Military Leaders, SAY-SUC
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
Sayf al-Dawlah
Sayf al-Dawlah was the ruler of northern Syria who was the founder and the most prominent prince of the Arab កamdÄnid......
Scharnhorst, Gerhard Johann David von
Gerhard Johann David von Scharnhorst was a Prussian general who developed the modern general staff system. With......
Scheer, Reinhard
Reinhard Scheer was an admiral who commanded the German High Seas Fleet at the Battle of Jutland (1916). Scheer......
Schlieffen, Alfred von
Alfred von Schlieffen was a German officer and head of the general staff who developed the plan of attack (Schlieffen......
Schomberg, Frederick Herman, duke of
Frederick Herman, duke of Schomberg was a German soldier of fortune, a marshal of France, and an English peer,......
Schuyler, Philip John
Philip John Schuyler was an American soldier, political leader, and member of the Continental Congress. Born into......
Schwarzenberg, Karl Philipp, Prince (FĂŒrst) zu
Karl Philipp, prince zu Schwarzenberg was an Austrian field marshal and diplomat who was one of the most successful......
Schwarzkopf, Norman
Norman Schwarzkopf was a U.S. Army officer who commanded Operation Desert Storm, the American-led military action......
Scipio Africanus
Scipio Africanus was a Roman general noted for his victory over the Carthaginian leader Hannibal in the great Battle......
Scipio Africanus the Younger
Scipio Africanus the Younger was a Roman general famed both for his exploits during the Third Punic War (149â146......
Scipio, Publius Cornelius
Publius Cornelius Scipio was a Roman general, consul in 218 bc. From 217 to 211 bc he and his brother Gnaeus Cornelius......
Scott, Winfield
Winfield Scott was an American army officer who held the rank of general in three wars and was the unsuccessful......
Sebastian
Sebastian was the king of Portugal from 1557, a fanatically religious ruler who lost his life in a crusade against......
Seeckt, Hans von
Hans von Seeckt was a German general and head of the Reichswehr (army) from 1920 to 1926, who was responsible for......
Selborne, William Waldegrave Palmer, 2nd Earl of, Viscount Wolmer Of Blackmoor, Baron Selborne Of Selborne
William Waldegrave Palmer, 2nd earl of Selborne was the first lord of the Admiralty (1900â05) in Great Britain......
Seleucus I Nicator
Seleucus I Nicator was a Macedonian army officer who founded the Seleucid kingdom. In the struggles following the......
Selim I
Selim I was an Ottoman sultan (1512â20) who extended the empire to Syria, Egypt, Palestine, and the Hejaz and raised......
Selim II
Selim II was an Ottoman sultan from 1566, whose reign saw peace in Europe and Asia and the rise of the Ottomans......
Semmes, Raphael
Raphael Semmes was an American Confederate naval officer whose daring raids in command of the man-of-war âAlabamaâ......
Sennacherib
Sennacherib was the king of Assyria (705/704â681 bce), son of Sargon II. He made Nineveh his capital, building......
Serrano y DomĂnguez, Francisco, duque de la Torre
Francisco Serrano y DomĂnguez, duke de la Torre , duke de la Torre was one of the chief military politicians of......
Sertorius, Quintus
Quintus Sertorius was a Roman statesman and military commander who, defying the Roman Senate, became the independent......
Sesostris I
Sesostris I was a king of ancient Egypt who succeeded his father after a 10-year coregency and brought Egypt to......
Sesostris III
Sesostris III was a king of ancient Egypt (reigned c. 1837â19 bce) of the 12th dynasty (c. 1939â1760 bce), who......
Seydlitz, Friedrich Wilhelm, Baron von
Friedrich Wilhelm, baron von Seydlitz was a Prussian cavalry commander who contributed greatly to Frederick II......
Seymour, Thomas Seymour, Baron
Thomas Seymour, Baron Seymour was the lord high admiral of England from 1547 to 1549. His political intrigues led......
Sforza, Francesco
Francesco Sforza was a condottiere who played a crucial role in 15th-century Italian politics and, as duke of Milan,......
Sforza, Muzio Attendolo
Muzio Attendolo Sforza was a soldier of fortune who played an important role in the wars of his period and whose......
Shabaka
Shabaka was a Kushite king who conquered Egypt and founded its 25th (Kushite) dynasty (see ancient Egypt: The 24th......
Shafiq, Ahmed
Ahmed Shafiq is an Egyptian politician and military officer who served as prime minister from January to March......
Shaka
Shaka was a Zulu chief (1816â28), founder of Southern Africaâs Zulu Empire. He is credited with creating a fighting......
Shalikashvili, John
John Shalikashvili was a U.S. Army officer who served as supreme allied commander of North Atlantic Treaty Organization......
Shalit, Gilad
Gilad Shalit is a former Israeli soldier who was captured by Palestinian militants in June 2006. Shalitâs captivity......
Shalmaneser I
Shalmaneser I was the king of Assyria (reigned c. 1263âc. 1234 bc) who significantly extended Assyrian hegemony.......
Shalmaneser III
Shalmaneser III was the king of Assyria (reigned 858â824 bc) who pursued a vigorous policy of military expansion.......
Shang Kexi
Shang Kexi was a Chinese general whose attempt to retire in 1673 resulted in a large-scale rebellion. Originally......
Sharon, Ariel
Ariel Sharon was an Israeli general and politician, whose public life was marked by brilliant but controversial......
Shaw, Robert Gould
Robert Gould Shaw was a Union army officer who commanded a prominent regiment of African American troops during......
Shays, Daniel
Daniel Shays was an American officer (1775â80) in the American Revolution and a leader of Shaysâs Rebellion (1786â87),......
Shenzong
Shenzong was the temple name (miaohao) of the sixth emperor (reigned 1067â85) of the Song dynasty (960â1279) of......
Sheridan, Philip H.
Philip H. Sheridan was a highly successful U.S. cavalry officer whose driving military leadership in the last year......
Sherman, William Tecumseh
William Tecumseh Sherman was an American Civil War general and a major architect of modern warfare. He led Union......
Sherrill, Mikie
Mikie Sherrill doesnât like being told that she canât do something. So when as a 10-year-old she announced to her......
Shinseki, Eric K.
Eric K. Shinseki is a U.S. Army officer who was the first Asian American to achieve the rank of four-star general.......
Shirley, William
William Shirley was a colonial governor of Massachusetts who played an important role in Britainâs struggle against......
Shishakli, Adib al-
Adib al-Shishakli was a Syrian army officer who overthrew the Syrian government in December 1949 and dominated......
Shrapnel, Henry
Henry Shrapnel was an artillery officer and inventor of a form of artillery case shot. Commissioned in the Royal......
Shrewsbury, John Talbot, 1st earl of
John Talbot, 1st earl of Shrewsbury was the chief English military commander against the French during the final......
ShÄpĆ«r II
ShÄpĆ«r II was the 10th king of the SÄsÄnian Empire of Persia, who withstood Roman strength by astute military strategy......
ShÄ«ÊżÄ«, AbĆ« ÊżAbd AllÄh al-
AbĆ« ÊżAbd AllÄh al-ShÄ«ÊżÄ« was an IsmÄÊżÄ«lÄ« propagandist and commander, architect of the FÄáčimid Muslim ascendancy......
Sickles, Daniel Edgar
Daniel Edgar Sickles was an American politician, soldier, and diplomat remembered for acquiring the land for Central......
Sidney, Algernon
Algernon Sidney was an English Whig politician executed for allegedly plotting to overthrow the government of King......
Sigismund
Sigismund was the Holy Roman emperor from 1433, king of Hungary from 1387, German king from 1411, king of Bohemia......
Sikorski, WĆadysĆaw
WĆadysĆaw Sikorski was a Polish soldier and statesman who led Polandâs government in exile during World War II.......
Simcoe, John Graves
John Graves Simcoe was a British soldier and statesman who became the first lieutenant governor of Upper Canada......
Simpson, William Hood
William Hood Simpson was an American army officer who commanded the Ninth Army during World War II, which became,......
Sims, William Sowden
William Sowden Sims was an admiral whose persistent efforts to improve ship design, fleet tactics, and naval gunnery......
Sir John Richardson on Sir John Franklin
When British exploration of the Arctic was at its peak during the first half of the 19th century, disasters were......
Siraj-ud-Daulah
Siraj-ud-Daulah was the ruler, or nawab, of Bengal, India, under the nominal suzerainty of the Mughal emperor Alamgir......
Sisi, Abdel Fattah al-
Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is an Egyptian military officer who became Egyptâs de facto leader in July 2013, after the......
Sitting Bull
Sitting Bull was a Lakota (Teton) chief under whom the Oceti Sakowin (Sioux) peoples united in their struggle against......
Skanderbeg
Skanderbeg was the national hero of the Albanians. A son of John (Gjon) Kastrioti, prince of Emathia, George was......
Skobelev, Mikhail Dmitriyevich
Mikhail Dmitriyevich Skobelev was a military officer who played prominent roles in Russiaâs conquest of Turkistan......
Skorzeny, Otto
Otto Skorzeny was a Nazi SS officer, who gained fame in 1943 for his daring rescue of Benito Mussolini from confinement......
Slatin, Rudolf Karl, Baron von
Rudolf Karl, baron von Slatin was an Austrian soldier in the service of England in the Sudan, famous for his imprisonment......
Slessor, Sir John Cotesworth
Sir John Cotesworth Slessor was a British marshal of the Royal Air Force (RAF) who was one of the architects of......
Slim, William, 1st Viscount Slim of Yarralumla and Bishopston
William Slim, 1st Viscount Slim of Yarralumla and Bishopston was a British field marshal and chief of the Imperial......
Smalls, Robert
Robert Smalls was an American war hero and politician who, during the American Civil War, commandeered a Confederate......
Smith, Samuel
Samuel Smith was a U.S. soldier and politician best known as the commander of land and sea forces that defended......
Smith, Sir Harry, Baronet
Sir Harry Smith, Baronet was a British general, governor of Cape Colony, and high commissioner in South Africa......
Smith, Walter Bedell
Walter Bedell Smith was a U.S. Army general, diplomat, and administrator who served as chief of staff for U.S.......
Smuts, Jan
Jan Smuts was a South African statesman, soldier, and prime minister (1919â24, 1939â48), who sought to promote......
Soissons, Charles de Bourbon, Count de
Charles de Bourbon, count de Soissons was a major figure in Franceâs Wars of Religion and in the ultimate succession......
Sokollu Mehmed PaĆa
Sokollu Mehmed PaĆa was an Ottoman grand vizier (chief minister) from June 1565, under the sultans SĂŒleyman the......
Somerset, Edmund Beaufort, 2nd duke of
Edmund Beaufort, 2nd duke of Somerset was an English nobleman and Lancastrian leader whose quarrel with Richard,......
Somerset, Henry Beaufort, 3rd duke of
Henry Beaufort, 3rd duke of Somerset was a leading Lancastrian in the English Wars of the Roses. He was the eldest......
Somoza, Anastasio
Anastasio Somoza was a soldier-politician who was dictator of Nicaragua for 20 years. Preferring the use of patronage......
Soubise, Benjamin de Rohan, seigneur de
Benjamin de Rohan, seigneur de Soubise was a French Huguenot leader, younger brother of Henri, duc de Rohan. Soubise......
Soubise, Charles de Rohan, prince de
Charles de Rohan, prince de Soubise was a peer and marshal of France, favourite of Louis XV and Mme de Pompadour.......
Soult, Nicolas-Jean de Dieu, Duc De Dalmatie
Nicolas-Jean de Dieu Soult, duke de Dalmatie was a French military leader and political figure who was noted for......
Southampton, William Fitzwilliam, Earl of
William Fitzwilliam, earl of Southampton was an English admiral during the reign of Henry VIII. A son of Sir William......
Spaatz, Carl
Carl Spaatz was the leading U.S. combat air commander in World War II and the first chief of staff of the independent......
Spee, Maximilian, Graf von
Maximilian, Graf von Spee was an admiral who commanded German forces in the battles of Coronel and the Falkland......
Spinola, Ambrogio di Filippo, marqués de los Balbases
Ambrogio di Filippo Spinola, marquis de los Balbases served Spain as a military commander and was considered one......
Sprengtporten, G.M.
G.M. Sprengtporten was a soldier and politician who successfully conspired to bring Swedenâs grand duchy, Finland,......
Sprengtporten, J.M., Friherre
J.M. Sprengtporten was a soldier and political conspirator who planned and led the August 1772 coup dâetat that......
Stanhope, James Stanhope, 1st Earl
James Stanhope, 1st Earl Stanhope was a British soldier and statesman, the dominant minister during the first half......
Stark, John
John Stark was a prominent American general during the American Revolution who led attacks that cost the British......
Stauffenberg, Claus, Graf Schenk von
Claus, Graf Schenk von Stauffenberg was a German army officer who, as the chief conspirator of the July Plot, carried......
Stessel, Anatoly Mikhaylovich
Anatoly Mikhaylovich Stessel was a Russian general who commanded the garrison at Port Arthur during the Russo-Japanese......
Steuben, Baron von
Baron von Steuben was a German officer who served the cause of U.S. independence by converting the revolutionary......
Stilicho, Flavius
Flavius Stilicho was the regent (394â408) for the Roman emperor Honorius and one of the last great Roman military......
Stilwell, Joseph W.
Joseph W. Stilwell was a World War II army officer, who headed both U.S. and Chinese Nationalist resistance to......
Stirling, David
David Stirling was a British army officer who founded and led the elite British Special Air Service (SAS) regiment......
Stockton, Robert F.
Robert F. Stockton was a U.S. naval officer and public leader who helped conquer California in the Mexican-American......
Stratton, Dorothy Constance
Dorothy Constance Stratton was an American educator, naval officer, and public official, who is best remembered......
Stroessner, Alfredo
Alfredo Stroessner was a military leader, who became president of Paraguay after leading an army coup in 1954.......
Stuart, Jeb
Jeb Stuart was a Confederate cavalry officer whose reports of enemy troop movements were of particular value to......
Subianto, Prabowo
Prabowo Subianto is a former general of the Indonesian army and businessman who is now president of Indonesia (2024â......
Suchet, Louis-Gabriel, duke dâAlbufera da Valencia
Louis-Gabriel Suchet, duke dâAlbufera da Valencia was a marshal of France, one of the most brilliant of Napoleonâs......