plan, the front was broken through, and Brusilov’s army defeated the troops of Archduke Joseph Ferdinand. This operation was called the Brusilov breakthrough. This breakthrough became the progenitor of the famous breakthroughs of the Great Patriotic War, seriously ahead of its time in tactics. In May-June 1917, Brusilov was the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Army, then retired. In 1920, he joined the Red Army and until his death was an inspector of the Red Cavalry. Died of pneumonia in 1926.
1. Alexander Vasilievich Suvorov (1730-1800)
Suvorov was the son of a secret chancellery official. He was accepted into military service in 1748. During his half-century career, Suvorov took part in most of the most significant military conflicts of the second half of the 18th century: Kozludzha, Kinburn, Focsani, Rymnik, Izmail, Prague, Adda, Trebbia, Novi... This list can be continued for a long time. Suvorov made the famous crossing of the Alps, and also wrote “The Science of Victory” - the greatest work on Russian military theory. Suvorov did not lose a single battle and repeatedly defeated an enemy outnumbered. In addition, he was known for his concern for ordinary soldiers and participated in the development of new military uniforms. At the end of his military career, Suvorov fell into disgrace with Emperor Paul I. The illustrious generalissimo died after a long illness in 1800.
War and peace are ever-changing sides of the same coin called “life.” If in times of peace you need a wise and fair ruler, then in times of war you need a merciless commander who must win the battle and the war at all costs. History remembers many great military leaders, but it is impossible to list them all. We present to your attention the very best:
Alexander the Great (Alexander the Great)
Since childhood, Alexander dreamed of conquering the world and, although he did not have a heroic physique, he preferred to participate in military battles. Thanks to his leadership qualities, he became one of the great commanders of his time. The victories of the army of Alexander the Great are at the pinnacle of the military art of Ancient Greece. Alexander's army did not have numerical superiority, but was still able to win all the battles, spreading his gigantic empire from Greece to India. He trusted his soldiers, and they did not let him down, but faithfully followed him, reciprocating.
Genghis Khan (Great Mongol Khan)
In 1206, on the Onon River, the leaders of the nomadic tribes proclaimed the mighty Mongol warrior as the great khan of all Mongol tribes. And his name is Genghis Khan. The shamans predicted Genghis Khan power over the whole world, and he did not disappoint. Having become the great Mongol emperor, he founded one of the greatest empires and united the scattered Mongol tribes. The Shah's state and some Russian principalities conquered China, all of Central Asia, as well as the Caucasus and Eastern Europe, Baghdad, Khorezm.
Tamerlane (“Timur the Lame”)
He received the nickname “Timur the lame” for a physical disability that he received during skirmishes with the khans, but despite this he became famous as a Central Asian conqueror who played a fairly significant role in the history of Central, South and Western Asia, as well as the Caucasus, Volga region and Rus'. Founded the Timurid empire and dynasty, with its capital in Samarkand. He had no equal in saber and archery skills. However, after his death, the territory under his control, which stretched from Samarkand to the Volga, very quickly disintegrated.
Hannibal Barca ("Father of Strategy")
Hannibal is the greatest military strategist of the Ancient world, a Carthaginian commander. This is the "Father of Strategy". He hated Rome and everything connected with it, and was a sworn enemy of the Roman Republic. He fought the well-known Punic Wars with the Romans. He successfully used the tactics of enveloping enemy troops from the flanks, followed by encirclement. Standing at the head of a 46,000-strong army, which included 37 war elephants, he crossed the Pyrenees and the snow-capped Alps.
Suvorov Alexander Vasilievich
Suvorov can safely be called a national hero of Russia, a great Russian commander, because he did not suffer a single defeat in his entire military career, which included more than 60 battles. He is the founder of Russian military art, a military thinker who had no equal. Participant in the Russian-Turkish wars, Italian and Swiss campaigns.
Napoleon Bonaparte
Napoleon Bonaparte French emperor in 1804-1815, a great commander and statesman. It was Napoleon who laid the foundations of the modern French state. While still a lieutenant, he began his military career. And from the very beginning, participating in wars, he was able to establish himself as an intelligent and fearless commander. Having taken the place of the emperor, he unleashed the Napoleonic Wars, but he failed to conquer the whole world. He was defeated at the Battle of Waterloo and spent the rest of his life on the island of St. Helena.
Saladin (Salah ad-Din) Expelled the Crusaders
Great talented Muslim commander and outstanding organizer, Sultan of Egypt and Syria. Translated from Arabic, Salah ad-Din means “Defender of the Faith.” He received this honorary nickname for his fight against the crusaders. He led the fight against the crusaders. Saladin's troops captured Beirut, Acre, Caesarea, Ascalon and Jerusalem. Thanks to Saladin, Muslim lands were liberated from foreign troops and foreign faith.
Gaius Julius Caesar
A special place among the rulers of the Ancient World is occupied by the well-known ancient Roman statesman and political figure, dictator, commander, and writer Gaius Julius Caesar. Conqueror of Gaul, Germany, Britain. He has outstanding abilities as a military tactician and strategist, as well as a great orator who managed to influence the people by promising them gladiatorial games and spectacles. The most powerful figure of his time. But this did not stop a small group of conspirators from killing the great commander. This caused civil wars to break out again, leading to the decline of the Roman Empire.
Alexander Nevskiy
Grand Duke, wise statesman, famous commander. He is called the fearless knight. Alexander devoted his entire life to defending his homeland. Together with his small squad, he defeated the Swedes at the Battle of the Neva in 1240. That's why he got his nickname. He recaptured his hometowns from the Livonian Order at the Battle of the Ice, which took place on Lake Peipsi, thereby stopping the ruthless Catholic expansion in Russian lands coming from the West.
Dmitry Donskoy
Dmitry Donskoy is considered the forefather of modern Russia. During his reign, the white stone Moscow Kremlin was built. This famous prince, after his victory in the Battle of Kulikovo, in which he was completely able to defeat the Mongol horde, was nicknamed Donskoy. He was strong, tall, broad-shouldered, heavyset. It is also known that Dmitry was pious, kind and chaste. A real commander has real qualities.
Attila
This man led the Hun Empire, which at first was not an empire at all. He was able to conquer a vast territory stretching from Central Asia to modern Germany. Attila was an enemy of both the Western and Eastern Roman Empires. He is known for his brutality and ability to conduct military operations. Few emperors, kings and leaders could boast of capturing such a vast territory in such a short time.
Adolf Gitler
Actually, this man cannot be called a military genius. Now there is a lot of debate about how a failed artist and corporal could become, albeit for a short time, the ruler of all of Europe. The military claims that the “blitzkrieg” form of warfare was invented by Hitler. Needless to say, the evil genius Adolf Hitler, through whose fault tens of millions of people died, was indeed a very capable military leader (at least until the start of the war with the USSR, when a worthy opponent was found).
Georgy Zhukov
As you know, Zhukov led the Red Army in the Great Patriotic War. He was a man whose ability to conduct military operations can be called super-outstanding. In fact, this man was a genius in his field, one of those people who ultimately led the USSR to victory. After the fall of Germany, Zhukov led the military forces of the USSR that occupied this country. Thanks to the genius of Zhukov, perhaps you and I have the opportunity to live and rejoice now.
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All their contemporaries knew their names, and their armies were a terrible scourge for any opponents. Whether they were heroes of antiquity and the Middle Ages or commanders of the Great Patriotic War, every outstanding military leader left a noticeable mark on the history of mankind. The biographies of the best of them are fascinating stories about the talent and heroism of those who chose the army as their life's calling.
Alexander the Great
Alexander the Great (356 - 323 BC) is the greatest commander of antiquity. He was revered by all the military leaders of subsequent centuries from Genghis Khan to Napoleon. At the age of twenty, Alexander became king of the small state of Macedonia, located in northern Greece. As a child, he received a Hellenic education and upbringing. His teacher was the famous philosopher and thinker Aristotle.
The heir's father, Tsar Philip II, taught him the art of war. Alexander first appeared on the battlefield at the age of sixteen, and he won his first independent victory at the head of the Macedonian cavalry in 338 BC. e. at the Battle of Chaeronea against the Thebans. In that war, Philip II sought to conquer key Greek cities. Having conquered Athens and Thebes with his son, he began to plan a campaign in Persia, but was killed by the conspirators.
Alexander continued his father’s work and increased his successes. He made the Macedonian army the most well-equipped and trained in the entire ancient world. The Macedonians were armed with spears, bows and slings; their army included heavily armed cavalry, siege and throwing engines.
In 334 BC. e. the greatest commander of his time began a campaign in Asia Minor. In the first serious battle on the Granik River, he defeated the Persian governors of the satraps. The king, then and later, invariably fought in the thick of the army. Having conquered Asia Minor, he moved to Syria. Near the city of Issa, Alexander's army clashed with the army of the Persian king Darius III. Despite the numerical superiority of the enemy, the Macedonians defeated the enemy.
Later, Alexander annexed all of Mesopotamia, Palestine, Egypt and Persia to his empire. On a campaign to the east, he reached India itself and only then turned back. The Macedonian made Babylon the capital of his empire. He died in this city at the age of 33, struck down by an unknown disease. In a fever, the king did not appoint a legitimate successor. Within just a few years of his death, Alexander's empire was divided among his many companions.
Hannibal
Another famous military leader of antiquity is Hannibal (247 - 183 BC). He was a citizen of Carthage, a city in modern Tunisia, around which a large Mediterranean state had developed at that time. Hannibal's father Hamilcar was a nobleman and military man who commanded troops on the island of Sicily.
In the 3rd century. BC e. Carthage fought with the Roman Republic for leadership in the region. Hannibal was to become a key figure in this conflict. At the age of 22, he became a cavalry commander in the Iberian Peninsula. A little later, he led all the troops of Carthage in Spain.
Wanting to defeat Rome, the greatest commander of antiquity decided on an unexpected daring maneuver. Previous wars between rival states took place in border areas or on isolated islands. Now Hannibal himself invaded exclusively Roman Italy. To do this, his army needed to cross the difficult Alps. A natural barrier protected the republic every time. In Rome, no one expected an enemy invasion from the north. That is why the legionnaires did not believe their eyes when in 218 BC. e. The Carthaginians did the impossible and overcame the mountains. Moreover, they brought with them African elephants, which became their main psychological weapon against the Europeans.
The greatest commander Hannibal waged a successful war with Rome for fifteen years, while being far from his own homeland. He was an outstanding tactician and knew how to make the most of the forces and resources given to him. Hannibal also had diplomatic talent. He enlisted the support of numerous tribes who were also in conflict with Rome. The Gauls became his allies. Hannibal won several victories over the Romans at once, and in the battle on the Ticinus River he defeated his main opponent, commander Scipio.
The main triumph of the hero of Carthage was the Battle of Cannae in 216 BC. e. During the Italian campaign, Hannibal marched through almost the entire Apennine Peninsula. His victories, however, did not break the republic. Carthage stopped sending reinforcements, and the Romans themselves invaded Africa. In 202 BC. e. Hannibal returned to his homeland, but was defeated by Scipio at the Battle of Zama. Carthage asked for a humiliating peace, although the commander himself did not want to stop the war. His own fellow citizens turned their backs on him. Hannibal had to become an outcast. For some time he was sheltered by the Syrian king Antiochus III. In Thebonia, fleeing from Roman agents, Hannibal took poison and of his own free will said goodbye to life.
Charlemagne
In the Middle Ages, all the great commanders of the world sought to revive the once fallen Roman Empire. Every Christian monarch dreamed of restoring a centralized state that would unite all of Europe. The king of the Franks, Charlemagne (742 - 814) from the Carolingian dynasty, succeeded most in implementing this idea.
It was possible to build a new Roman Empire only through force of arms. Karl fought with almost all his neighbors. The first to submit to him were the Lombards who inhabited Italy. In 774, the ruler of the Franks invaded their country, captured the capital of Pavia and captured King Desiderius (his former father-in-law). After annexing Northern Italy, Charlemagne went with the sword against the Bavarians, Saxons in Germany, Avars in Central Europe, Arabs in Spain and neighboring Slavs.
The Frankish king explained the wars against numerous tribes of various ethnic groups as a struggle against the pagans. The names of the great commanders of the Middle Ages were often associated with the defense of the Christian faith. We can say that Charlemagne was the pioneer in this matter. In 800 he arrived in Rome, where the Pope proclaimed him emperor. The monarch made the city of Aachen (in the west of modern Germany) his capital. Throughout the subsequent Middle Ages and Modern times, the great commanders of the world tried to at least somehow resemble Charlemagne.
The Christian state created by the Franks was called the Holy Roman Empire (as a sign of the continuity of the ancient empire). As in the case of Alexander the Great, this power did not long outlive its founder. Charles's grandchildren divided the empire into three parts, which eventually formed modern France, Germany and Italy.
Saladin
In the Middle Ages, not only Christian civilization could boast of talented commanders. An outstanding military leader was the Muslim Saladin (1138 - 1193). He was born several decades after the Crusaders conquered Jerusalem and founded several kingdoms and principalities in formerly Arab Palestine.
Saladin vowed to cleanse the lands taken from Muslims from infidels. In 1164, he, being the right hand of Nur-zh-din, liberated Egypt from the crusaders. Ten years later he carried out a coup d'état. Saladin founded the Ayubit dynasty and proclaimed himself Sultan of Egypt.
What great commanders did not fight against internal enemies no less furiously than against internal ones? Having proven his leadership in the Muslim world, Saladin came into direct conflict with Christians in the Holy Land. In 1187, his army of twenty thousand men invaded Palestine, which was completely surrounded by the Sultan's dominions. Almost half of the army consisted of horse archers, who became the most effective combat unit in the fight against the crusaders (the arrows of their long-range bows pierced even heavy steel armor).
The biography of great commanders is often the biography of reformers of military art. Saladin was just such a leader. Although he always had many people at his disposal, he achieved success not by numbers, but by his intelligence and organizational skills.
On July 4, 1187, Muslims defeated the Crusaders near Lake Tiberias. In Europe, this defeat went down in history as the Massacre of Hatta. The master of the Templars, the king of Jerusalem, was captured by Saladin, and in September Jerusalem itself fell. In the Old World, the Third Crusade was organized against the Sultan. It was led by the King of England, Richard the Lionheart. A new stream of knights and ordinary volunteers poured into the east.
The decisive battle between the armies of the Egyptian Sultan and the English monarch took place near Arsuf on September 7, 1191. The Muslims lost many people and were forced to retreat. Saladin concluded a truce with Richard, giving the crusaders a small coastal strip of land, but retaining Jerusalem. After the war, the commander returned to the Syrian capital Damascus, where he fell ill with a fever and died.
Genghis Khan
The real name of Genghis Khan (1155 - 1227) is Temujin. He was the son of one of the many Mongol princes. His father was killed during a civil war when his son was only nine years old. The child was taken prisoner and a wooden collar was put on him. Temujin fled, returned to his native tribe and grew into a fearless warrior.
Even 100 great commanders of the Middle Ages or any other era could not create such a great power as this steppe dweller built. First, Temujin defeated all the neighboring hostile Mongol hordes and united them into one terrifying force. In 1206, he was proclaimed Genghis Khan - that is, the Great Khan or King of Kings.
For the last twenty years of his life, the ruler of the nomads waged wars with China and the neighboring Central Asian khanates. Genghis Khan's army was built according to the decimal principle: it consisted of tens, hundreds, thousands and tumens (10 thousand). The most severe discipline prevailed in the steppe army. For any violation of generally accepted rules, a warrior would face severe punishment. With such orders, the Mongols became the embodiment of horror for all the sedentary peoples they met along the way.
In China, the steppe people mastered siege weapons. They destroyed the cities that resisted to the ground. Thousands of people fell into slavery. Genghis Khan was the personification of war - it became the only meaning in the life of the king and his people. Temujin and his descendants created an empire from the Black Sea to the Pacific Ocean.
Alexander Nevskiy
Even the great Russian commanders did not become church saints. Alexander Yaroslavovich Nevsky (1220 - 1261) was canonized and during his lifetime acquired a genuine aura of exclusivity. He belonged to the Rurik dynasty and became the prince of Novgorod as a child.
Nevsky was born in fragmented Rus'. She had many problems, but they all faded before the threat of the Tatar-Mongol invasion. Batu's steppe inhabitants swept through many principalities with fire and sword, but fortunately did not touch Novgorod, which was too far to the north for their cavalry.
Nevertheless, Alexander Nevsky faced many trials even without the Mongols. In the west, the Novgorod land was adjacent to Sweden and the Baltic states, which belonged to the German military orders. After Batu’s invasion, the Europeans decided that they could easily defeat Alexander Yaroslavovich. The seizure of Russian lands in the Old World was considered a fight against infidels, since the Russian Church did not submit to Catholic Rome, but depended on Orthodox Constantinople.
The Swedes were the first to organize a crusade against Novgorod. The royal army crossed the Baltic Sea and in 1240 landed at the mouth of the Neva. The local Izhorians have long paid tribute to Mr. Veliky Novgorod. The news of the appearance of the Swedish flotilla did not frighten the seasoned warrior Nevsky. He quickly gathered an army and, without waiting for the blow, went to the Neva. On June 15, the twenty-year-old prince, at the head of a loyal squad, struck the enemy camp. Alexander wounded one of the Swedish jarls in a personal duel. The Scandinavians could not withstand the onslaught and hastily returned to their homeland. It was then that Alexander received the nickname Nevsky.
Meanwhile, the German crusaders were preparing their attack on Novgorod. On April 5, 1242, they were defeated by Nevsky on the frozen Lake Peipus. The battle was dubbed the Battle of the Ice. In 1252, Alexander Yaroslavovich became Prince of Vladimir. Having protected the country from Western invaders, he had to minimize damage from the more dangerous Mongols. The armed struggle against the nomads was still ahead. The restoration of Rus' took too long for one human life. Nevsky died while returning to his homeland from the Horde, where he was conducting regular negotiations with the Golden Horde Khan. He was canonized in 1547.
Alexey Suvorov
All the military leaders of the last two centuries, including the great commanders of the war of 1941 - 1945. bowed and bowed before the figure of Alexander Suvorov (1730 - 1800). He was born into the family of a senator. Suvorov's baptism of fire took place during the Seven Years' War.
Under Catherine II, Suvorov became a key commander of the Russian army. The wars with Turkey brought him the greatest glory. In the second half of the 18th century, the Russian Empire annexed the Black Sea lands. Alexander Suvorov was the main creator of that success. All of Europe repeated his name after the siege of Ochakov (1788) and the capture of Izmail (1790) - operations that had no equal in the history of the then military art.
Under Paul I, Count Suvorov led the Italian campaign against the forces of Napoleon Bonaparte. He won all the battles in the Alps. There were no defeats at all in Suvorov’s life. Shortly. The military leader died surrounded by the international fame of an invincible strategist. According to his will, despite numerous titles and ranks, the laconic phrase “Here lies Suvorov” was left on the commander’s grave.
Napoleon Bonaparte
At the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries. all of Europe plunged into international war. It began with the Great French Revolution. The old monarchical regimes tried to stop this plague of love of freedom. It was at this time that the young military Napoleon Bonaparte (1769 - 1821) became famous.
The future national hero began his service in the artillery. He was a Corsican, but despite his deep provincial origins, he quickly advanced through the ranks thanks to his abilities and courage. After the revolution in France, power changed regularly. Bonaparte joined the political struggle. In 1799, as a result of the coup of the 18th Brumaire, he became the first consul of the republic. Five years later, Napoleon was proclaimed French Emperor.
During numerous campaigns, Bonaparte not only defended the sovereignty of his country, but also conquered neighboring states. He completely subjugated Germany, Italy and the numerous other monarchies of continental Europe. Napoleon had his own brilliant commanders. The Great War could not be avoided with Russia either. In the campaign of 1812, Bonaparte occupied Moscow, but this success did not give him anything.
After the Russian campaign, a crisis began in Napoleon's empire. In the end, the anti-Bonapartist coalition forced the commander to abdicate power. In 1814 he was sent into exile on the Mediterranean island of Elba. The ambitious Napoleon escaped from there and returned to France. After another “Hundred Days” and defeat at Waterloo, the commander was sent into exile on the island of St. Helena (this time in the Atlantic Ocean). There, under the guard of the British, he died.
Alexey Brusilov
The history of Russia has developed in such a way that the great Russian commanders of the First World War were consigned to oblivion after the establishment of Soviet power. Nevertheless, among the people who led the tsarist army in battles against the Germans and Austrians there were many outstanding specialists. One of them is Alexey Brusilov (1853 - 1926).
The cavalry general was a hereditary military man. His first war was the Russian-Turkish War of 1877 - 1878. Brusilov took part in it on the Caucasian front. With the outbreak of the First World War, he found himself on the Southwestern Front. A group of troops commanded by the general defeated the Austrian units and pushed them back to Lemberg (Lvov). The Brusilovites became famous for the capture of Galich and Ternopil.
In 1915, the general led the battles in the Carpathians. He successfully repulsed Austrian attacks and launched counter-offensives. It was Brusilov who took the powerful fortress of Przemysl. However, his successes were reduced to zero due to a breakthrough of the front in a sector for which other generals were responsible.
The war became positional. Month after month dragged on, and victory did not come closer to either side. In 1916, the headquarters, which included Emperor Nicholas II, decided to launch a new general offensive. The most triumphant episode of this operation was the Brusilovsky breakthrough. During the period from May to September, the general's army took control of all of Bukovina and Eastern Galicia. Several decades later, outstanding commanders of the Great Patriotic War tried to repeat Brusilov’s success. His victories were brilliant, but useless due to the actions of the authorities.
Konstantin Rokossovsky
Many dozens of talented military leaders became famous on the fronts of the Great Patriotic War. After the victory over Germany, the great Soviet commanders were awarded the titles of Marshals of the Soviet Union. One of them was Konstantin Rokossovsky (1896 - 1968). He began serving in the army at the very beginning of the First World War, from which he graduated as a junior non-commissioned officer.
Almost all commanders of the Great Patriotic War of 1941 - 1945. Due to their age, they were hardened on the fronts of the imperialist and Civil wars. Rokossovsky in this sense was no different from his colleagues. During civilian life, he commanded a division, a squadron and, finally, a regiment, for which he received two Orders of the Red Banner.
Like some other outstanding commanders of the Great Patriotic War (including Zhukov), Rokossovsky did not have a specialized military education. He rose to the top of the army ladder in the turmoil of battles and many years of fighting thanks to his determination, leadership qualities and the ability to make the right decisions in a critical situation.
Due to Stalin's repressions, Rokossovsky was briefly imprisoned. He was released in 1940 at the request of Zhukov. There is no doubt that the commanders of the Great Patriotic War were always in a vulnerable position.
After the German attack on the Soviet Union, Rokossovsky began to command first the 4th and then the 16th Army. It was regularly moved from place to place depending on operational tasks. In 1942, Rokossovsky was at the head of the Bryansk and Don fronts. When a turning point occurred and the Red Army began to advance, Konstantin Konstantinovich ended up in Belarus.
Rokossovsky reached all the way to Germany. He could have liberated Berlin, but Stalin put Zhukov in charge of this final operation. Great commanders 1941 - 1945 were rewarded in different ways for saving the country. Marshal Rokossovsky was the only one to take part in the climactic Victory Parade a few weeks after the defeat of Germany. He was Polish by origin and with the advent of peace in 1949 - 1956. also served as Minister of Defense of socialist Poland. Rokossovsky is a unique military leader; he was the marshal of two countries at once (USSR and Poland).
The exploits of the heroes of the ancient world still excite the imagination of descendants, and the names of the greatest commanders of antiquity are still heard. The battles they won remain classics of military art, and modern military leaders learn from their examples.
Pharaoh Ramses II, who ruled Egypt for more than 60 years, was not without reason mentioned in ancient Egyptian texts with the title “Victor”. He won many victories, the most important of which was over the Hittite kingdom, which had long been Egypt's main enemy.
Its most famous episode was the Battle of Kadesh, which involved several thousand chariots on both sides.
The battle went on with varying degrees of success. At first, success was on the side of the Hittites, who took the Egyptians by surprise. But the reserves arrived in time and turned the tide of the battle. The Hittites found themselves pressed against the Orontes River and suffered heavy losses during their hasty crossing. Thanks to this, Ramses was able to conclude a profitable peace with them.
In the wars of the Egyptians and the Hittites, chariots were one of the main striking forces. Sometimes knives were attached to their wheels, literally mowing down the enemy’s ranks. But when fleeing or losing control of the horses, this terrible weapon sometimes involuntarily turned against its own. The chariots of the Hittites were more powerful, and the warriors on them often fought with spears, while the more maneuverable chariots of the Egyptians had archers.
Cyrus the Great (530 BC)
When Cyrus II became the leader of the Persian tribes, the Persians were divided and were in vassal dependence on Media. By the end of Cyrus's reign, the Persian Achaemenid power extended from Greece and Egypt to India.
Cyrus treated the vanquished humanely, left the conquered regions substantial self-government, respected their religions, and, thanks to this, avoided serious uprisings in the conquered territories, and some opponents preferred submission to war on such lenient terms.
In the battle with the legendary Lydian king Croesus, Cyrus used an original military stratagem. In front of his army, he placed camels taken from the convoy, on which archers were sitting, firing at the enemy. The enemy's horses were frightened by unfamiliar animals and caused confusion in the ranks of the enemy army.
The personality of Cyrus is covered in numerous legends, in which it is difficult to distinguish truth from fiction. So, according to legend, he knew by sight and by name all the soldiers of his large army. After 29 years of reign, Cyrus died during another campaign of conquest.
Miltiades (550 BC – 489 BC)
The Athenian commander Miltiades became famous, first of all, for his victory in the legendary battle with the Persians at Marathon. The positions of the Greeks were such that their army blocked the path to Athens. The Persian commanders decided not to engage in a land battle, but to board ships, bypass the Greeks by sea and land near Athens.
Miltiades seized the moment when most of the Persian cavalry was already on the ships, and attacked the Persian infantry.
When the Persians came to their senses and launched a counteroffensive, the Greek troops deliberately retreated in the center and then surrounded the enemies. Despite the Persian superiority in numbers, the Greeks were victorious. After the battle, the Greek army made a 42-kilometer forced march to Athens and prevented the remaining Persians from landing near the city.
Despite the merits of Miltiades, after another unsuccessful military expedition against the island of Paros, where the commander himself was wounded, he was accused of “deceiving the people” and sentenced to a huge fine. Miltiades was unable to pay the fine, and was listed as an insolvent debtor who was prohibited from engaging in government activities, and soon died of his wounds.
Themistocles (524 BC – 459 BC)
Themistocles, the greatest Athenian naval commander, played a key role in the Greek victories over the Persians and the preservation of Greece's independence. When the Persian king Xerxes went to war against Greece, the city-states united in the face of a common enemy, and adopted Themistocles' plan for defense. The decisive naval battle took place off the island of Salamis. In its vicinity there are many narrow straits and, according to Themistocles, if it were possible to lure the Persian fleet into them, the enemy’s large numerical advantage would be neutralized. Frightened by the size of the Persian fleet, other Greek commanders were inclined to flee, but Themistocles, sending his messenger to the Persian camp, provoked them to immediately begin battle. The Greeks had no choice but to accept the battle. Themistocles' calculations were brilliantly justified: in the narrow straits, large and clumsy Persian ships turned out to be helpless in front of the more maneuverable Greek ones. The Persian fleet was defeated.
Themistocles' merits were soon forgotten. Political opponents expelled him from Athens, and then sentenced him to death in absentia, accusing him of treason.
Themistocles was forced to flee to his former enemies, to Persia. King Artaxerxes, the son of Xerxes, defeated by Themistocles, not only spared his longtime enemy, but also gave him several cities to rule. According to legend, Artaxerxes wanted Themistocles to participate in the war against the Greeks, and the commander, unable to refuse, but not wanting to harm his ungrateful homeland, took poison.
Epaminondas (418 BC – 362 BC)
The great Theban general Epaminondas spent much of his life fighting against the Spartans, who dominated mainland Greece at the time. At the Battle of Leuctra, he first defeated the Spartan army, which until then had been considered invincible in land combat. Epaminondas' victories contributed to the rise of Thebes, but aroused the fears of other Greek city-states, who united against them.
In his last battle at Mantinea, also against the Spartans, when victory was almost in the hands of the Thebans, Epaminondas was mortally wounded, and the army, confused without a commander, retreated.
Epaminondas is considered one of the greatest innovators in the art of war. It was he who first began to distribute forces unevenly along the front, concentrating the main forces in the direction of the decisive blow. This principle, called “oblique order tactics” by contemporaries, is still one of the fundamental principles in military science. Epaminondas was one of the first to actively use cavalry. The commander paid great attention to cultivating the fighting spirit of his warriors: he encouraged Theban youths to challenge young Spartans to sports competitions so that they would understand that these opponents could be defeated, not only in the palaestra, but also on the battlefield.
Phocion (398 BC – 318 BC)
Phocion was one of the most cautious and prudent Greek commanders and politicians, and in difficult times for Greece, these qualities turned out to be most in demand. He won a number of victories over the Macedonians, but subsequently, realizing that fragmented Greece was unable to resist the strong Macedonian army and believing that only Philip II could stop the Greek strife, he took a moderate position, which seemed treacherous to the famous orator Demosthenes and his supporters.
Thanks to the respect that Phocion enjoyed among the Macedonians, including Alexander the Great, he managed to achieve easy peace terms for the Athenians.
Phocion never sought power, but the Athenians elected him as a strategist 45 times, sometimes against his will. His last election ended tragically for him. After the Macedonians took the city of Piraeus, eighty-year-old Phocion was accused of treason and executed.
Philip of Macedon (382 BC – 336 BC)
Philip II, the Macedonian king, is best known as the father of Alexander the Great, but it was he who laid the foundation for his son’s future victories. Philip created a well-trained army with iron discipline, and with it he managed to conquer all of Greece. The decisive battle was the Battle of Chaeronea, as a result of which the united Greek troops were defeated, and Philip united Greece under his command.
Philip's main military innovation was the famous Macedonian phalanx, which his great son later used so skillfully.
The phalanx was a close formation of warriors armed with long spears, and the spears of subsequent rows were longer than those of the first. The bristling phalanx could successfully resist cavalry attacks. He often used various siege machines. However, being a cunning politician, he whenever possible preferred bribery to battle and said that “a donkey loaded with gold is capable of taking any fortress.” Many contemporaries considered this method of waging war, avoiding open battles, unworthy.
During his wars, Philip of Macedon lost an eye and received several severe wounds, as a result of one of which he remained lame. But he died as a result of an assassination attempt by one of the courtiers, outraged by the king’s unfair judicial decision. At the same time, many historians believe that the killer’s hand was directed by his political enemies.
Alexander the Great (356 BC – 323 BC)
Alexander the Great is probably the most legendary commander in history. Having ascended the throne at the age of twenty, in less than thirteen years he managed to conquer most of the lands known at that time and create a huge empire.
From childhood, Alexander the Great prepared himself for the hardships of military service, leading a harsh life that was not at all typical for a royal son. His main feature was the desire for fame. Because of this, he was even upset about his father’s victories, fearing that he would conquer everything himself, and there would be nothing left for his share.
According to legend, when his teacher, the great Aristotle, told the young man that other inhabited worlds could exist, Alexander exclaimed bitterly: “But I don’t even own one yet!”
Having completed the conquest of Greece begun by his father, Alexander set off on an eastern campaign. In it, he defeated the Persian Empire, which had seemed invincible for a long time, conquered Egypt, reached India and was going to capture it too, but the exhausted army refused to continue the campaign, and Alexander was forced to return. In Babylon he became seriously ill (most likely from malaria) and died. After the death of Alexander, the empire fell apart, and a long-term war began between his generals, the diadochi, for the possession of its parts.
Alexander's most famous battle was the battle with the Persians at Gaugamela. The army of the Persian king Darius was an order of magnitude larger, but Alexander managed to break its front line with graceful maneuvers and delivered a decisive blow. Darius fled. This battle marked the end of the Achaemenid Empire.
Pyrrhus (318 BC – 272 BC)
Pyrrhus, king of the small state of Epirus in the Balkans, a distant relative of Alexander the Great, is considered one of the greatest generals in history, and Hannibal even ranked him first, above himself.
Even in his youth, Pyrrhus received combat training, participating in the wars of the Diadochi for the division of the inheritance of Alexander the Great. Initially, he supported one of the diadochi, but soon began to play his own game and, despite the relatively small forces of his army, almost became the king of Macedonia. But the main battles that made him famous were fought against Rome by Pyrrhus. Pyrrhus fought with both Carthage and Sparta.
Having defeated the Romans during the two-day battle of Ausculum and realizing that the losses were too great, Pyrrhus exclaimed: “Another such victory, and I will be left without an army!”
This is where the expression “Pyrrhic victory” comes from, meaning success that came at too great a cost.
The great commander was killed by a woman. During Pyrrhus's assault on the city of Argos, street fighting broke out. The women helped their defenders as best they could. A piece of tile thrown from the roof of one of them hit Pyrrhus in an unprotected place. He fell unconscious and was finished off or crushed by the crowd on the ground.
Fabius Maximus (203 BC)
Quintus Fabius Maximus was not at all a warlike man. In his youth, for his gentle character, he even received the nickname Ovikula (lamb). Nevertheless, he went down in history as a great commander, the winner of Hannibal. After crushing defeats from the Carthaginians, when the fate of Rome hung in the balance, it was Fabius Maximus that the Romans elected dictator for the sake of saving the fatherland.
For his actions at the head of the Roman army, Fabius Maximus received the nickname Cunctator (procrastinator). Avoiding, as far as possible, direct clashes with Hannibal's army, Fabius Maximus exhausted the enemy army and cut off its supply routes.
Many reproached Fabius Maxim for slowness and even treason, but he continued to stick to his line. As a result, Hannibal was forced to retreat. After this, Fabius Maximus stepped down from command, and other commanders took over the war with Carthage on enemy territory.
In 1812, Kutuzov used the tactics of Fabius Maximus in the war with Napoleon. George Washington acted similarly during the American War of Independence.
Hannibal (247 BC – 183 BC)
Hannibal, the Carthaginian general, is considered by many to be the greatest general of all time and is sometimes called the "father of strategy." When Hannibal was nine years old, he swore eternal hatred of Rome (hence the expression “Hannibal’s oath”), and followed this in practice all his life.
At the age of 26, Hannibal led the Carthaginian troops in Spain, for which the Carthaginians were engaged in a fierce struggle with Rome. After a series of military successes, he and his army made a difficult transition through the Pyrenees and, unexpectedly for the Romans, invaded Italy. His army included African fighting elephants, and this is one of the few cases when these animals were tamed and used in warfare.
Rapidly moving inland, Hannibal inflicted three severe defeats on the Romans: on the Trebbia River, at Lake Trasimene and at Cannae. The latter, in which the Roman troops were surrounded and destroyed, became a classic of military art.
Rome was on the verge of complete defeat, but Hannibal, who did not receive reinforcements in time, was forced to retreat and then completely leave Italy with his exhausted army. The commander said with bitterness that he was defeated not by Rome, but by the envious Carthaginian Senate. Already in Africa, Hannibal was defeated by Scipio. After defeat in the war with Rome, Hannibal was involved in politics for some time, but was soon forced to go into exile. In the East, he helped the enemies of Rome with military advice, and when the Romans demanded his extradition, Hannibal, in order not to fall into their hands, took poison.
Scipio Africanus (235 BC – 181 BC)
Publius Cornelius Scipio was only 24 years old when he led the Roman troops in Spain during the war with Carthage. Things were going so badly for the Romans there that there were no others willing to take the position. Taking advantage of the disunity of the Carthaginian troops, he inflicted sensitive blows on them in parts, and, in the end, Spain came under the control of Rome. During one of the battles, Scipio used a curious tactic. Before the battle, for several days in a row he withdrew the army, built in the same order, but did not start the battle. When the opponents got used to this, Scipio on the day of the battle changed the location of the troops, brought them out earlier than usual and launched a rapid attack. The enemy was defeated, and this battle became a turning point in the war, which could now be transferred to enemy territory.
Already in Africa, on the territory of Carthage, Scipio used military stratagem in one of the battles.
Having learned that the allies of the Carthaginians, the Numidians, were living in reed huts, he sent part of the army to set fire to these huts, and when the Carthaginians, attracted by the spectacle of the fire, lost their vigilance, another part of the army attacked them and inflicted a heavy defeat.
In the decisive battle of Zama, Scipio met Hannibal on the battlefield and won. The war is over.
Scipio was distinguished by his humane attitude towards the vanquished, and his generosity became a favorite theme for future artists.
Marius (158 BC – 86 BC)
Gaius Marius came from a humble Roman family; he achieved eminence thanks to his military talents. He acted very successfully in the war against the Numidian king Jugurtha, but he earned real glory in the battles with the Germanic tribes. During this period, they became so strong that for Rome, weakened by numerous wars in different parts of the empire, their invasion became a real threat. There were significantly more Germans than Maria's legionnaires, but the Romans had order, better weapons and experience on their side. Thanks to the skillful actions of Mary, the strong tribes of the Teutons and Cimbri were practically destroyed. The commander was proclaimed “the savior of the fatherland” and “the third founder of Rome.”
The fame and influence of Marius were so great that Roman politicians, fearing his excessive rise, gradually pushed the commander out of business.
At the same time, the career of Sulla, a former subordinate of Marius who became his enemy, was going uphill. Both sides did not disdain any means, from slander to political assassinations. Their enmity eventually led to civil war. Expelled from Rome by Sulla, Mari wandered around the provinces for a long time and almost died, but managed to gather an army and take the city, where he remained until the end, pursuing Sulla’s supporters. After the death of Marius, his supporters did not last long in Rome. Returning Sulla destroyed the grave of his enemy and threw his remains into the river.
Sulla (138 BC – 78 BC)
The Roman commander Lucius Cornelius Sulla received the nickname Felix (happy). Indeed, luck accompanied this man all his life, both in military and political affairs.
Sulla began his military service during the Numidian War in North Africa under the command of Gaius Marius, his future implacable enemy. He conducted affairs so energetically and was so successful in battles and diplomacy that popular rumor attributed to him much of the credit for victory in the Numidian War. This made Maria jealous.
After successful military campaigns in Asia, Sulla was appointed commander in the war against the Pontic king Mithridates. However, after his departure, Marius ensured that Sulla was recalled and he was appointed commander.
Sulla, having secured the support of the army, returned, captured Rome and expelled Marius, starting a civil war. While Sulla was at war with Mithridates, Marius recaptured Rome. Sulla returned there after the death of his enemy and was elected permanent dictator. Having brutally dealt with the supporters of Marius, Sulla some time later resigned his dictatorial powers and remained a private citizen until the end of his life.
Crassus (115 BC – 51 BC)
Marcus Licinius Crassus was one of the richest Romans. However, he made most of his fortune during the dictatorship of Sulla, appropriating the confiscated property of his opponents. He achieved his high position under Sulla thanks to the fact that he distinguished himself in the civil war, fighting on his side.
After the death of Sulla, Crassus was appointed commander in the war against the rebel slaves of Spartacus.
Acting very energetically, unlike his predecessors, Crassus forced Spartacus to take a decisive battle and defeated him.
He treated the vanquished extremely cruelly: several thousand captive slaves were crucified along the Appian Way, and their bodies remained hanging there for many years.
Together with Julius Caesar and Pompey, Crassus became a member of the first triumvirate. These generals actually divided the Roman provinces among themselves. Crassus got Syria. He planned to expand his possessions and waged a war of conquest against the Parthian kingdom, but was unsuccessful. Crassus lost the battle of Carrhae, was treacherously captured during negotiations and brutally executed, having molten gold poured down his throat.
Spartacus (110 BC – 71 BC)
Spartacus, a Roman gladiator originally from Thrace, was the leader of the largest slave revolt. Despite the lack of command experience and relevant education, he became one of the greatest commanders in history.
When Spartacus and his comrades fled from the gladiator school, his detachment consisted of several dozen poorly armed people who took refuge on Vesuvius. The Romans blocked all the roads, but the rebels performed a legendary maneuver: they descended from a steep slope using ropes woven from grape vines and struck the enemies from the rear.
The Romans initially treated the runaway slaves with contempt, believing that their legions would easily defeat the rebels, and they paid dearly for their arrogance.
The relatively small forces sent against Spartak were one by one defeated, and his army, meanwhile, was strengthened: slaves from all over Italy flocked to it.
Unfortunately, among the rebels there was no unity and no common plan for further actions: some wanted to stay in Italy and continue the war, while others wanted to leave before the main Roman forces entered the war. Part of the army broke away from Spartak and was defeated. An attempt to leave Italy by sea ended in failure due to the betrayal of the pirates hired by Spartak. The commander for a long time avoided a decisive battle with the legions of Crassus superior to his army, but in the end he was forced to accept a battle in which the slaves were defeated and he himself died. According to legend, Spartak continued to fight, already being seriously wounded. His body was literally littered with the corpses of the Roman legionnaires he had killed in the last battle.
Pompey (106 BC – 48 BC)
Gnaeus Pompey is known primarily as an opponent of Julius Caesar. But he received his nickname Magnus (Great) for completely different battles.
During the civil war he was one of Sulla's best generals. Then Pompey successfully fought in Spain, the Middle East, and the Caucasus and significantly expanded Roman possessions.
Another important task of Pompey was clearing the Mediterranean Sea from pirates, who had become so insolent that Rome experienced serious difficulties in transporting food by sea.
When Julius Caesar refused to submit to the Senate and thereby started a civil war, Pompey was entrusted with command of the troops of the republic. The struggle between the two great commanders went on for a long time with varying success. But in the decisive battle of the Greek city of Pharsalus, Pompey was defeated and forced to flee. He tried to raise a new army to continue the fight, but was treacherously killed in Egypt. Pompey's head was presented to Julius Caesar, but he, contrary to expectations, did not reward, but executed the murderers of his great enemy.
Julius Caesar (100 BC – 44 BC)
Gaius Julius Caesar truly became famous as a commander when he conquered Gaul (now mostly French territory). He himself compiled a detailed account of these events, writing Notes on the Gallic War, which is still considered an example of military memoirs. Julius Caesar's aphoristic style was also evident in his reports to the Senate. For example, “I have arrived.” Saw. “Won” went down in history.
Having come into conflict with the Senate, Julius Caesar refused to surrender command and invaded Italy. At the border, he and his troops crossed the Rubicon River, and since then the expression “Cross the Rubicon” (meaning to take a decisive action that cuts off the path to retreat) has become popular.
In the ensuing civil war, he defeated the troops of Gnaeus Pompey at Pharsalus, despite the enemy's numerical superiority, and after campaigns in Africa and Spain he returned to Rome as a dictator. A few years later he was assassinated by conspirators in the Senate. According to legend, the bloody body of Julius Caesar fell at the foot of the statue of his enemy Pompey.
Arminius (16 BC – 21 AD)
Arminius, the leader of the German Cherusci tribe, is known primarily for the fact that with his victory over the Romans in the battle in the Teutoburg Forest, he dispelled the myth of their invincibility, which inspired other peoples to fight the conquerors.
In his youth, Arminius served in the Roman army and studied the future enemy well from the inside. After an uprising of Germanic tribes broke out in his homeland, Arminius led it. According to some sources, he was even his ideological inspirer. When three Roman legions sent against the rebels entered the Teutoburg Forest, where they could not line up in the usual order, the Germans, led by Arminius, attacked them. After three days of battle, the Roman troops were almost completely destroyed, and the head of the unlucky Roman commander Quintilius Varus, the son-in-law of Emperor Octavian Augustus himself, was shown around German villages.
Knowing that the Romans would certainly try to take revenge, Arminius tried to unite the Germanic tribes to repel them, but did not succeed. He died not at the hands of the Romans, but as a result of internal strife, killed by someone close to him. However, his cause was not lost: following the wars with the Romans, the Germanic tribes defended their independence.