This is a chronological list of notable conquerors, military leaders, generals and admirals from worldwide with undefeated or near-undefeated reputation during their career. This list is sorted by portrait, commander, era, allegiance and notes on their activity. This list also includes different continents for each leader.
Europe
Portrait Commander Era Allegiance Notes Alexander the Great 4th century BC Macedonian EmpireKnown for conquering most of the known world during his era, and has acquired a reputation for never losing a battle. "Alexander the great never lost a battle and by the time he died at the age of just 33 had conquered most of the known world. Fighting against numerically superior forces, he had defeated one of the greatest empires of the ancient world and spread Greek culture through Persia into Central Asia and India." Scipio Africanus 3rd century BC Roman RepublicRoman general and statesman who was one of the main architects of Rome's victory against Carthage in the Second Punic War. Often regarded as one of the greatest military commanders and strategists of all time, his crowning achievement was the defeat of Hannibal at the Battle of Zama in 202 BC, which earned him the honorific epithet Africanus ("the African"). Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa 1st century BC Roman RepublicMarcus Vipsanius Agrippa was a Roman general and statesman who was a close friend, son-in-law and lieutenant to the Roman emperor Augustus. Agrippa is well known for his important military victories, notably the Battle of Actium in 31 BC against the forces of Marcus Antonius and Cleopatra. Agrippa masterminded major campaigns and never lost a battle. Nero Claudius Drusus 1st century BC Roman Empire Roman general who launched the first major campaigns across the Rhine and conquered Germanic tribes—including the Batavi, Frisii, Sicambri, and Cherusci—advancing Roman control to the Elbe without suffering a single defeat. Germanicus 1st century BC-1st century Roman Empire Roman general and politician who led successful campaigns in Pannonia, Dalmatia, and Germania. Defeated Arminius at the Battle of Idistaviso (16 AD) and the Battle of the Angrivarian Wall (16 AD). Maintained an unbroken record of tactical victories until his recall and death in Antioch. Narses 5th–6th centuries Roman general and statesman renowned for his critical role in Emperor Justinian I's military campaigns. He rose during the Nika riots in 532 till 539 AD. He commanded the Byzantines in the campaigns in the Balkan (545–551), Appointed supreme commander of Italy in 551 AD, Narses achieved his famous triple victories at Taginae (552), Mons Lactarius (552), and Volturnus (554). In 567, he was recalled from Italy by Justin II at the age of ninty. El Cid 11th century Lordship of ValenciaSpanish national hero, Valencian prince and a Castilian knight with an undefeated reputation in battle. "He is now a Spanish national hero and, having never lost a battle, is seen as an embodiment of chivalry and virtue." Roger of Lauria 13th–14th centuries Roger of Lauria was a Calabrian knight in service of the Aragonese as admiral of the Sicilian navy. His naval career focused the War of the Sicilian Vespers. During this course of conflicts, he never lost a single marine time engagement. He had six major victories–including the Battle of Malta (1283), the Battle of the Gulf of Naples (1284) the Battle of Les Formigues (1285), the Battle of the Counts (1287), the Battle of Capo d'Orlando (1299), and the Battle of Ponza (1300). He suffered one defeat in land during the summer of 1297. Jan Žižka 15th century Taborites(1419–1423)Orebites(1423–1424)Czech national hero and a major participant in the Hussite Wars, who remained militarily undefeated throughout his career.Pál Kinizsi15th centuryKingdom of HungaryHungarian national hero. He was a general of the famed Black Army of the Kingdom of Hungary during the reign of King Matthias Corvinus. He is famous for his victory over the Ottomans at the Battle of Breadfield in 1479. He is reputed to have never lost a battle. Edward IV 15th century House of York Kingdom of England Yorkist king of England who won the battles of Mortimer's Cross, Towton, Barnet and Tewkesbury, and is generally regarded as having remained undefeated in battle as a commander. Ivan Sirko 17th century Zaporozhian SichThe legendary Kosh Otaman of the Zaporozhian Sich. During his career, Sirko took part in 55 Cossack campaigns and built a reputation for himself of never losing a battle. John Churchill 17th–18th century British General and statesman of the late 17th and early 18th centuries with an undefeated status in both battle and siege. "Although Charles Spencer, like Winston S. Churchill, has some of Marlborough’s blood in his veins, he is a wise enough historian to admit that: "He bore a greater burden, military and political, than any British commander before or since, and of him alone could it be said that he never besieged a town he did not take, or fought." Fyodor Ushakov 18th–19th century Prominent 18th and early-19th century Russian admiral with an undefeated reputation at sea regarding naval warfare. Alexander Suvorov 18th century Prominent 18th-century Russian general known for his legendary military career and undefeated status in battle. Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck 20th century Reputation as the only German general during World War I to remain undefeated while fighting numerically superior forces.
Asia
Portrait Commander Era Allegiance Notes Bai Qi 3rd century BC Qin StateBai Qi became known for his brutal methods of warfare and for his undefeated reputation during his 40-year career as a general. Khalid ibn al-Walid 7th century Quraysh(625–627/629)Muhammad(627/629–632)Rashidun Caliphate(632–638)7th century Arab commander and an important figure in early Islamic history. He successfully fought in over 41 military engagements, masterminded the rapid conquest of both the Byzantine Levant and Sasanian Iraq. He remained undefeated throughout his entire career. "Khalid had fought more duels than anyone else in the Muslim army and won each one of them." "From the Battle of Uhud up to the time of his dismissal, over a period of 15 years, Khalid fought 41 battles (excluding minor engagements), of which 35 were concentrated in the last seven years. And he never lost a single one!" "In no other case in history do we see such diverse military virtues combined in one man. Khalid was one of only two great generals in history who never suffered a defeat. The other was Changez Khan, but Changez Khan was not a champion fighter like Khalid, even though his conquests covered a far greater region of the earth." 'Conversely, his ability to enforce battles on the Persians in quick succession highlights his ability to take risks to exploit any given opportunity. Even his enemies acknowledged this quality of Khalid when Ukeidar, one of the tribal chiefs at Daumatul-Handal while addressing a conference of the tribal chiefs ahead of their clash with Khalid, stated, "I know more about Khalid than anyone else; no man is luckier than he. No man is his equal in war. No people face Khalid in battle, be they strong or weak, but are defeated. Take my advice and make peace with him."' Mahmud of Ghazni 11th century Ghaznavid Empire The 11th-century Sultan of the Ghaznavid Empire led various campaigns in Persia, Central Asia, and the Indian subcontinent over the course of four decades, earning an undefeated reputation in battle. Muqali 12th–13th century Mongol General of the late 12th and early 13th centuries in the service of Genghis Khan who was known for his undefeated record in Jin China despite limited resources. Alauddin Khalji 13th-14th century Khalji dynasty Second Sultan of the Khalji dynasty of Delhi, maintained an unbroken military record throughout his reign. He successfully defended Northern India from multiple large-scale Chagatai Mongol invasions and directed the expansion of the Delhi Sultanate across Rajasthan, Malwa, Gujarat, and deep into southern India without suffering a single defeat on the battlefield. Timur 14–15th century Timurid EmpireTurco-Mongol ruler and founder of the Timurid Empire during the 14th and early 15th century. Regarded as an undefeated and cruel conqueror. Ahmad Shah I 15th century Gujarat Sultanate Sultan Ahmad Shah I restlessly fought against the Bahmani Kingdom, Malwa Sultanate and Kingdom of Mewar. He secured authority over regional Rajput kingdoms and Khandesh. He remained undefeated throughout thirty years of his reign. "The historian Sikandar informs us that every year during the last decade of his reign, from 1432 to 1442, Sultan Ahmad sent forth an army to chastise one or the other of his enemies, and at times he led the campaign in person, and he adds that throughout his reign victory always attended his arms and that he never suffered a defeat." Krishnadevaraya 15th-16th centuries Vijayanagara Empire Ruler of the Vijayanagara Empire at its military and cultural zenith. Known by the title Mooru Rayara Ganda ("Lord of Three Kings"), he systematically crushed the invading Deccan Sultanates (Bijapur, Golconda, and the Bahmani Sultanate), decisively triumphed over the Gajapati Empire of Odisha through brilliant siegecraft, and successfully annexed the strategic Raichur Doab—never suffering a single strategic defeat in his numerous campaigns. Özdemiroğlu Osman Paşa 16th century Ottoman general noted for his undefeated reputation in field campaigns against the Safavids; no recorded battlefield defeat before his death. Selim the Grim 16th century Ottoman sultan and military commander who achieved decisive victories at Chaldiran, Marj Dabiq, and Ridaniya; no recorded battlefield defeat during his reign. Yi Sun-sin 16th centuryJoseon 16th-century Korean admiral and military general. Participated in at least 23 naval battles against numerically superior enemy forces during the Imjin War, without losing any battles."Admiral Yi Sunsin: A brief overview of his life and achievements". Korean Spirit and Culture, Series I, Diamond Sutra Recitation Group.The Influence of the Sea on The Political History of Japan (1921), Admiral George Alexander Ballard,
Africa
Portrait Commander Era Allegiance Notes Ahmose I 16th century BC 18th Dynasty Egyptian pharaoh who founded the New Kingdom of Egypt. Expelled the Hyksos after the Siege of Avaris, destroyed their stronghold at Sharuhen, and led successful campaigns into Nubia and the Levant. Maintained an unbroken military record. Thutmose III 15th century BC Egyptian EmpireDuring his reign over ancient Egypt, Thutmose III expended the Empire's borders and later earned the nickname "Napoleon of Egypt" due to his undefeated status in military campaigns.
North America
Portrait Commander Era Allegiance Notes George Henry Thomas 19th century United States(Union)Thomas earned a reputation as the only undefeated Union general during the American Civil War.
References
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