Alexander the Great conquered most of the known world
Hannibal defeated many Roman armies, but was finally beaten by Scipio Africanus.
Ramses II never really lost in open combat
Each of these generals has been not only in histories but literature.
DID: There was a civil war in the Roman Republic between Caesar and Pompey, which Caesar was victorious in. Caesar is a general hotter than you think, because he wins Vercyngetrix and he beats Pompey, conquering rome in tow.
Throughout antiquity, there have been many generals to note. This article will focus more on the Hellenistic generals, those of Greece, Rome, and Carthage, as they are the most popular in studies. If one of these generals were to be considered the most successful, it would be Alexander the Great. Caesar’s story has been told many times more, as he lived a longer life and much about him was recorded. Scipio is likely the least known, even though history holds him as an important figure to the Roman Republic. Scipio didn’t end the republic like Caesar did, so perhaps he was of a different character.
Not one of these generals was a Greek, which is interesting because each had a connection to Greece. Alexander was a Macedonian and not Greek. Perhaps in another article heroes like Leonidas (who fought at Thermopylae, famous battle told in the movie “300”) might be mentioned.
With Egypt, you may have the most successful, Ramses the 2nd, whose empire held maybe more people than Alexander, and whose victories are not just Kadesh, as shown in the book, “Chariot to Tank.” His victory, his smart politics in a time of victory, are a hot point in ancient Egyptian classical history.
Alexander the Great – This Macedonian general conquered most of the known world while still in his twenties. His father led the conquering of Greece, but Alexander went on to conquer all of the Persian empire, which included Mesopotamia and Egypt. He would have kept going but his veterans refused to push on into India. He died at a young age leaving no suitable heir, which was his greatest mistake.
Hannibal – Hannibal was one of the most famous generals of ancient times. Though he didn’t conquer the lands Alexander the Great did, he was almost always facing a superior Roman army. He fought during the Punic Wars, which were between Rome and Carthage. Hannibal crushed the armies of the Roman republic again and again. He came close, and perhaps could have, burned Rome to the ground after his victories. He even played politics in Italy, uniting many small states in the peninsula who thought he could beat Rome. His most notable victory was against a superior Roman army at Cannae, a battle which has been the subject of many books about the Punic wars. After the war was lost, he was hounded and killed by an assassin of Rome.
Caesar – According to Wikipedia, Caesar conquered much of Gaul during his lifetime, before turning to conquer his home, the Roman Republic, itself. His greatest victory was at Alesia, against the Germanic leader Vercingetorix, and, according to reports, over a quarter million men. Much of Caesar is known because he wrote of his victories to the Roman populace in order to goad them into following him. Caesar too was murdered. He held more power than Hannibal, and the Roman empire was as powerful as Alexander’s.
Scipio Africanus – Scipio was another Roman, but isn’t as famous as the other generals listed here. Scipio defeated Hannibal, ending Hannibal’s power in the Italian peninsula. There is less recorded information on Scipio, but a Wikipedia source cites him as one of the better generals Rome ever had. He earned the name “Afrikanus,” which, according to Wikipedia, means “Roman Hannibal” after defeating Hannibal in battle.
Ramses II, Kadesh
Ramses II is perhaps the greatest general of the classical age, supreme to Napoleon in his empires size, supreme to Lincoln in idea of political genius, and a soothsayer to his people in times of war. His battle, Kadesh, is a pilot move to his conquering Egypt and reclaiming some of the empire from the Hittites. What is Kadesh? Kadesh is Egyptian win 1 in a time of war, Kadesh is Cannae for Egypt, and Kadesh is not the only victory. Egypt wins, Ramses wins, and the dynasties go into their third golden age.
Battle is outnumbered Ramses II to a Hittite army maybe twice his size, maybe 80,000 to 500,000 men in the Hittite. His chariot, his cavalry, hot, and he wins. How? Directly, Ramses is smarter, and isn’t willing to lose his hold on Arabia. Chariot battle. Fights of sword. Clashing elephants. Watch the bows too. Ramses wins. One book I would recommend on this great battle is, “Armies of Antiquity.”
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