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5 Military Geniuses From History
Military brilliance can redraw borders and reset the balance of power. The five military geniuses from history below used speed, discipline, and inventive tactics to beat larger foes and outthink entire empires. Their decisions continue to influence how commanders plan, move, and win.
1. Alexander the Great
A famous mosaic of Alexander the Great. Source: Literary Hub.
Ascending the Macedonian throne upon the death of his father, Philip II, in 336 BCE, the 20-year-old King Alexander was far from inexperienced in politics or on the battlefield. He immediately began subduing threats when he rose to power. A war-seasoned commander from his teen years, Alexander was eager to achieve one of his late father’s dreams: a Macedonian conquest of the vast Persian Empire, which stretched from Egypt and western Asia to the Indus Valley.
Marble portrait head of Alexander the Great, c.300-150 BCE. Source: British Museum, London.
Alexander succeeded in this endeavor and more. He earned his title of “the Great” largely due to his success in war, never losing a battle in his 13-year reign. He led his army from the front, striking fear into the opposing army and inspiring his own men. Alexander also ensured that his men were exceptionally well-trained and armed. The Macedonians utilized light armor that aided their mobility, which became one of their key advantages. Alexander always scouted the battle terrain ahead of time, allowing him to make quick, effective adjustments in the midst of battle.
2. Hannibal Barca
An artistic depiction of Hannibal and his army crossing the Pyrenees mountains. Source: Theatrum Belli.
A son of Carthage in North Africa, Hannibal Barca was raised from a young age to hate the Romans. Hannibal, a bold soldier, became commander of the Carthaginian army at age 26 in 221 BCE.
He was soon enveloped in what would become the Second Punic War. This conflict resulted from Rome’s anger at Hannibal’s expansion of Carthaginian territory. Hannibal decided to strike where Rome would least expect it, organizing one of history’s most impressive lightning campaigns. He, along with his army of over 50,000 and 37 war elephants, crossed the Pyrenees mountains through autumn snows and arrived in Northern Italy. He beat the Romans in a succession of battles, moving south over the next two years.
Barca is often depicted in art and media with an eye patch. Art by LordGood. Source: DeviantArt.
Hannibal also began a diplomatic strategy, securing alliances with Syracuse and Macedonia in 215 and 214 BCE. Rome began severing Hannibal’s lines of contact with his home country, leaving him stranded in Southern Italy with exhausted forces. He employed a variety of tactics to keep his men afloat, including diversionary attacks and guerrilla warfare. However, he was forced to return to Africa when the Roman army allied itself with Carthage’s neighbor, Numidia, and attacked Carthage proper at the city of Zama.
Carthage was once again defeated by the Romans, and Hannibal resigned his post as general. However, the people of the ruined country of Carthage chose Hannibal to serve as suffete, a type of government representative, in hopes of rebuilding their country. But Hannibal was forced to flee when Rome launched an inquiry. He completed suicide by poison in 183 BCE.
3. Subutai
A map of the Mongol Empire circa 1240 CE by Ancient.eu. Source: Short History.
Genghis Khan is known to historians the world over for his successful Mongol empire that established the largest land dominion known to history in the 13th century. However, he owed a great deal of his success to his primary military strategist, General Subutai (also spelled Subetei or Subetai).
Subutai was not of noble origins; he was born the son of a blacksmith, but he quickly rose through Mongolian military ranks due to his skill and strategy on the battlefield. He is credited with leading over twenty campaigns, in which he conquered more territory than any other commander in history. Subutai was known for implementing imaginative, unique strategies and effectively coordinating armies that were hundreds of miles away from one another.
Rendering of a Mongolian cavalryman. Source: About History.
Subutai was one of the earliest proponents of siege engines. He used spies to prepare his battle plans, gathering intelligence on some of his enemies for up to a year before the attack. Subutai knew talent when he saw it and made a habit of incorporating skilled military minds and engineers from conquered peoples into his army.
A rendering of Subutai. Source: Medium.
Subutai’s career outlasted the death of Genghis Khan and that of his son, Ogedei Khan, upon which Subutai and his army returned home from their assault on Eastern Europe. If not for the change in Mongolian leadership and alterations in the empire, many historians believe that Subutai would have succeeded in taking on the Holy Roman Empire and the remainder of Europe. Subutai passed away at age 72, two years after his retirement.
4. Belisarius
Belisarius is believed to be the bearded man on the left of Justinian, center. Source: Crafty Theatre.
Belisarius commanded armies for the Byzantine emperor Justinian in the sixth century. His greatest claim to fame was the recovery of territories in the west that had once belonged to the Roman Empire. He began his military career as one of Justinian‘s bodyguards and rapidly advanced through the ranks.
Belisarius brought North Africa back under Roman control after one hundred years under Vandal rule. Then, he reclaimed Italy and Rome proper. The Goths, whom he defeated in Italy, were so impressed with his military prowess that they offered him a crown as the King of Italy, which he declined out of his loyalty to Emperor Justinian.
The salmon-colored areas on the map indicate areas of “Justinian’s Reconquest”: campaigns led by Belisarius. Source: Novo Scriptorium
Belisarius was particularly celebrated for his excellent judgment in the field. He knew who, when, and how to fight, but also when to walk away. Justinian had concerns that Belisarius might use the army to seize power. Still, Belisarius remained loyal, and despite storytelling, he was not blinded by Justinian for treason and reduced to begging.
Belisarius is incorrectly depicted as blind and poverty-stricken in many instances of fine art, including this 1797 painting by Baron François-Pascal-Simon Gerard. Source: Getty Museum, Los Angeles
According to myth, Justinian had Belisarius’ eyes put out for betrayal, forcing the once-powerful military leader to beg to survive. However, the story likely arose as a parable around the time Belisarius was actually accused of plotting against the emperor later in his career. He was later pardoned and retired to his estate in Constantinople. He died in 565 CE at the age of 60.
5. Saladin
A statue of Saladin in Damascus, photo by Bedirhani Haldun Tuzel. Source: TripAdvisor.
Known as Saladin in the Western world, Salah al-Din al-Ayubbi founded the Ayyubid dynasty in what is now Egypt and Syria. Born in 1138, he became a sultan and was known as a champion of Islam. He defended the Arab world against Christian warriors during the Third Crusade, expanding his empire and gaining control of the heavily sought-after Jerusalem.
Saladin used his diplomatic skills to unite the Muslim world, which aided his army’s success during the Crusades. His accomplishments stemmed not from constant victories on the battlefield, but from a long-term campaign strategy. Saladin combined his diplomacy with psychological warfare, particularly in an offensive manner, as he sought to boost the morale of his own troops. With a light force, his army was able to move rapidly. Despite his death from illness, likely typhoid, at age 56, Saladin’s empire persisted for decades.
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