When Cyrus decimated their army, Tomyris’ son killed himself, and Tomyris decided to seek her revenge.Īfter her son Spargapises’ death, Tomyris went after Cyrus the Great again, defeating his army and even killing Cyrus in the process. Tomyris wasn’t afraid of conflict and took on one of the dominant forces of the day: Persian king Cyrus the Great. Queen Tomyris led the Massaegetae, a group of nomadic people that lived near the Caspian Sea in the 6th Century. Why he is on the list: Defeated Cyrus the Great in a decisive battle while defending her people from the Achaemenid Empire It’s said that he fought bravely against all of his enemies and was often right in the thick of battle. Although he commanded massive armies, Basil II wasn’t afraid to get his hands dirty. Although he ruled, Basil II often avoided ceremonial clothes and wore a military uniform, even in the Byzantine Court.īasil II’s empire was vast, reaching from the Caucasus to Southern Italy, to the Danube River and Palestine. Since he saw his father murdered at a young age, Basil II had a mean streak and an intolerance for formality. Along with his famous brother Constantine, Basil II ruthlessly held onto power and commanded one of the largest empires in the ancient world.īasil II’s brutality was well known, and his campaigns often targeted specific groups of people. Why he is on the list: Brutal emperor who led numerous military campaigns to expand his empireīasil II, also known as “the Bulgar Slayer,” ruled the Byzantine Empire for nearly half a century in 960. Eventually, Boudicca was defeated and committed suicide, rather than accept defeat and surrender. Unfortunately, her army was no match for the better-equipped and more organized Romans. Together, they sacked towns and slaughtered entire legions. Like Vercingetorix, Boudicca was masterful at uniting tribes, putting together a massive army of Trinovantes and Iceni people. Incensed, Boudicca conducted a campaign of terror against the invaders that they’d never forget. Instead, they raped her daughters and whipped Boudicca. When her husband Prasutagus died, the Romans did not allow Boudicca or her daughters to rule in his place. Iceni culture was very equal in contrast to Roman society, something that the invading Romans didn’t expect.Īlthough Boudicca was technically a queen, she was also a warrior. The Iceni queen ruled between 60 and 61 CE in what’s now the United Kingdom.
Like Vercingetorix, Boudicca went up against the Romans and nearly won. Why he is on the list: Orchestrated a tribal rebellion against Rome that inflicted massive damage on the empire in Britain
After his ships were destroyed in a storm, Alaric the Barbarian had to admit defeat. Although Roman troops couldn’t foil the Visigoth king’s plans, Mother Nature was another story. As the first king of the Visigoths, Alaric the Barbarian was a lethal and strategic leader who was eventually credited with sacking Rome.Īfter his success in Rome, Alaric the Barbarian continued through the Roman empire into parts of Africa. Although Alaric the Barbarian initially fought with the Romans, he later fought against them when the empire divided.Īlaric the Barbarian ruled the Visigoths from 395 to 410 CE, and despite being labeled as a “barbarian,” he was actually Christian. Why he is on the list: Lethal and strategic leader responsible for the sacking of RomeĪlaric the Barbarian trained in the Roman army and later commanded Gothic troops, who fought with the Romans under the command of emperor Theodosius.
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