They were the world’s great conquerors and generals. They led mighty armies and through their tactical brilliance and ruthless lust for power, they lay claim to vast empires. Yet these conquerors were often ambivalent figures. Many also played a civilising role, spreading culture, building infrastructure, and fostering trade. How well do you know the history of these complex figures? This quiz will test your knowledge of the generals and conquerors who have helped shape the world.
This leader conquered Constantinople in 1453, when he was only 21, and claimed the title “Caesar” of the Roman Empire.
Which of these conquerors came to power by uniting the nomadic tribes of Northeast Asia in the late 12th and early 13th centuries?
This great king and conqueror featured in the popular Hollywood film 300.
This great ruler of one of the major military powers in Europe was also interested in enlightenment ideas, such as banning the use of torture in the judicial process.
He brought down the great empire of the Incas with no more than 160 men on horseback, and changed the destiny of the Americas when he conquered Peru.
This great conqueror united most of western and central Europe, and he uttered these shocking words: "If the populace knew with what idiocy they were ruled, they would revolt."
Which great emperor, ruling an empire that was mostly free from large-scale conflict, despite his continuous wars of imperial expansion, uttered these words? "I found Rome a city of bricks and left it the city of marbles."
This Roman emperor, known for his military expansion of the empire in the Near East and for his public building programs, makes an appearance in Dante’s The Divine Comedy as the first saved pagan.
Who was the ruler who conquered the Kingdom of Kush (in present-day Sudan and southern Egypt) in AD 350?
Which emperor, known for his wars against Parthia and the Germanic tribes as well as the relative peace of his reign, uttered these words? "You have control over your mind - not outside events. Realise this, and you will find strength."
This king expanded the borders of the Mali Empire in the 14th century but is best known for his lavish gift-giving during his Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca in 1324.
This king was the first king to truly rule all the Franks.
This general was regarded as Rome’s greatest enemy?
This general established a 15th century empire in and around modern Afghanistan, Iran, and Central Asia. The Elizabethan poet Marlowe wrote a play about him.
In his time, regarded throughout all of Europe as a military genius, his civil code is still in force in his nation.
Which of these generals conquered Spain in the 8th century and established Muslim rule there?
She was not the first female pharaoh, but this leader was the most popular in Egyptian history.
Dubbed the “Scourge of God,” this conqueror invaded northern Italy in AD 452 but did not sack Rome after negotiating with Pope Leo I.
The most famous words of this insatiable and brilliant ruler were these: “There are no more worlds to conquer!”
Which conquering leader, statesman, and orator uttered these famous words? “In war, events of importance are the result of trivial causes.”
He was a bookish historian who became the unlikely emperor of Rome in AD 41 and the conqueror of Britain two years later.
