Military Leaders, ARN-BES
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
Arnim, Hans Georg von
Hans Georg von Arnim was a soldier prominent in German affairs during the Thirty Yearsâ War. He served (1613â17)......
Arnold, Benedict
Benedict Arnold served the cause of the American Revolution as an officer until 1779, when he shifted his allegiance......
Arnold, Henry Harley
Henry Harley Arnold was an air strategist, commanding general of the U.S. Army Air Forces in World War II. After......
Artaxerxes II
Artaxerxes II was an Achaemenid king of Persia who reigned during the late 5th and early 4th centuries BC. He was......
Artemisia I
Artemisia I was the queen of Halicarnassus, a Greco-Carian city in the ancient district of Caria (in southwestern......
Ashikaga Tadayoshi
Ashikaga Tadayoshi was a military and administrative genius who engineered many of the triumphs of his older brother,......
Ashikaga Takauji
Ashikaga Takauji was a warrior and statesman who founded the Ashikaga shogunate (hereditary military dictatorship)......
Ashikaga Yoshiaki
Ashikaga Yoshiaki was a shogun (hereditary military dictator) of Japan who was the 15th and last of his family......
Ashikaga Yoshimasa
Ashikaga Yoshimasa was a shogun (hereditary military dictator) who helped promote one of Japanâs greatest cultural......
Ashikaga Yoshimitsu
Ashikaga Yoshimitsu was a shogun (hereditary military dictator) of Japan, who achieved political stability for......
Ashurbanipal
Ashurbanipal was the last of the great kings of Assyria (reigned 668 to 627 bce), who assembled in Nineveh the......
Ashurnasirpal II
Ashurnasirpal II was the king of Assyria from 883â859 bce, whose major accomplishment was the consolidation of......
Aspar, Flavius Ardaburius
Flavius Ardaburius Aspar was a Roman general of Alani descent, influential in the Eastern Roman Empire under the......
AtatĂŒrk, Kemal
Kemal AtatĂŒrk was a soldier, statesman, and reformer who was the founder and first president (1923â38) of the Republic......
Athlone, Godard van Reede, 1st earl of
Godard van Reede, 1st earl of Athlone was a Dutch soldier in English service who completed the conquest of Ireland......
Attalus I Soter
Attalus I Soter (âPreserverâ) was the ruler of Pergamum from 241 to 197 bc, with the title of king after about......
Attila
Attila was the king of the Huns from 434 to 453 (ruling jointly with his elder brother Bleda until 445). He was......
AubignĂ©, ThĂ©odore-Agrippa dâ
ThĂ©odore-Agrippa dâ AubignĂ© was a major late 16th-century poet, renowned Huguenot captain, polemicist, and historian......
Auchinleck, Claude
Claude Auchinleck was a British field marshal best known for his victory against Gen. Erwin Rommel in North Africa.......
Augereau, Pierre-François-Charles, duc de Castiglione
Pierre-François-Charles Augereau, duke de Castiglione was an army officer whose military ability won for France......
Augustus
Augustus was the first Roman emperor, following the republic, which had been finally destroyed by the dictatorship......
Aumale, Henri-EugĂšne-Philippe-Louis dâOrlĂ©ans, Duke dâ
Henri-EugĂšne-Philippe-Louis dâOrlĂ©ans, duke dâAumale was the fourth son of King Louis-Philippe of France, a colonialist,......
Aung San
Aung San was a Burmese nationalist leader and assassinated hero who was instrumental in securing Burmaâs independence......
Aurangzeb
Aurangzeb was the emperor of the Mughal Empire from 1658 to 1707, the last of the great Mughals. Under him, the......
Aurelian
Aurelian was a Roman emperor from 270 to 275. By reuniting the empire, which had virtually disintegrated under......
Austin, Lloyd
Lloyd Austin was the United States secretary of defense (2021â25). He assumed this position in January 2021, two......
Averescu, Alexandru
Alexandru Averescu was a military leader and politician who three times served as premier of Romania and was the......
Avidius Cassius, Gaius
Gaius Avidius Cassius was a usurping Roman emperor for three months in ad 175. The son of a high civil servant......
Babur
Babur was the emperor (1526â30) and founder of the Mughal dynasty of northern India. Babur, a descendant of the......
Baden-Powell, Robert Baden-Powell, 1st Baron
Robert Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell was a British army officer who became a national hero for his 217-day......
Badoglio, Pietro
Pietro Badoglio was a general and statesman during the dictatorship of Benito Mussolini (1922â43). In September......
Bagration, Pyotr Ivanovich, Knyaz
Pyotr Ivanovich, Prince Bagration was a Russian general who distinguished himself during the Napoleonic Wars. Bagration......
Bahadur Shah I
Bahadur Shah I was the Mughal emperor of India from 1707â12. He was the son and successor of Aurangzeb, the last......
BahrÄm VI ChĆ«bÄ«n
BahrÄm VI ChĆ«bÄ«n was a SÄsÄnian king (reigned 590â591). A general and head of the house of Mihran at Rayy (near......
Bainbridge, William
William Bainbridge was an American naval officer who captured the British frigate Java in the War of 1812. Bainbridge......
Baker, LaFayette Curry
LaFayette Curry Baker was the chief of the U.S. Federal Detective Police during the American Civil War and director......
Baldwin I
Baldwin I was the count of Flanders (as Baldwin IX) and of Hainaut (as Baldwin VI), a leader of the Fourth Crusade,......
Baldwin I
Baldwin I was the king of the Crusader state of Jerusalem (1100â18) who expanded the kingdom and secured its territory,......
Baldwin II
Baldwin II was the count of Edessa (1100â18), king of Jerusalem (1118â31), and Crusade leader whose support of......
Ball, Albert
Albert Ball was a British fighter ace during World War I who achieved 43 victories in air combat. Ball was educated......
Ball, Sir Alexander John, 1st Baronet
Sir Alexander John Ball, 1st Baronet was a rear admiral, a close friend of Admiral Lord Nelson, who directed the......
Ballard, Robert
Robert Ballard is an American oceanographer and marine geologist whose pioneering use of deep-diving submersibles......
Balodis, JÄnis
JÄnis Balodis was an army officer and politician who was a principal figure in the foundation and government of......
Ban Chao
Ban Chao was a Chinese general and colonial administrator of the Han dynasty (206 bceâ220 ce) who reestablished......
Banda Singh Bahadur
Banda Singh Bahadur was the first Sikh military leader to wage an offensive war against the Mughal rulers of India,......
Bandula, Maha
Maha Bandula was a Myanmar general who fought against the British in the First Anglo-Burmese War (1824â26). In......
Bank, Aaron
Aaron Bank was a U.S. Army officer famous for his exploits behind enemy lines while serving with the Office of......
Banks, Nathaniel P.
Nathaniel P. Banks was an American politician and Union general during the American Civil War, who during 1862â64......
Banér, Johan
Johan BanĂ©r was a Swedish field marshal who was one of the foremost soldiers in the Thirty Yearsâ War. His father,......
Barak, Ehud
Ehud Barak is an Israeli generalâthe most decorated soldier in Israeli history at the time of his retirement in......
Baratieri, Oreste
Oreste Baratieri was a general and colonial governor who was responsible for both the development of the Italian......
Barbarossa
Barbarossa , also known as "Redbeard", was a Barbary pirate and later admiral of the Ottoman fleet, by whose initiative......
Barclay de Tolly, Mikhail Bogdanovich, Knyaz
Mikhail Bogdanovich, Prince Barclay de Tolly was a Russian field marshal who was prominent in the Napoleonic Wars.......
Barry, John
John Barry was an American naval officer who won significant maritime victories during the American Revolution......
Bart, Jean
Jean Bart was a French privateer and naval officer, renowned for his skillful and daring achievements in the wars......
Bassompierre, François de
François de Bassompierre was a French soldier and diplomat who left an influential autobiography, Le Journal de......
BasÄsÄ«rÄ«, ArslÄn al-Muáșaffar al-
ArslÄn al-Muáșaffar al-BasÄsÄ«rÄ« was an Islamic military leader. Al-BasÄsÄ«rÄ« was born a Turkish slave, and his activities......
Batista, Fulgencio
Fulgencio Batista was a soldier and political leader who twice ruled Cubaâfirst in 1933â44 with an efficient government......
Batu
Batu was the grandson of Genghis Khan and founder of the Khanate of Kipchak, or the Golden Horde. In 1235 Batu......
Bayard, Pierre Terrail, seigneur de
Pierre Terrail, seigneur de Bayard was a French soldier known as le chevalier sans peur et sans reproche (âthe......
Baybars I
Baybars I was the most eminent of the Mamlƫk sultans of Egypt and Syria, which he ruled from 1260 to 1277. He is......
Bayezid I
Bayezid I was an Ottoman sultan in 1389â1402 who founded the first centralized Ottoman state based on traditional......
Bayezid II
Bayezid II was an Ottoman sultan (1481â1512) who consolidated Ottoman rule in the Balkans, Anatolia, and the eastern......
Bazaine, Achille
Achille Bazaine was a marshal of France who, after distinguished service during the Second Empire, was sentenced......
Beatty, David, 1st Earl Beatty, Viscount Borodale of Wexford, Baron Beatty of the North Sea and of Brooksby
David Beatty, 1st Earl Beatty was a British admiral of the fleet, who commanded Britainâs battle cruisers in the......
Beaufort, François de VendÎme, duc de
François de VendĂŽme, duke de Beaufort was a French prince, one of the leaders of the Fronde (1648â53) and later......
Beaufre, André
André Beaufre was a French military strategist, an exponent of an independent French nuclear force. In 1921 Beaufre......
Beauharnais, EugĂšne de
EugĂšne de Beauharnais was a soldier, prince of the French First Empire, and viceroy of Italy for Napoleon I, who......
Beauregard, P.G.T.
P.G.T. Beauregard was a Confederate general in the American Civil War. Beauregard graduated from the U.S. Military......
Beck, JĂłzef
JĂłzef Beck was a Polish army officer and foreign minister from 1932 to 1939, one of JĂłzef PiĆsudskiâs most trusted......
Beck, Ludwig
Ludwig Beck was a German general who, as chief of the army general staff (1935â38), opposed Adolf Hitlerâs expansionist......
Bedford, Jasper Tudor, duke of, Earl Of Pembroke
Jasper Tudor, duke of Bedford was the leader of the Lancastrians in Wales, uncle and guardian of Henry, earl of......
Bedford, John Plantagenet, duke of
John Plantagenet, duke of Bedford was a general and statesman who commanded Englandâs army during a critical period......
Beer, Israel
Israel Beer was an Israeli military analyst who was convicted (1962) for treason as a Soviet agent. Arriving in......
Belgrano, Manuel
Manuel Belgrano was a military leader in the Argentine war for independence. After studying law in Spain, Belgrano......
Belisarius
Belisarius was a Byzantine general, the leading military figure in the age of the Byzantine emperor Justinian I......
Belknap, William Worth
William Worth Belknap was an American military officer and public official who served with distinction in the Union......
Bellay, Guillaume du, Seigneur De Langey
Guillaume du Bellay, seigneur de Langey was a French soldier and writer known for his diplomatic exploits during......
Belle-Isle, Charles Fouquet, duc de, Duc De Gisors
Charles Fouquet, duke de Belle-Isle was a marshal of France and statesman chiefly important for his role in involving......
Bem, JĂłzef Zachariasz
JĂłzef Zachariasz Bem was a Polish army general whose military feats in Transylvania and the region of Banat made......
Benbow, John
John Benbow was an English admiral who became a popular hero through his exploits against the French and his death......
Benckendorff, Aleksandr Khristoforovich, Count (Graf)
Aleksandr Khristoforovich, Count Benckendorff was a general and statesman who played a prominent role in the Napoleonic......
Benedek, Ludwig August, Ritter von
Ludwig August, Ritter von Benedek was an Austrian field marshal whose defeat at the Battle of KöniggrÀtz (Battle......
Bennigsen, Leonty Leontyevich, Graf von
Leonty Leontyevich, count von Bennigsen was a general who played a prominent role in the Russian Army during the......
Bentinck, Lord William
Lord William Bentinck was a British governor-general of Bengal (1828â33) and of India (1833â35). An aristocrat......
Bentsen, Lloyd
Lloyd Bentsen was an American Democratic politician who was a longtime U.S. senator (1971â93) before serving as......
Bercsényi, Miklós, Gróf
GrĂłf MiklĂłs BercsĂ©nyi was the chief general in the Kuruc (anti-Habsburg) insurrection (1703â11) in Hungary and......
Berenguer, DĂĄmaso, conde de Xauen
DĂĄmaso Berenguer, count de Xauen was a Spanish general who served briefly as prime minister (January 1930âFebruary......
Beresford, Charles William de la Poer Beresford, 1st Baron
Charles William de la Poer Beresford, 1st Baron Beresford was a British admiral and, intermittently, a Conservative......
Beresford, William Carr Beresford, Viscount, Baron Beresford Of Albuera And Dungarvan, Duke De Elvas
William Carr Beresford, Viscount Beresford was a British general and Portuguese marshal prominent in the (Iberian)......
Berlichingen, Götz von
Götz von Berlichingen was an imperial knight (Reichsritter), romanticized in legend as a German Robin Hood and......
Bernadotte, Folke, Greve
Greve Folke Bernadotte (af Wisborg) was a Swedish soldier, humanitarian, and diplomat who was assassinated while......
Bernhard of Saxe-Weimar
Bernhard of Saxe-Weimar was the duke of Saxe-Weimar (Sachsen-Weimar), a politically ambitious Protestant general......
Bernhard, prince of the Netherlands, prince of Lippe-Biesterfeld
Bernhard, prince of the Netherlands, prince of Lippe-Biesterfeld was a prince of the Netherlands who, during World......
Bernhardi, Friedrich von
Friedrich von Bernhardi was a German soldier and military writer. He fought in the Franco-Prussian War and became......
Berryman, Frank
Frank Berryman was an Australian army officer who was the senior Australian staff officer in the southwest Pacific......
Berthier, Louis-Alexandre, prince de Wagram
Louis-Alexandre Berthier, prince de Wagram was a French soldier and the first of Napoleonâs marshals. Though Berthier......
Bertrand, Henri-Gratien, Comte
Henri-Gratien, Comte Bertrand was a French military engineer and general, friend of Napoleon I and his companion......
Berwick-upon-Tweed, James Fitzjames, duke of, earl of Tinmouth, baron of Bosworth, duc de Fitz-James
James Fitzjames, duke of Berwick-upon-Tweed was an English nobleman and marshal of France who was a leading military......
BessiĂšres, Jean-Baptiste, duke dâIstrie
Jean-Baptiste BessiĂšres, duke dâIstrie was a French soldier and, as one of Napoleonâs marshals, commander of the......