BY PRESSROOM
The legacies of these ancient masters of war still astound us.
Just because you’re a leader doesn’t mean you’re fair and just. Warriors throughout the last thousands of years did incredible things, but they slashed, killed, and maimed their ways to the very top. These legendary warriors were mere men, but became the supreme lords of exotic lands that it could take a lifetime to travel to. Who’s your favorite conqueror of all time? You may find one here.
Ashoka (Maurya) the Great, 304-232 BC
Ashoka was considered to be great because he was the third ruler of the Indian Mauryan Empire which was the largest on the Indian subcontinent and came to an end after his death. He ruled over about 30 million people, and was a Buddhist. But he wasn’t a nice ruler. His prison was legendary for it’s cruelty. He expanded his empire through bloody battles and even killed 300,000 people while taking over Kalinga. After his expansion, his empire was prosperous and renowned, but he’s still remembered as a ruthless man.
Ch’in Shih Huang, 259-210 BC
He was the very first official emperor of China. He was the king of the state of Qin at the age of 13, and after dozens of years of unifying the other states, he named himself the emperor, a word he invented, in 221 BC.
His underlings continued to expand China in his name, and Ch’in Shih Huang standardized the customs of the land, though he commissioned the execution of hundreds scholars by live burial for owning books he banned. He unified the walls of China into the Great Wall of China, and created the famous Terracotta Army. During the end of his life, he desperately sought a formula for immortality.
Mark Anthony, 83-30 BC
Mark Anthony is as regarded for his political and military prowess as he is for his romance and betrayal. After Julius Caesar was assassinated, Mark and two other powerful politicians formed the Second Triumvirate. They killed Caesar’s killers and divided the rule of the Empire among them. Mark was given eastern lands including Egypt which was ruled by Cleopatra, Julius Caesar’s former flame, with whom he had a romantic relationship that heralded three children.
But Mark was married to his colleague’s sister at the time. The three rulers split and a civil war erupted between Mark and his brother-in-law, Octavian, in 31 BC. Mark and Cleopatra went to Egypt and planned to commit suicide together. Mark stabbed himself and died in Cleopatra’s arms. She was captured by Octavian and eventually killed herself.
Vercingetorix, 82 BC – 46 BC
When the great Julius Caesar was trying to invade present-day France, one man was able to defeat him and save the Gauls from Roman rule. Vercingetorix was the leader of the Arverni tribe, but when the Romans started to invade he united all of the tribes of Gaul and eventually fought Caesar’s army off using everyday citizens including the poor.
But as he kept fighting Caesar and his army, he was cornered and eventually surrendered to Caesar himself by sitting at his feet. Caesar imprisoned him for years before marching him around Rome and executing him.
From PRESSROOM
The legacies of these ancient masters of war still astound us.
Just because you’re a leader doesn’t mean you’re fair and just. Warriors throughout the last thousands of years did incredible things, but they slashed, killed, and maimed their ways to the very top. These legendary warriors were mere men, but became the supreme lords of exotic lands that it could take a lifetime to travel to. Who’s your favorite conqueror of all time? You may find one here.
Ashoka (Maurya) the Great, 304-232 BC
Ashoka was considered to be great because he was the third ruler of the Indian Mauryan Empire which was the largest on the Indian subcontinent and came to an end after his death. He ruled over about 30 million people, and was a Buddhist. But he wasn’t a nice ruler. His prison was legendary for it’s cruelty. He expanded his empire through bloody battles and even killed 300,000 people while taking over Kalinga. After his expansion, his empire was prosperous and renowned, but he’s still remembered as a ruthless man.
Ch’in Shih Huang, 259-210 BC
He was the very first official emperor of China. He was the king of the state of Qin at the age of 13, and after dozens of years of unifying the other states, he named himself the emperor, a word he invented, in 221 BC.
His underlings continued to expand China in his name, and Ch’in Shih Huang standardized the customs of the land, though he commissioned the execution of hundreds scholars by live burial for owning books he banned. He unified the walls of China into the Great Wall of China, and created the famous Terracotta Army. During the end of his life, he desperately sought a formula for immortality.
Mark Anthony, 83-30 BC
Mark Anthony is as regarded for his political and military prowess as he is for his romance and betrayal. After Julius Caesar was assassinated, Mark and two other powerful politicians formed the Second Triumvirate. They killed Caesar’s killers and divided the rule of the Empire among them. Mark was given eastern lands including Egypt which was ruled by Cleopatra, Julius Caesar’s former flame, with whom he had a romantic relationship that heralded three children.
But Mark was married to his colleague’s sister at the time. The three rulers split and a civil war erupted between Mark and his brother-in-law, Octavian, in 31 BC. Mark and Cleopatra went to Egypt and planned to commit suicide together. Mark stabbed himself and died in Cleopatra’s arms. She was captured by Octavian and eventually killed herself.
Vercingetorix, 82 BC – 46 BC
When the great Julius Caesar was trying to invade present-day France, one man was able to defeat him and save the Gauls from Roman rule. Vercingetorix was the leader of the Arverni tribe, but when the Romans started to invade he united all of the tribes of Gaul and eventually fought Caesar’s army off using everyday citizens including the poor.
But as he kept fighting Caesar and his army, he was cornered and eventually surrendered to Caesar himself by sitting at his feet. Caesar imprisoned him for years before marching him around Rome and executing him.
From PRESSROOM
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