Timeless leaders

Genghis Khan, Julius Caesar, and more: 10 outstanding military leaders!

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Few aspects of human history are as consistent as warfare. While armed conflicts are undoubtedly regrettable, it’s impossible to deny that they have played a central role in our culture since the dawn of civilization. In that sense, many exceptional military minds and strategists have left their mark on history—to the point that we still discuss their remarkable accomplishments centuries later. With that in mind, we have selected 10 of the most outstanding military minds humankind has ever produced, in an effort to pay homage to their strategic genius. Enjoy!

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Few military generals are as iconic as Napoleon Bonaparte. Can’t you instantly picture his emblematic military attire the moment you hear his name? Napoleon's accomplishments are as remarkable as his legacy—he rose to prominence during the French Revolution, led numerous military campaigns across Europe, and eventually ruled the French Empire as Emperor until 1815.

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Just like Napoleon, a distinct image of the Roman leader Julius Caesar immediately comes to mind when his name is mentioned—a stoic, unwavering figure, his calculating mind crowned with iconic bay leaves. As a member of the political alliance known as the First Triumvirate, Caesar led Roman armies to victory in the Gallic Wars before clashing with his rival Pompey in a civil war, from which he emerged as the undisputed ruler of Rome until his assassination in 44 BC.

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Many historic leaders have borne the title "the Great," from the aforementioned Pompey to the Prussian monarch Frederick II. However, many historians argue that this distinction belongs above all to Alexander III of Macedon—better known as Alexander the Great. He ascended the throne of Macedon at just 20 years old, and by 30, he had built one of the largest empires in history, stretching from Greece to India.

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Genghis Khan is arguably one of the most divisive figures in history. To some historians, he was a ruthless tyrant, while to modern Mongolians, he is revered as the founder of their nation. One thing that cannot be denied, however, is his military genius—he united the Mongol tribes into a single, unstoppable force that conquered vast regions of China and Central Asia.

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Who can deny the military genius of the man who considered warfare an art form? Sun Tzu, a general and strategist during the Eastern Zhou period, is best known for writing the timeless military classic The Art of War. But don’t let the title mislead you—Sun Tzu’s insightful and groundbreaking teachings have transcended the battlefield, influencing fields such as business and sports.

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Let’s jump ahead a few hundred years to the 20th century and pay a well-deserved homage to the first American featured in this article. General George S. Patton is forever remembered for commanding the United States Army during World War II, including the Allied invasion of Germany and subsequent campaigns in France and Germany. Patton is not only celebrated for his military prowess but also for his colorful and resolute personality, which reassured millions of Americans during one of history’s darkest chapters.

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Following the iconic thriller The Silence of the Lambs, the name Hannibal has taken on a somewhat eerie connotation. Which is a shame, considering it was also borne by a legendary Carthaginian general renowned for his military prowess. Hannibal famously led Carthage’s forces against the Roman Republic, including a daring crossing of the Alps with North African war elephants.

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If you ever visit London’s iconic Trafalgar Square, you’ll likely come across a towering column topped by a statue of a stern-looking Royal Navy officer. This monument, known as Nelson’s Column, is a fitting tribute to Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson, the hero of the Battle of Trafalgar. During this 1805 battle, the British Navy faced a formidable Spanish fleet. However, Nelson’s brilliant strategies secured victory—though he tragically lost his life from injuries sustained in combat.

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Like George Patton, Charles de Gaulle is regarded as one of France’s greatest heroes. As a military officer, he led the Free French forces during World War II, playing a key role in restoring democracy to France. After the war, he chaired the provisional government of the French Republic until 1946. In 1958, he was elected President of France, a position he held until 1969.

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Much like Alexander the Great, many consider William I, the first Norman king of England, the ruler most deserving of the title William the Conqueror. As Duke of Normandy, William achieved what few had: invading England and claiming the throne after the death of Edward the Confessor. While he remains a divisive figure, his numerous statues in France and beyond stand as lasting tributes to his legacy.

Words of wisdom

Did you know the origins of these 10 English idioms?

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The English language is filled to the brim with impactful, deep, and sometimes whimsical imagery: Have you ever stopped to think about how much we rely on a vast array of unusual phrases to relay very common concepts? We are of course talking about idioms, those quirky and eccentric sentences that, if anything, provide a bit of color and variety to our everyday lives. But have you wondered where the idioms we say daily come from? Who was the first person to warn someone not to look into a gifted horse’s mouth? Don’t worry, we got you covered: We have researched the origins of 10 of the most common idioms in the English language. Enjoy!

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The idiom "to fly off the handle" is used to describe someone who is not in full control of their emotions: Someone might fly off the handle if they angrily and suddenly overreact to a minor inconvenience.

You might be inclined to think that the titular handle is one found in an everyday tool like a frying pan or a wok, but it in fact comes from the world of lumberjacks: According to historians, this idiom comes from badly manufactured axes, out of which poorly fastened axe heads would sometimes come off flying. Since this outcome is obviously dangerous, this idiom perfectly describes unpredictable and potentially unpleasant situations.

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This idiom is a bit off-putting, isn’t it? Someone "chewing the fat" is engaged in pleasant yet trivial conversation: Whether it is idle chit-chat or harmless gossip, two (or more) people chewing the fat are usually chatting without a care in the world.

If you are wondering how chewing fat would eventually morph to mean chatting, you might want to take a look at the world of 19th-century sailors. In the days before refrigerators, sailors had to carry food that wouldn’t spoil on their voyages: One of these items was salted pork skin, which largely consisted of fat. In due time, the idle chatter that came from the long time it took to consume this honestly disgusting food became synonymous with the action itself.

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This is one of the idioms on this list that makes the most sense. An astrological blue moon is a rare occurrence in which the second full moon of a month might be seen with a pale blue tint. Blue moons usually occur approximately every 3 years, although some phenomena like volcanic eruptions or forest fires might produce them as well.

Logically, the idiom "once in a blue moon" is used to describe something that happens very rarely. In any case, this idiom does bring a certain mystique to complaining about that friend who is never able to hang out: You can simply say that they come around "once in a blue moon".

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No one wants to be on the receiving end of a "cold shoulder": This idiom is used to describe someone who is intentionally unfriendly to someone else. From an angry friend to a disgruntled coworker, if anyone is giving you the cold shoulder, you might want to look into what made them mad in the first place.

You might be inclined to believe that the origin of this idiom comes from the action of literally turning away from someone. However, some historians have a more interesting theory: They believe that it comes from medieval etiquette. According to these linguists, whenever the host of a dinner party in medieval times wanted their guests to leave, they would serve a cold cut of pork or mutton shoulder.

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Isn’t this idiom adorable? We instantly think about a worried cow waiting for her teenage cows to come home only to scold them for being out past their curfew. In any case, the idiom "till the cows come home" is used to describe something that takes a long and indefinite amount of time.

As you would expect, this idiom comes from the world of farming, and it dates back to at least the 1500s. Since cows were often milked late at night, the last job a farmer would have to do before turning in for the night would be to return the cows to their barns. And, as anyone with an office job will attest, the last task of the day often seems like the longest.

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The idiom "blood is thicker than water" is regularly used to highlight the importance of family, where blood is used as a symbol of family bonds. When someone tells you this idiom, they are trying to remind you that family needs to stick together through thick and thin.

Curiously, some historians believe that the origins of this idiom can be traced back to a mistranslation. According to them, the full adage states: "The blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb". Therefore, if this theory is to be believed, the meaning of this idiom would be the exact opposite, and bonds of friendship would supersede family bonds.

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This idiom should be fairly self-explanatory: Unless they are about to go on a delightful walk through the park, cats should never be placed inside bags. Not that this reminder will do anyone any good: As every single cat owner can attest, cats can (and will) go inside any object they find even slightly suitable.

In any case, what’s the origin of the idiom "to let the cat out of the bag"? Well, the answer might lie in Medieval markets, of all places. According to one theory, some unscrupulous merchants might trick patrons into buying small kittens, passing them as piglets sold inside a bag. Once the titular cat was "let out of the cat", the enraged patron would realize they were bamboozled, at which point it would probably be too late.

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"By and large" is an idiom used to describe a situation in general: For instance, you might be complaining about your job, only to end your sentence by saying "But by and large, I think it is a good workplace".

As with many other English idioms, "by and large" comes from sailor slang. In the old days, sailors would use the nautical term "full and by" to refer to traveling into the wind, while "large" was used to describe the exact opposite: Wind coming from behind. In that sense, the term "by and large" emerged to describe a situation in which the wind was coming from all directions.

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The idiom "white elephant" is used to describe something lavish and expensive that however doesn’t seem to serve any function whatsoever, rendering it burdensome. This phrase might seem nonsensical, but it does make perfect sense when you think about it: Would you like to receive a costly elephant as a birthday present?

You might think we are joking, but this is actually the historical basis behind this idiom: According to historians, rulers of the Kingdom of Siam (now present-day Thailand) would gift white elephants as gifts. However, you might be surprised to learn that these outlandish gifts were actually punishment: Since the elephants were extremely costly to keep, they would often become financial burdens to their owners.

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We’ll end this article with one of the most baffling idioms we were able to find. The idiom "cat got your tongue" is used to describe someone rendered speechless after learning a particularly shocking piece of information. However, why these adorable pets are associated with losing the ability to speak is a mystery we can’t stop thinking about.

And while we can’t provide you with a definitive answer, here are some plausible theories: Some believe that it refers to Medieval times, in which blasphemers would be punished by forcefully removing their tongues and feeding them to street cats and other vermin. Others believe that it comes from the fear of witches, who would supposedly command their cat familiars to hex and curse their victims, rendering them speechless and catatonic.