Military Leaders, RAY-SAX
Meet the military leaders whose strategy, daring, and command on the battlefield altered wars, empires, and the fate of nations.
Military Leaders Encyclopedia Articles By Title
Raymond IV
Raymond IV was the count of Toulouse (1093–1105) and marquis of Provence (1066–1105), the first—and one of the......
Razin, Stenka
Stenka Razin was a leader of a major Cossack and peasant rebellion on Russia’s southeastern frontier (1670–71).......
Red Cloud
Red Cloud was a principal chief of the Oglala Lakota (Oceti Sakowin, or Sioux), who successfully resisted (1865–67)......
Reding, Aloys
Aloys Reding was a Swiss politician and military hero who was for a time (1801–02) head of state of the short-lived......
Reding, Ital
Ital Reding was a Swiss politician who led hostilities against Zürich during the first civil wars of the Swiss......
Redl, Alfred
Alfred Redl was the chief of intelligence for the Austrian army from 1907 to 1912 and at the same time the chief......
Reed, Walter
Walter Reed was a U.S. Army pathologist and bacteriologist who led the experiments that proved that yellow fever......
Reginald of Châtillon
Reginald of Châtillon was a prince of Antioch (1153–60), one of the leading military figures of the Crusades between......
Regulus, Marcus Atilius
Marcus Atilius Regulus was a Roman general and statesman whose career, greatly embellished by legend, was seen......
Reichenau, Walther von
Walther von Reichenau was a German field marshal who commanded the army that captured Warsaw (1939) and the 6th......
Repnin, Nikolay Vasilyevich, Prince
Nikolay Vasilyevich, prince Repnin was a diplomat and military officer who served Catherine II the Great of Russia......
Reza Shah Pahlavi
Reza Shah Pahlavi was an Iranian army officer who rose through army ranks to become shah of Iran (1925–41) and......
Ribaut, Jean
Jean Ribaut was a French naval officer, explorer, and colonizer. Jean Ribaut began his naval career as a youth,......
Rich, Barnabe
Barnabe Rich was an English author and soldier whose Farewell to Militarie Profession (1581) was the source for......
Richard I
Richard I was the duke of Aquitaine (from 1168) and of Poitiers (from 1172) and king of England, duke of Normandy,......
Richard III
Richard III was the last Plantagenet and Yorkist king of England. He usurped the throne of his nephew Edward V......
Richelieu, Cardinal
Cardinal Richelieu was the chief minister to King Louis XIII of France from 1624 to 1642. His major goals, which......
Richelieu, Louis-François-Armand du Plessis, Duke de
Louis-François-Armand du Plessis, duke de Richelieu was a marshal of France, and grand-nephew of Cardinal de Richelieu.......
Richemont, Arthur, constable de
Arthur, constable de Richemont was the constable of France (from 1425) who fought for Charles VII under the banner......
Ricimer
Ricimer was a general who acted as kingmaker in the Western Roman Empire from 456 to 472. Ricimer’s father was......
Rickover, Hyman G.
Hyman G. Rickover was an American naval officer and engineer who developed the world’s first nuclear-powered engines......
Ridgway, Matthew Bunker
Matthew Bunker Ridgway was a U.S. Army officer who planned and executed the first major airborne assault in U.S.......
Rigault de Genouilly, Charles
Charles Rigault de Genouilly was an admiral who initiated the French invasion of Vietnam in 1858 and the subsequent......
Rivers, Anthony Woodville, 2nd Earl, Baron Rivers
Anthony Woodville, 2nd Earl Rivers was an English noble, a leading supporter of his brother-in-law, the Yorkist......
Riyāḍ, Muḥammad ʿAbd al-Munʿim
Muḥammad ʿAbd al-Munʿim Riyāḍ was an Egyptian officer who was chief of staff of the army of the United Arab Republic......
Robert
Robert was an Angevin prince and Guelf (papal party) leader who ruled Naples as king for 34 years (1309–43). Robert’s......
Robert
Robert was a Norman adventurer who settled in Apulia, in southern Italy, about 1047 and became duke of Apulia (1059).......
Robert of Bellême, 3rd Earl of Shropshire or Shrewsbury
Robert of Bellême, 3rd Earl of Shropshire or Shrewsbury was a Norman magnate, soldier, and outstanding military......
Robert the Bruce
Robert the Bruce was the king of Scotland (1306–29), who freed Scotland from English rule, winning the decisive......
Robert the Strong
Robert the Strong was the ancestor of the Capetian kings of France. A member of a powerful aristocratic family......
Roberts, Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl, Viscount St. Pierre
Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts was a British field marshal, an outstanding combat leader in the Second......
Roberts-Smith, Ben
Ben Roberts-Smith, is an Australian media executive and former special forces soldier who is widely referred to......
Robertson, Sir William Robert, 1st Baronet
Sir William Robert Robertson, 1st Baronet was a field marshal and the chief of the British Imperial General Staff......
Robinson, Lori
Lori Robinson is a U.S. Air Force (USAF) general who served (2016–18) as commander of North American Aerospace......
Rochambeau, Jean-Baptiste-Donatien de Vimeur, comte de
Jean-Baptiste-Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau was a French general who supported the American Revolution......
Rochester, Henry Wilmot, 1st Earl of, Viscount Wilmot Of Athlone, Baron Wilmot Of Adderbury
Henry Wilmot, 1st earl of Rochester was a distinguished Cavalier general during the English Civil Wars, who helped......
Rocque, François de La
François de La Rocque was a French fascist and army officer who sought dictatorial power but merely helped bring......
Rodney, George Brydges Rodney, 1st Baron
George Brydges Rodney, 1st Baron Rodney was an English admiral who won several important naval battles against......
Roger I
Roger I was the count of Sicily from 1072. He was the last son of the second marriage of Tancred of Hauteville.......
Roh Tae-Woo
Roh Tae-Woo was a Korean military officer and politician who, as president of South Korea (1988–93), instituted......
Rohan, Henri, duc de
Henri, duke de Rohan was a duke of Rohan from 1603, and a soldier, writer, and leader of the Huguenots during the......
Rojas Pinilla, Gustavo
Gustavo Rojas Pinilla was a professional soldier and dictator of Colombia (1953–57) whose corrupt and authoritarian......
Rokossovsky, Konstantin Konstantinovich
Konstantin Konstantinovich Rokossovsky was a Soviet military commander noted for his role in the Battle of Stalingrad......
Romanus IV Diogenes
Romanus IV Diogenes was a Byzantine emperor (January 1, 1068–1071), a member of the Cappadocian military aristocracy.......
Romero, Carlos Humberto
Carlos Humberto Romero was a former general, elected president of El Salvador in 1977 and deposed in 1979. Romero,......
Rommel, Erwin
Erwin Rommel was a German field marshal who became the most popular general at home and gained the open respect......
Ronglu
Ronglu was an official and general during the last years of the Qing dynasty who organized and led one of the first......
Roon, Albrecht Theodor Emil, Graf von
Albrecht Theodor Emil, count von Roon was a Prussian army officer who, with Chancellor Otto von Bismarck and General......
Roosevelt, Theodore
Theodore Roosevelt was the 26th president of the United States (1901–09) and a writer, naturalist, and soldier.......
Rose, Hugh Henry, Baron Strathnairn of Strathnairn and of Jhansi
Hugh Henry Rose, Baron Strathnairn of Strathnairn and of Jhansi was a British field marshal and one of the ablest......
Rose, Sir Michael
Sir Michael Rose is a British military officer who commanded United Nations (UN) peacekeeping forces in Bosnia......
Rosecrans, William S
William S. Rosecrans was a Union general and excellent strategist early in the American Civil War (1861–65); after......
Rostopchin, Fyodor Vasilyevich, Graf
Fyodor Vasilyevich, Count Rostopchin was a military officer and statesman who was a close associate and adviser......
Roundtree, Dovey Johnson
Dovey Johnson Roundtree was an American lawyer, civil rights activist, military officer, minister, and an important......
Rowan, Andrew Summers
Andrew Summers Rowan was a U.S. Army officer, bearer of the “message to Garcia.” Rowan graduated from West Point......
Rumyantsev, Pyotr Aleksandrovich, Graf Zadunaysky
Pyotr Aleksandrovich Rumyantsev, Count Zadunaysky was a Russian army officer who distinguished himself in the Seven......
Rundstedt, Gerd von
Gerd von Rundstedt was a German field marshal who was one of Adolf Hitler’s ablest leaders during World War II.......
Rupert, Prince
Prince Rupert was the most talented Royalist commander of the English Civil War (1642–51). His tactical genius......
Ríos Montt, Efraín
Efraín Ríos Montt was a Guatemalan army general and politician who ruled Guatemala as the leader of a military......
Röhm, Ernst
Ernst Röhm was a German army officer and chief organizer of Adolf Hitler’s Storm Troopers (Sturmabteilung, or SA;......
Rābiḥ az-Zubayr
Rābiḥ az-Zubayr was a Muslim military leader who established a military hegemony in the districts immediately east......
Rădescu, Nicolae
Nicolae Rădescu was a Romanian army officer and prime minister of Romania (December 1944–March 1945). During World......
Sackville, George Sackville-Germain, 1st Viscount, Baron Bolebrooke of Sussex
George Sackville-Germain, 1st Viscount Sackville was an English soldier and politician. He was dismissed from the......
Sadat, Anwar
Anwar Sadat was an Egyptian army officer and politician who was president of Egypt from 1970 until his assassination......
Sadler, Barry
Barry Sadler was an American soldier, singer, songwriter, and pulp-fiction author who is principally remembered......
Saigō Takamori
Saigō Takamori was a leader in the overthrow of the Tokugawa shogunate who later rebelled against the weaknesses......
Saint-André, André Jeanbon
André Jeanbon Saint-André was a French Protestant clergyman who became a member of the Committee of Public Safety......
Saint-Arnaud, Armand-Jacques Leroy de
Armand-Jacques Leroy de Saint-Arnaud was an army officer and later marshal of France who was minister of war under......
Saint-Germain, Claude-Louis, comte de
Claude-Louis, count de Saint-Germain was a French general who sought reforms in the French armies. Saint-Germain......
Saitō Makoto, Shishaku
Shishaku Saitō Makoto was a Japanese naval officer and statesman who was prime minister of Japan (1932–34) and......
Sakamoto Ryōma
Sakamoto Ryōma was a noted imperial loyalist whose effort to forge the Satsuma-Chōshū Alliance (1866) between those......
Saladin
Saladin was a Muslim sultan of Egypt, Syria, Yemen, and Palestine, founder of the Ayyūbid dynasty, and the most......
Salan, Raoul
Raoul Salan was a French military officer who sought to prevent Algeria from gaining independence from France.......
Saldanha, João Carlos de Saldanha, Duke de
João Carlos de Saldanha, duke de Saldanha was a Portuguese military officer and statesman who was prominent in......
Saleh, Ali Abdullah
Ali Abdullah Saleh was a Yemeni military officer and president of Yemen Arab Republic (North Yemen) from 1978 until......
Salisbury, Thomas de Montagu, 4th earl of
Thomas de Montagu, 4th earl of Salisbury was an English military commander during the reigns of Henry IV, Henry......
Salisbury, William Longsword, 3rd earl of
William Longsword, 3rd earl of Salisbury was the 3rd earl of Salisbury, an illegitimate son of Henry II of England......
Salmuth, Hans von
Hans von Salmuth was a German army staff officer and field commander in World War II. The son of a Prussian officer,......
Sam Manekshaw
Sam Manekshaw was the first Indian military officer to be promoted to the rank of field marshal, the highest rank......
Samory
Samory was a Muslim reformer and military leader who founded a powerful kingdom in West Africa and resisted French......
Sampson, Deborah
Deborah Sampson was an American Revolutionary soldier and one of the earliest female lecturers in the country.......
Sampson, William T
William T. Sampson was a U.S. naval officer who, as head of the North Atlantic squadron, masterminded U.S. naval......
Samson
Samson, legendary Israelite warrior and judge, or divinely inspired leader, renowned for the prodigious strength......
Samuel
Samuel was the tsar (997–1014) of the first Bulgarian empire. Samuel began his effective rule in the 980s in what......
San Martín, José de
José de San Martín was an Argentine soldier, statesman, and national hero who helped lead the revolutions against......
Sancho VII
Sancho VII was the king of Navarre (Pamplona) from 1194 to 1234, the son of Sancho VI. Sancho was a swashbuckling......
Sandwich, Edward Montagu, 1st Earl of, Viscount Hinchingbrooke, Baron Montagu of Saint Neots
Edward Montagu, 1st Earl of Sandwich was an English admiral who brought Charles II to England at the Restoration......
Sandwich, John Montagu, 4th earl of
John Montagu, 4th earl of Sandwich was a British first lord of the Admiralty during the American Revolution (1776–81)......
Sankara, Thomas
Thomas Sankara was a military officer and proponent of Pan-Africanism who was installed as president of Upper Volta......
Santa Anna, Antonio López de
Antonio López de Santa Anna was a Mexican army officer and statesman who was the storm centre of Mexico’s politics......
Santa Cruz, Álvaro de Bazán, Marqués de
Álvaro de Bazán, Marqués de Santa Cruz was the foremost Spanish naval commander of his day. He was prominent in......
Santander, Francisco de Paula
Francisco de Paula Santander was a soldier and statesman who fought beside Simón Bolívar in the war for South American......
Sargon
Sargon was an ancient Mesopotamian ruler who reigned around 2334–2279 bce. He was one of the earliest of the world’s......
Sargon II
Sargon II was one of Assyria’s great kings (reigned 721–705 bce) during the last century of its history. He extended......
Sarit Thanarat
Sarit Thanarat was a field marshal and premier in a military government of Thailand from 1958 to 1963. Sarit studied......
Sarsfield, Patrick
Patrick Sarsfield was a Jacobite soldier who played a leading role in the Irish Roman Catholic resistance (1689–91)......
Saul
Saul was the first king of Israel (c. 1021–1000 bce). According to the biblical account found mainly in 1 Samuel,......
Saumarez, James Saumarez, 1st Baron of
James Saumarez, 1st Baron of Saumarez was a British admiral who fought with consistent success in the French Revolutionary......
Savary, Anne-Jean-Marie-René, duc de Rovigo
Anne-Jean-Marie-René Savary, duc de Rovigo was a French general, administrator, and trusted servant of Napoleon......
Saxe, Maurice, comte de
Maurice, count de Saxe (count of) was a general and military theorist who successfully led French armies during......