Greatest Military Leaders In History

The two hundred personalities described in this book have a fair claim to being the most significant in the last thousand years of military history. They include warrior kings and sultans, field marshals and ministers, tribal chiefs and junior officers.Along with the great captains of war, whose exploits achieved conquests unrivaled in recorded history, this volume provides accounts of the careers of lesser-known, even obscure, figures whose actions represent with particular clarity the military events and climates of their times. Even the negative effects of infamous and incompetent generals are detailed.With insights into their early training and development, the stories unfold of such superb commanders as: -- Frederick Barbarossa, Richard Lionheart, Genghiz Khan -- Joan of Arc, Selim I, Gustavus Adolphus -- Frederick the Great, George Washington, Napoleon Bonaparte -- Ulysses S. Grant, Robert E. Lee, Geronimo -- Dwight Eisenhower, Erwin Rommel, George PattonWhenever possible, the authors enliven the factual accounts of careers and campaigns with glimpses into the characters and personalities of these men, who excelled in a calling which has always been colored by the personal touch.

A profusely illustrated overview of the careers and campaigns of the world's greatest commanders This authoritative and magnificentlyl illustrated book examines the entire history of the war through the eyes of the leading protagonists, from Cyrus the Great in the sixth century BC to Vo Nguyen Giap in the twentieth century. Truly worldwide in scope, the book ranges from China to India to Africa, and from Europe to the Americas, focusing in detail on more than one hundred major military leaders, their associates, and their opponents. All the great commanders are here: Alexander the Great, Hannibal, Julius Caesar, Saladin, Chingiz Khan, Napolean, Wellington, Nelson, Ulysses S. Grant, Erich von Manstein, and Georgy Zhukov. So too are less familiar figures, such as Jan Žižka and János Hunyadi, bold Czech and Hungarian leaders of the Middle Ages; Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the "Napolean of Japan"; and Nader Shah, the Persian conqueror of the eighteenth century. The large format allows for a full display of the illustrations, from portraits and battlefield scenes to weapons and uniforms, plus spectacular battle reconstructions. There are specially comissioned campaign maps for each major leader, plus a reference section that includes concise biographies of 250 commanders. Jeremy Black is professor of History at the University of Exeter and the author or editor of many books, including The Cambridge Illustrated Atlas of Warfare and The Seventy Great Battles in History.

From ancient Greece to Desert Storm, Military Commanders presents a chronological history of great battles and the men who won them. Beginning with Leonidas of Sparta, who died at Thermopylae and ending with Colin Powell, this book includes such world famous leaders as Alexander the Great, Napoleon, Grant and Lee, Patton and Rommel. In addition, it includes the military theorist Sun Tzu, who wrote "The Art of War," as well as lesser known but important figures, such as Red Cloud, Shaka Zulu, and General Giap. Military Commanders, containing pertinent quotations, anecdotes, and detailed facts is a highly-readable combination of history and biography.

Commanders focuses on the greatest leaders in naval, field, and aerial warfare. From Alexander the Great's conquest of the known world to the generals leading today's campaigns in Afghanistan, the book casts new light on the leaders who have forged history on the battlefield. Famous historical commanders, such as Julius Caesar, Napoleon, and Horatio Nelson, are considered in depth, along with their subordinates and enemies. Commanders from outside the Western tradition are also examined, including the great Chinese, Japanese, Indian, Native American, and African leaders. Chapter introductions contextualize the entries by explaining who fought whom and why, and individual stories bring the history to life. Catalog information gives an at-a-glance overview of each commander's life, and each section provides a timeline, key data, and a psychological profile outlining the commander's strengths and weaknesses. Images will include paintings of battles, battlefield maps, as well as the commanders' weapons, vehicles, and personal effects.

Hannibal vs. Scipio. Grant vs. Lee. Rommel vs. Patton. The greatest battles, commanders, and rivalries of all time come to life in this engrossing guide to the geniuses of military history. “A compelling study of military leadership.”—James M. McPherson, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Battle Cry of Freedom Any meeting of genius may create sparks, but when military geniuses meet, their confrontations play out upon a vast panorama of states or civilizations at war, wielding the full destructive power of a mighty nation’s armies. Gods of War is the first single-volume, in-depth examination of the most celebrated military rivalries of all time, and of the rare, world-changing battles in which these great commanders in history matched themselves against true equals. From Caesar and Pompey deciding the fate of the Roman Republic, to Grant and Lee battling for a year during the American Civil War, to Rommel and Montgomery and Patton meeting in battle after battle as Hitler strove for European domination, these match-ups and their corresponding strategies are among the most memorable in history. A thrilling look into both the generals’ lives and their hardest-fought battles, Gods of War is also a thought-provoking analysis of the qualities that make a strong commander and a deep exploration of the historical context in which the contestants were required to wage war, all told with rousing narrative flair. And in a time when technology has made the potential costs of war even greater, it is a masterful look at how military strategy has evolved and what it will take for leaders to guide their nations to peace in the future.

Spanning countries and centuries, a “how-not-to” guide to leadership that reveals the most maladroit military commanders in history—now in paperback. For this book, fifteen distinguished historians were given a deceptively simple task: identify their choice for the worst military leader in history and then explain why theirs is the worst. From the clueless Conrad von Hötzendorf and George A. Custer to the criminal Baron Roman F. von Ungern-Sternberg and the bungling Garnet Wolseley, this book presents a rogues’ gallery of military incompetents. Rather than merely rehashing biographical details, the contributors take an original and unconventional look at military leadership in a way that appeals to both specialists and general readers alike. While there are plenty of books that analyze the keys to success, The Worst Military Leaders in History offers lessons of failure to avoid. In other words, this book is a “how-not-to” guide to leadership.

The bestselling classic that indelibly captures the life and times of one of the most brilliant and controversial military figures of the twentieth century. "Electric...Tense with the feeling that this is the authentic MacArthur...Splendid reading." -- New York Times Inspiring, outrageous... A thundering paradox of a man. Douglas MacArthur, one of only five men in history to have achieved the rank of General of the United States Army. He served in World Wars I, II, and the Korean War, and is famous for stating that "in war, there is no substitute for victory." American Caesar examines the exemplary army career, the stunning successes (and lapses) on the battlefield, and the turbulent private life of the soldier-hero whose mystery and appeal created a uniquely American legend.

From the #1 bestselling author of The Crusades and the Soldiers of the Cross comes an exciting new book on the greatest minds of military leadership in history. Whether it is Hannibal of Carthage marching elephants across the Alps and attacking the heart of Rome, Khalid ibn al-Walid boasting an undefeated military career and destroying the Persian Empire while subduing the Byzantines, or Russian General Alexander Suvurov and his elevation of the bayonet to a work of art that could cut down any European army, great military leaders have exerted tremendous influence on society. This book will look at the lives of the ten greatest military commanders in history. Some conquered the fullest expanse of the known world, as did Alexander the Great. Still others were master statesmen and capable of translating military victory into long-term political gains, such as Julius Caesar, whose vanquishing of the Gauls and his political opponents laid the groundwork for several centuries of unmatchable Roman imperial might. It will also look at the tactics they used to bring down stronger armies and befuddle them at every turn; whether it is Napoleon, who nearly conquered Europe through his deadly manoeuvre sur les derrieres and marching unexpectedly away from the enemy's main strength and concentrating on a weak but vital enemy point; or Hannibal's double entrapment maneuver, which has been the envy of military strategists for the last 2,000 years. Whatever their background, these rulers show that the right military commander at the right time in history can destroy an empire, change civilization, and alter the course of world history forever.

Armed conflict has produced many of the great leaders in human history. Some fought purely for glory, others waged war out of desperation, and even more were driven by a sense of duty. Every leader has human qualities that transcend time and culture. The lessons taught, tactics used, and losses suffered stand as a testament to their lives and accomplishments. In his book entitled History's Greatest Military Commanders author Barry Linton covers these leaders and great military commanders in fascinating detail, highlighting their distinguishable backgrounds and origins. Many were conquerors, some were innovators, and even others were liberators. One trait shared by all of these leaders is the willingness to adapt and overcome.This book presents the true stories and struggles faced by these Commanders. Detailed battlefield plans are outlined, giving a step by step account of many important battles as well as information describing the context of each battle. The Commanders featured are drawn from all major periods of human history. Their achievements as well as their failures are highlighted, combined with the impact they had on the greater world and history. Follow along as we detail memorable historic greats such as: Sun Tzu, Alexander the Great, Pyrrhus of Epirus, Darius the Third, Scipio Africanus, Hannibal Barca, Julius Caesar, Attila the Hun, Belisarius, Khalid Ibn Al-Walid, Charlemagne, Saladin, Genghis Khan, Timur, Edward the Black Prince, Suleiman the Magnificent, Oda Nobunaga, Yi Sun-sin, Hernan Cortes, Gustavus Adolphus, Duke of Marlborough, George Washington, Napoleon Bonaparte, Duke of Wellington, Horatio Nelson, Helmut von Moltke the Elder, Stonewall Jackson, Robert E. Lee, Ulysses S. Grant, Togo Heihachiro, John Monash, Erwin Rommel, Georgy Zhukov, Bernard Montgomery, George Patto

"This volume is not a study of the 'greatest' commanders; rather, it is an examination of commanders who should be considered great. The seven leaders examined, in various domains of ground, sea, and air, each in their own way successfully addressed the challenges of military endeavor in their time and changed the world in which they lived"--Foreword.