“Courage, above all things, is the first quality of a warrior.” And, the courage of these greatest warriors in history has not only defended their honors but has also reshaped history that you all know today.
As you think of the word warrior, the first thing that comes to your mind is the battles! But did you know that being a warrior is not just about physical strength but the art of mindful thinking as well? Yes, you got it right!
Warriors go beyond swords and bloodshed! That’s the reason their names echo centuries after they are long gone. In this blog let’s learn more about what exactly made these iron-willed souls count in the list of greatest warriors in history.
1. Alexander the Great (356 BC – 323 BC)
Alexander the Great is a legendary warrior! Being one of the Greatest Warriors in History he earns his place with his extraordinary bravery. Indeed, everybody across the globe knows him for his conquests and leadership. Throughout his heroic career, Alexander holds a record of never facing defeats in battles! This way he made his mark on history and people still remember him today. Impressive! isn’t it? So, let’s know some of the lesser-known facts about this mighty warrior.
Alexander belongs to the royal bloodline. He was a member of the Argead dynasty that claimed to be descendants of Heracles, a mythological hero. His father’s influence laid the foundation for Alexander’s success in the military. His father, ‘King Phillip II’ helped a lot in improving his Macedonian army into an awesomely terrific force. Also, it is interesting to know that the great Alexander was a disciple of Aristotle, one of the most noted and influential minds in history.
Alexander’s rise to the throne is by choosing violence. This also includes eliminating his potential enemies and suppressing the rebels. He was very fond of his horse ‘Bucephalus’ who was his faithful companion in war. After the death of this horse, he named a whole city after its name. Many believe that ‘Homer’s Iliad ’ was his favorite book! A copy of the book was discovered under his pillow during his campaign.
2. Julius Caesar (100 BC – 44 BC)
Julius Caesar was born in a Noble family. They claim to be descendants of Aeneas, a legendary prince of Trojans in Rome. Caesar joined the military in his 20s and very soon climbed through the ranks because of his bravery.
He earned fame for his extraordinary military skills, impressive strategic mind, and understanding of morals. Also, the bonds he built with his soldiers! After gaining good experience in battles, he earned the trust of his fellow soldiers who also admired him for his fantastic leadership abilities. Well, all this made him count as one of the greatest warriors in history.
Caesar played a significant role in the transformation of the Roman Republic into the great Roman Empire. The ‘double envelopment maneuver’ used in the Battle of Alesia, shows his innovative strategic skills making him a military genius.
He has achieved not only military conquests but also many political alliances and improved important reforms that reshaped Roman history. His legacy as a great leader of the military, a sharp politician, and a transformative public figure is remembered by people.
3. Richard the Lionheart (1157 – 1199)
Richard I of England is titled ‘Richard the Lionheart’. People know him as a very notable king who was braver and had extraordinary skills in battles. The lionheart was a very rebellious teen to his parents. Richard I formed an army of his own to fight his father King Henry II when he was just 16 years old.
He was nicknamed ‘lionheart’ because he was as brave as a lion. His goal was to lead the crusade, which was a journey to capture religious places. Also, he fought the ‘Third Crusade’ to try to take back Jerusalem. After the crusade, he was captured and kept in prison. But, because the people respected him so much, they collected the funds to offer to the other king in return for his freedom.
He being a fearless leader, led his army of soldiers to holy lands and won many battles there. His courage made him one of the best knights ever. In addition to his strength, he was also smart enough to plan the battles well and win them as well.
4. Leonidas I of Sparta (540 BC – 480 BC)
Leonidas I was born in the Agiad lineage of Sparta which claims to be the descendant of Heracles, a legendary hero. Leonidas I had to face sibling rivalry. Well, he had a very complicated family tree as his father Anaxandridas II had two wives.
Leonidas I was the child of his first wife and the second wife delivered his stepbrother Cleomenes. Like all citizens of Sparta, he also had to go through strict mental and physical training since childhood. He became a heavily armed infantry soldier with round shields, a short iron sword, and spears.
His army fought in a formation called a phalanx where the shields overlapped for protection. After the second Greco-Persian War, in 480 BC he led the Greek army at the battle of Thermopylae.
Realizing they were about to lose, he sent many of his soldiers back from the battlefield. But around 300 of his people still did not leave his side and chose to fight alongside him. Their loyalty and support made him a legendary warrior.
Although he lost the battle the Greeks expelled the Persians the following year itself. His bravery, sacrificing ability, and leadership skills inspired his soldiers to support him even when they ultimately lost the battle.
5. Ashoka (304 BCE – 232 BCE)
Ashoka the Great was the emperor of the Mauryan Dynasty who ruled almost of the Indian subcontinent. He is to this date remembered as one of the most powerful rulers in India. His name has a beautiful meaning that says ‘without sorrow’ in Sanskrit.
Before becoming a kind ruler he was first called ‘Chandaashoka’ which means ‘Ashoka the Fierce’ due to his aggressive nature. Ashoka had a fight with his brothers for the throne and he became the king after overcoming his family issues. Well, Ashoka was not only a powerful ruler but also a very respected warrior.
He was known for his extraordinary military abilities and warrior skills. He was the favorite of his grandfather Chandra Gupta Maurya, the founder of the Mauryan Dynasty. The turning point in his military career came after the Kalinga war where after much suffering he decided to change his ways.
After seeing all the destruction caused by the war, he then embraced Buddhism and started spreading peace and Buddhist principles. This transformation made him one of the greatest warriors in history.
6. Miyamoto Musashi (1584 – 1645)
Miyamoto Musashi was a great and very famous warrior from Japan. Miyamoto Fought more than 60 duels and he never lost any of his battles. Surprisingly, he started young at the age of 13. He was very smart!
Musashi was not only good with swards but also had a keen sense of intellectuality. Therefore, he also wrote books and made art. He believed that being good at many things will make you a great person. In addition, he also created a special way to fight. He made a new style of fighting where he used two swords at once. Isn’t this very different and clever? Of course, it is!
He also wrote a book called, ‘The Book of Five Rings’ which is still read by many people today. This book teaches many lessons about life and fighting. Miyamoto is considered a great warrior because he was brave, smart, and always kept learning many things.
Well, by this we understand that being strong is not only about muscle strength but also our mind and creativity. Even today people still learn from his teachings.
7. Saladin (1137 – 1193)
Saladin was one of the greatest warriors in history. He was an exceptional warrior and a great leader known for his bravery and wisdom. In addition to his bravery, he also owned a kind heart and gained fame for his justice. He was fair not only to his people but also to those he defeated.
After taking over Jerusalem, he allowed the Christians living there to depart safely. Even after having all the authority to act unjustly and harshly towards them. But instead, he chose kindness!
Saladin was respected by one and all even if he fought against them. The respect was because of his justness and his kindness. And this made him unique among the rest of the rulers at that time.
He was a very clever man who knew how to win battles with exceptionally little fight and the possibility of little bloodshed. This way he won many battles with not only his swords but also his strategic thinking. Saladin made a mark in history with his mind, bravery, and kindheartedness.
8. Sun Tzu (544 BC – 496 BC)
Sun Tzu was a Chinese military strategist and a great warrior of his time. But he was also a very clever person who was not only good with military skills but also with intellectual skills. He even wrote a book, ‘The Art of War’. Here we learn about tactics, strategy, and leadership. this book teaches us about how to seize the opportunity to defeat the enemy and be in an invincible position always.
The teachings of Sun Tzu have not only influenced the West but also the East Asia. He always believed that winning is not always about fighting but also about making clever plans.
He had actually mastered the art of peace and war. He often supported in solving problems without fighting but knew how to battle when needed. Once he trained 180 woman warriors just to prove that he could do so. It is said that he never lost a single battle in 40 years of battles.
He was known as one of the greatest warriors in history because he knew that winning is not only about having a big army but much more than that.
9. Hannibal Barca (247 BC – 183 BC)
Hannibal Barca was not only a military leader but also a great warrior from Carthage which is now called Tunisia. Hannibal was born during the ‘First Punic War’ between Carthage and Rome. He led an army at a very young age of 25.
When he was a child he promised his dad that he would always be an enemy of Rome. Hannibal was not only strong by strength but was also a very smart-minded person. He learned a lot from great teachers.
He did one of the most adventurous acts to see his enemies in Rome. He took his soldiers and elephants over the mountains filled with snow. In history, he won some of the most important battles like the Battle of Cannae.
Even when things were getting tough, he never gave up fighting against Rome. Barca is remembered as one of the greatest warriors in history because of his bravery, strength, smartness, and attitude of never giving up.
10. William Wallace (1270 – 1305)
William is not only one of the greatest warriors in history but also a hero from Scotland. He is famous as a freedom fighter for his country. His last name ‘Wallace’ means ‘foreigner’ or ‘Welshman’ which is strange for a Scotland hero to have.
He was very clever with his tactics to attack the English during the battle of Sterling Bridge. Once he won the battle, he was honored as the ‘guardian of Scotland’ which is like being a king there.
Though he lost the battle of Falkirk, he never gave up his fight for the freedom of Scotland. He knew how to win battles with great mindfulness. He is to this date remembered by the people of Scotland and is often talked about for his bravery, smartness, and his never-give-up attitude.
End Note
As we conclude our list of the greatest warriors in history, let’s remember that these warriors were not just soldiers! But they were a source of hope and courage to their people and communities back then.
As we now know these brave warriors are not just recognized for their courage but also for many other factors.
So let’s cherish their warrior spirit, their sacrifices, and their strengths and keep their legacies alive.
