War has been fought for many reasons throughout history. Blood has been spilled, kingdoms destroyed, and people slaughtered. Some battles played a significant role in history, some created legends which have been passed down through the generations, and some of the efficient military tactics that originated on the ancient battlefields are still followed today. Ancient military commanders like Alexander the Great and Hannibal proved with their brilliant strategies that nothing was impossible on the battlefield.

14. Battle of Plataea (479 BC)

Battle Between: Persians and Greeks

Greek Leaders: General Pausanias and Aristides

Persian Leader: Mardonius

Date: August 479 BC

Victory: Greece

Location: Plataea, Greece

Greek Army: 40,000 men

Persian Army: 70,000–120,000 men

In the summer of 479 BC, a large Persian force led by King Xerxes invaded Greece. The Greeks tried to hold the Persian force with 300 Spartiates and 7,000 hoplites under the leadership of King Leonidas in a narrow pass. Despite the gallant efforts of the Spartans, Persia conquered Thermopylae and had several victories in Artemisium, Thessaly, Boeotia, Euboea, and Attica. However, the Persians lost the Battle of Salamis. Then Xerxes retreated and returned to Asia with half of his army. He put Mardonius in charge in Boeotia.

The 60,000 hoplites, under the command of the Spartan king, Pausanius, marched towards Boeotia to fight the Persians. The historic battle took place near Plataea (modern Plataiai) in Boeotia. A huge portion of the Persian army was trapped in the camp and slaughtered. This battle allegedly happened on the same day as the Battle of Mycale and marked the end of the Persian invasion.

13. Battle of Thermopylae (480 BC)

Battle Between: Persians and Greeks

Greek Leaders: King Leonidas I, Demophilus

Persian Leaders: King Xerxes I of Persia, Mardonius, Hydarnes

Date: 480 BC

Victory: Persian

Location: Thermopylae, Greece

In the summer of 480 BC, an unparalleled Greek force of 7,000 men, led by King Leonidas of Sparta, blocked the outnumbered Persian army at the pass. The Greeks held off the Persians for seven days in three vicious battles, often epitomized as famous last-stand battles in history. Leonidas blocked the road with his troops for two days, this road being the one and only way for the Persian army to pass. After the continuous two-day battle, Greek resident Ephiatles revealed a secret pass through which the Persian army could enter. Leonidas, with his 300 Spartans and several other Thespians and Thebans died a glorious death at the pass.

12. Battle of Red Cliffs (208 AD)

Battle Between: Southern warlords Liu Bei and Sun Quan and Northern warlord Cao Cao

Southern Leaders: Zhou Yu, Cheng Pu, Liu Bei

Northern Leader: Cao Cao

Date: 208 AD

Victory: Sun Quan and Liu Bei

Location: Yangtze River, China

Southern Warlord Army: 50,000

Northern Warlord Army: 800,000

The Han dynasty ruled China for around four centuries, dividing the kingdom into its Western and Eastern periods. A decisive battle took place in 208 AD between the two southern warlords, Liu Bei and Sun Quan, and Cao Cao who had control over the northern part of China. Cao Cao assembled his 800,000 soldiers and attacked his southern rivals swiftly with a mission to unify China.

The southern warlords had 50,000 soldiers altogether, including 30,000 trained naval soldiers led by Zhou. Despite the low numbers of soldiers, Zhou Yu and Lu Su were able to capitalize on the disadvantages of Cao’s army. The biggest disadvantage Cao Cao faced was the lack of stable rear supplies, and the fact that many of the soldiers were inexperienced in naval warfare.

See also:

Top 10 Ancient Chinese Inventions and Discoveries

11. Battle of the Hydaspes (326 BC)

Battle Between: Macedonians and Hindu Paurava kingdom (Punjab near Bhera)

Greek Leaders: Alexander the Great, Craterus, Coenus, Hephaestion, Ptolemy, Perdiccas, Seleucus, Lysimachus, Demonicus of Pella, Peucestas

Hindu Paurava Leader: King Porus

Date: May 326 BC

Victory: Macedonian

Location: Punjab, ancient India, near the Hydaspes River

Often considered one of the costliest battles for Alexander the Great, the Battle of the Hydaspes River was fought between King Porus of the Hindu Paurava kingdom and Alexander the Great in 326 BC. During this battle, Alexander attempted to cross the river during a monsoon despite the great Indian force waiting for him on the opposite side. The battle was the result of Alexander’s mission to extend his empire towards India. The battle opened a gateway to develop Greek and Indian cultures that lasted many centuries.

10. Battle of Changping (262 BC–260 BC)

Battle Between: State of Qin and State of Zhao

State of Zhao Leaders: Lian Po, Zhao Kuo

State of Qin Leaders: Wang He, Bai Qi

Date: April 262 BC–July 260 BC

Victory: State of Qin

Location: Northwest of Gaoping, Shanxi

State of Zhao Army: 450,000

State of Qin Army: 550,000

The Battle of Changping took place during the Warring States period in China between the state of Qin and state of Zhao. The Qin attempted to invade the Zhao in 262 BC but was forced back. The Zhao, with a 400,000-strong force, attacked the Qin camp. However, the Qin’s army ambushed the Zhao force in the mountains before they could reach the camp. After 46 days without supplies the Zhao finally surrendered and the Qin won a decisive victory.

9. Battle of Chalons (451 AD)

Battle Between: Roman Empire and Gallic Empire

Roman Leader: Aurelian

Gallic Leader: Tetricus I

Date: June 20, 451 AD

Victory: Roman

Location: Châlons-en-Champagne, France)

The Battle of Chalons was part of the Hunnic invasions of Gaul, fought between Roman Emperor Aurelian and Emperor Tetricus I of the Gallic Empire. This battle has been remembered for years because of the high death toll. It ended the Gallic Empire and reunified it with the Roman Empire after 13 years of separation.

8. Battle of Kadesh (1274 BC)

Battle Between: New Kingdom of Egypt and the Hittite Empire

Egyptian Leader: Ramesses II

Hittite Empire Leader: Muwatalli II

Date: May 1274 BC

Victory: Egyptian

Location: Orontes River near Kadesh

Hittite Army: 20,000

Egyptian Army: 23,000–50,000

The Battle of Kadesh is the oldest ever recorded military battle in history in which the details of formations and tactics are known. The battle took place in present-day Syria between the Egyptians (Ramesses II) and the Hittite Empire (Muwatalli II). Ramesses, along with his bodyguard, arrived from the north to join the Amun division and set up a fortified camp to await the Ra division who were marching from the north. They captured two Hittite spies who, after being tortured, revealed the true location of Muwatalli’s army. After learning the location, Ramesses summoned the remainder of the army and planned to attack the Ra division. When Muwatalli saw an approaching army, he sent his chariot force south of Kadesh to attack the approaching Ra division.

7. The Siege of Syracuse (214 BC–212 BC)

Battle Between: Roman Republic and Syracuse, Carthage

Roman Leaders: Marcus Claudius, Marcellus

Carthaginian Leader: Epicydes

Date: 214 BC–212 BC

Victory: Rome

Location: Syracuse

Roman Army: 18,000 infantry, 2,000 cavalry

Carthaginian Army: 21,000

The Siege of Syracuse is part of the Second Punic War that took place between 214 and 212 BC. Sicily was fragmentally divided between two rulers. The Romans controlled the west and north, while Hiero controlled the remainder. After the death of Hiero, his young grandson Hieronymus succeeded him. He started negotiating with Hannibal but this did not turn out well for him. Hieronymus was assassinated and Syracuse was declared a democratic republic primarily dominated by the Carthaginians.

The assassination of Hieronymus led to a conflict between pro-Carthaginian and pro-Roman factions. The two brothers, Hippocrates and Epicydes, of mixed Syracusan and Carthaginian descent, took control of the city in the hope of creating a Sicily–Carthaginian stronghold. In order to deal with the situation, the Romans sent Marcus Claudius Marcellus to Sicily, who took control of Leontini and took all the Carthaginians prisoner, beating and beheaded them. The two brothers escaped from Leontini and spread the story to the Romans. The Romans slaughtered all the inhabitants of the city and Marcellus encircled Syracuse and commenced the military operation in 213 BC.

6. Battle of the Metaurus (207 BC)

Battle Between: Carthage and Roman Republic

Carthage’s Leader: Hasdrubal Barca

Roman Republic’s Leaders: Marcus Livius Salinator, Gaius Claudius Nero, Porcius Licinus

Date: 207 BC

Victory: Rome

Location: Metaurus River, Marche, present-day Italy

Roman Army: 7,000 soldiers (8 Roman legions plus Nero’s reinforcements of 7,000)

Carthage Army: 30,000 soldiers (25,000 infantry, 5,000 cavalry, and 15 war elephants)

The Battle of Metaurus was one of the most important battles of the Second Punic War. Hannibal was waiting for reinforcements and seized equipment from his brother Hasdrubal. The reinforcements and equipment were pivotal to secure a victorious battle against Rome. The Roman force was led by Marcus Livius Salinator and Caius Claudius Nero. Claudius, who was fighting Hannibal in Grumentum, 100 km south of the Metaurus river, reached Metaurus to accompany Marcus Livius. The vicious and undetected forces trapped Hasdrubal in Metaurus. Instead of the expected military troops, Hannibal received Hasdrubal’s head thrown by the Romans into his camp.

5. Third Servile War (73 BC–71 BC)

Battle Between: Roman Republic and an army of escaped slaves

Slave Leaders: Spartacus, Crixus, Oenomaus, Castus, Gannicus

Roman Leaders: Gaius Claudius Glaber, Publius Varinius, Lucius Furius, Lucius Cossinius, Gnaeus Cornelius, Lentulus Clodianus, Lucius, Gellius Publicola, Gaius Cassius Longinus, Gnaeus Manlius, Marcus Licinius Crassus

Date: 73–71 BC

Victory: Rome

Location: Roman Republic (Modern day Italy)

Slave Army: 120,000 escaped slaves and gladiators, total number unknown

Roman Army: 8 Roman legions of 4,000–6,000 infantrymen plus auxiliaries, 32,000–48,000 infantry plus auxiliaries, 12,000 garrison troops

The Third Servile War was the last in a series of slave rebellions against the Roman Republic led by the rebellious Roman slave Spartacus. The small group of 78 slaves and escaped gladiators grew into a massive army made up of 120,000 men, women, and children. With the growing threat from the slave rebellions, the Romans formed an army of eight legions under the leadership of Marcus Licinius Crassus. The war ended in 71 BC with a decisive Roman victory.

4. Battle of Gaugamela (331 BC)

Battle Between: Hellenic League and Achaemenid Empire

Hellenic Leaders: Alexander the Great, Hephaestion, Craterus, Parmenion, Ptolemy, Perdiccas, Antigonus, Cleitus, Nearchus, Seleucus, Ariston, Simmias of Macedon

Achaemenid Leaders: Darius III, Bessus, Mazaeus, Orontes II, Atropates

Date: October 1, 331 BC

Victory: Greek

Location: Tel Gomel near Mosul

Hellenic Army: 47,000

Achaemenid Army: 34,000–100,000

The decisive battle between Alexander the Great and the Persian Achaemenid Empire took place on October 1, 331 BC. Despite his small military force (compared to the Achaemenid Empire), Alexander’s tactics worked effectively. The two great armies met near Gaugamela (the present-day city of Mosul in Iraq). Alexander’s ingenious tactics worked so effectively that the battle led to the fall of the Achaemenid Empire.

3. Battle of Salamis (480 BC)

Battle Between: Roman Republic and Parthian Empire

Roman Leader: Greek city-states

Parthian Leader: Persian Empire

Date: September, 480 BC

Victory: Greek

Location: Straits of Salamis

The Battle of Salamis is part of the Greco-Persian wars fought between the alliance of Greek city-states and the Persian Empire in 480 BC. Despite being heavily outnumbered by Persian soldiers, the tactics of the Greeks allowed them to outmaneuver their enemy in the narrow streets. A small Greek force blocked the Thermopylae pass. The Greeks engaged with the Persian force in the nearby Straits of Artemisium, resulting in the Battle of Thermopylae. The Greek forces were obliterated.

King Xerxes, realizing his forthcoming defeat, moved with his depleted army back to Persia and the Persian general, Mardonius, took charge of the battle. Often seen as the first ever-recorded naval battle, the Battle of Salamis ended up with a Greek victory. The Persians faced heavy losses, losing 300 ships as opposed to the Greeks’ loss of 40 ships.

2. Battle of Carrhae (53 BC)

Battle Between: Roman Republic and Parthian Empire

Roman Leaders: Marcus Licinius Crassus, Publius Licinius Crassus, Gaius Cassius Longinus

Parthian Leader: Surena

Date: May 6, 53 BC

Victory: Parthian

Location: Near Carrhae (Harran)

Roman Army: 34,000–44,000 legionaries (7 legions), 4,000 cavalry, 4,000 light infantry

Parthian Army: 9,000 horse archers, 1,000 cataphracts, 1,000 supply camels

Crassus, one of the wealthiest men in Rome, assembled his forces and decided to invade Parthia without the official consent of the Roman Senate. Crassus marched into Parthia through the deserts of Mesopotamia, rejecting an offer from King Artavasdes II of Armenia to use an Armenian route for the invasion. The clash between the two empires took place near Carrhae. The Parthian leader Surena decisively won the battle, slaughtering and capturing most of the Roman soldiers. Crassus was killed in the battle, which led to the end of the Roman Republic and the rise of the Roman Empire.

1. Battle of Gaixia (202 BC)

Battle Between: Han and Western Chu

Han Leader: Liu Bang

Western Chu leader: Xiang Yu

Date: 202 BC

Victory: Han

Location: Gaixia (present-day Suzhou, Anhui)

Han Army: 600,000–700,000

Western Chu Army: 100,000

The decisive battle of between the Chu and the Han, fought in 202 BC between Liu Bang and Xiang Yu, ended with a victory for Liu Bang. Liu Bang later proclaimed himself Emperor of China and founded the Han dynasty, whereas Xiang Yu committed suicide after the battle. During the battle, Han troops captured Xiang Yu’s wife “Consort Yu”. Yu sent most of his army to the capital to save his wife and the divided force turned out to be an advantage to the Han. Liu Bang snared Xiang Yu’s 100,000 armies with his prodigious 300,000 force at night as the battle raged. When Xiang Yu saw his army crumbling, he had no choice but to fall on his sword.

Conclusion

All of these ancient battles created great political and geographical change. Huge numbers of people were killed, and yet the battles continued. Some wars were the result of conflicts that could have been resolved in different ways. Often war was used to show a kingdom or country’s supremacy, and frequently led to the loss of innocent life.