There’s more to being a warrior than being skilled at wielding a sword. History teaches us that the best warriors are courageous, discreet, confident, disciplined, and persistent. Over time, a few individuals have redefined the meaning of being a warrior by checking all these boxes and more. It’s been centuries since they passed, but their names will never be forgotten. Today, we remember the 9 greatest warriors of all time.
1. Alexander the Great
For a man who only lived for 32 years, how Alexander the Great accomplished so much remains a mystery. He rose to power at only 20 years old when his father was assassinated and went on to become a brilliant ruler.
Unlike most kings, he led his army to battle in person. Using his remarkable warrior skills, Alexander the Great conquered Persia, Central Asia, and Egypt. He also spread the Greek culture to other parts of the world. Alexander the Great also founded many cities and spread his philosophies during his reign before dying of fever (or not) in 323 BC.
2. Genghis Khan
Unlike Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan was not born into royalty. If anything, he had a very tough upbringing. He overcame all that to become the first emperor of the Mongol Empire. Before becoming emperor, Khan was a warrior who led other warriors to invade rival tribes.
Because he was so good at it, Genghis Khan became popular with other Mongol tribes, which he leveraged to form the Mongol Empire. He established the empire’s dominance in Asia, China, and some parts of Europe. Genghis Khan passed away in 1227 but left a great legacy.
3. Leonidas I
The film 300, released in 2006, perfectly depicts how great of a warrior Leonidas I was. While there is no doubt Sparta was home to the best warriors during 500 BC, Leonidas was a force to be reckoned with. Although he was the son of King Anaxandridas II, he wasn’t the direct heir – he got into power by succeeding his half-brother, King Cleomenes I.
Leonidas I achieved a great deal of things during his reign, with his most famous triumph coming in the Battle of Thermopylae. With 300 Spartan warriors and 7,000 Greeks, the warriors fought off a massive Persian army for three days straight. Even though they died on the third day, Leonidas I’s sacrifice allowed the Greeks to defeat the Persian army, cementing his place as one of the greats.
4. Ashoka the Great
Known for being a patronage of Buddhism, Ashoka the Great was one of the best emperors the Maurya Dynasty had ever seen, ruling from 232 BC to 268 BC. During that period, Ashoka led numerous conquests of nearby communities, which led to the massive expansion of the Mauryan Empire. What makes him stand out as an exceptional warrior is how he promoted non-violence after participating in a brutal battle.
Ashoka the Great would erect stone pillars with messages of ethics, religion, and socialism. As a result of his beliefs, the Maurya Dynasty witnessed an extended period of peace. He is still being celebrated to date in the Indian culture.
5. Julius Caesar
Julius Ceasar is the perfect example of how being a good warrior isn’t all about bloodshed. There are many records of how Julius Caesar contributed to the growth and success of the Roman Empire. Despite being a warrior, Julius was also a good orator, which made it easy for him to infiltrate and sway the political class.
Born in 100 BC, Julius Caesar was elected as the consul by 59 BC. He was so good that a couple of people orchestrated his assassination in 44 BC. Even so, the death of Julius Ceasar did not stop the spread of his ideologies.
6. Miyamoto Musashi
In Japan, Miyamoto Musashi is considered to be one of the best swordsmen who ever lived. Besides being a warrior, he was also an excellent strategist who guaranteed successful military conquests. Born in Harima Province, Miyamoto started sword training while still young and was keenly interested in spearmanship and jiujitsu. Throughout his life, it is mentioned that Miyamoto participated in many duels and won most of them. Miyamoto Musashi also remains a legend and a source of inspiration among martial arts enthusiasts.
7. Richard the Lionheart
This warrior was referred to as the Lionheart because he was brave. Born to King Henry II, he rebelled against his father and formed his army when he was only 16. You’d think Richard the Lionheart passively participated in the subsequent battles as he was relatively young, but no!
When Jerusalem was attacked, he fought with other warriors to reclaim the Holy City. Eventually, Richard was arrested and detained in prison. However, because of the locals’ love for him, they raised some money and offered it to the king for Richard’s freedom.
8. Saladin
Saladin was a Muslim military warrior who rose through the ranks through hard work and dedication. His uncle, Shirkuh, helped Saladin join the military while still young. With time, he was picked as the vizier, which translates to the chief advisor of the Fatimid caliph.
One of Saladin’s most renowned accomplishments is his army leadership, which led to victory against the Crusader army in the Battle of Hattin. Unlike many military leaders, he pardoned Christians to leave Jerusalem after taking over the Holy City. This made him gain honor and respect from both camps. Apart from the Crusaders, Saladin was tasked with holding diplomacy talks with European leaders like Richard the Lionheart of England.
9. Sun Tzu
Sun Tzu was such a great warrior that his teachings spread worldwide; he is mostly remembered for writing the book titled “Art of War”. Sun Tzu understood that warfare wasn’t all about brutal force. He believed in studying the enemy as well as yourself before attacking, allowing one to identify his enemy’s weaknesses. Throughout his time, Sun Tzu trained hundreds of warriors. It is alleged that he never lost a single battle.