No matter how mighty an army might be, how great their technology and weapons, it would all mean nothing without a great military mind calling the shots from behind the scenes. We study their tactics in military academies and read about them in history books, often amazed by how much territory they managed to claim in their time.We’ve gathered here just a few of the greatest conquerors from throughout history, many of whom even adopted the word Great on their name. We don’t recommend following in their footsteps, particularly due to how the political climate has changed since then, but there’s still much to learn from such brilliant minds.cnx.cmd.push(function() {cnx({playerId: "106e33c0-3911-473c-b599-b1426db57530",}).render("0270c398a82f44f49c23c16122516796");});Wikimedia CommonsAlexander the GreatAs the king of Macedon, he created one of the largest empires the ancient world had ever seen. By age 30, his military campaigns had successfully stretched his massive territory all the way from Greece to northwestern India.Wikimedia CommonsEmperor Genghis KhanBorn as Temüjin, he managed to unite deeply divided Mongol tribes under his banner. He ultimately became the ruler of the largest contiguous land empire in history, conquering vast stretches of territory with overwhelming speed and military precision.Wikimedia CommonsGaius Julius CaesarThis famous Roman general and statesman led armies to victory throughout the Gallic Wars. He eventually took total control of the republic, serving as dictator from 49 BC right up until his famous assassination in the Roman Senate.Wikimedia CommonsEmperor Napoleon BonaparteCrowned as the Emperor of the French, he orchestrated a massive series of military campaigns during the Napoleonic Wars. His forces marched aggressively across Europe and the Middle East, completely changing the political map of the early 1800s.Wikimedia CommonsCyrus the GreatHe founded the massive Achaemenid Empire after successfully defeating the Median Empire. Through intense military strategy and regional conquest, he managed to create what was recognized at the time as the absolute largest empire in recorded human history.Wikimedia CommonsMansa Sundiata KeitaAs a powerful West African monarch, he founded the famous empire of Mali. He established a massive territorial base for his people and laid down strong foundations for political unity that kept the region secure for generations.Wikimedia CommonsKing Shaka ZuluRuling over the Zulu Kingdom from 1816 to 1828, he completely changed how his soldiers fought. He ordered wide-reaching reforms that reorganized his local military into a highly organized and formidable force capable of dominating rival factions.Wikimedia CommonsSuleiman the MagnificentServing as the Ottoman sultan from 1520 to 1566, he completely reshaped his region of the world. Under his direct leadership, the empire reached an undeniable peak in economic stability, political influence, and sheer military power.Wikimedia CommonsConquistador Hernan CortesThis Spanish conquistador led an incredibly destructive expedition into the Americas. His military campaigns and shifting alliances ultimately resulted in the total conquest of the mighty Aztec Empire and the tragic fall of the capital city of Tenochtitlán.Wikimedia CommonsAttila the HunWidely known as The Scourge of God, he fiercely ruled the Huns from 434 to 453. His terrifying military campaigns pushed his empire deep across Central and Eastern Europe, striking fear into the hearts of Roman leaders everywhere.Wikimedia CommonsEmperor Qin Shi HuangHe became the very first emperor of a unified China after systematically conquering the remaining 6 major Chinese states. As the founder of the Qin dynasty, he established a centralized power structure that changed Asian history forever.Wikimedia CommonsEmperor Songtsen GampoAs the 33rd King of Tibet, he officially unified the entire Tibetan Plateau. He successfully conquered several adjacent lands to expand his kingdom, and he is widely remembered for formally introducing the practice of Buddhism to his people.Wikimedia CommonsDaimyo Toyotomi HideyoshiThis powerful Japanese leader fought in numerous military sieges to expand his influence across the nation. Through brilliant strategic planning, he eventually managed to conquer the entire Chūgoku region away from the rival soldiers of the Mōri clan.Wikimedia CommonsPharaoh Thutmose IIIRuling during the wealthy 18th Dynasty, he is widely regarded as the preeminent warrior pharaoh of Egypt. Historians consider him one of the greatest military commanders of his time, constantly pushing his borders further into hostile foreign territories.Wikimedia CommonsKing Gustavus AdolphusServing as the King of Sweden from 1611 to 1632, he completely modernized his army. His tactical innovations helped Sweden become one of the primary military forces in Europe during the devastating conflicts of the Thirty Years War.The post 15 of History’s Biggest Conquerors appeared first on Den of Geek.