Across nine centuries, from the Norman conquest and crusader kings to desert generals, Britain's wars have been won by a handful of remarkable commanders. These are the soldiers behind the island's defining victories, from the longbows of Agincourt to the guns of El Alamein, each linked to the battle that made their name.
Lieutenant General Bernard Montgomery watches the start of the German retreat at El Alamein from the turret of his Grant tank, 5 November 1942. British Army photograph. Public domain
Duke William lifts his helmet to be recognised on the battlefield of Hastings, a scene from the Bayeux Tapestry, made in the 1070s. Public domain
From the longbow to the tank
Britain's commanders spanned wildly different ages, a crusading king, a medieval warrior, a naval genius, a cautious field marshal, yet each mastered the decisive weapon of his time. Henry V and the longbow broke French chivalry at Agincourt; Nelson ruled the age of sail; Wellington ended Napoleon; and Montgomery turned the tide in the desert war.
The Battle of Agincourt in a miniature from an abridged chronicle of Enguerrand de Monstrelet, painted around 1470 to 1480. Public domain
Among the most celebrated are the Duke of Wellington, Horatio Nelson, Henry V, Bernard Montgomery and Richard the Lionheart, spanning the Middle Ages to the Second World War.
Who was Britain's greatest general?
There is no single answer, but the Duke of Wellington, who was never beaten in a pitched battle he commanded and defeated Napoleon at Waterloo, is the most common choice for the greatest British general.
Who beat Napoleon?
The Duke of Wellington, with the Prussians under Blucher, defeated Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815; at sea, Nelson had already broken French naval power at Trafalgar in 1805.
Who won the Battle of Agincourt?
Henry V of England won Agincourt in 1415, his outnumbered army destroying a much larger French force with the help of the longbow and the muddy ground.
Are English and British commanders the same?
Not exactly. Medieval figures like Henry V and Richard the Lionheart were kings of England; later figures like Wellington and Montgomery served the United Kingdom, which includes England, Scotland, Wales and, historically, Ireland. William the Conqueror was himself a Norman (French) duke who took the English crown in 1066, so 'British' is a loose umbrella here rather than a precise label.
Where can I read about their battles?
Each commander links to their key battles, and the guides to the greatest medieval, Napoleonic and Second World War battles collect them from Agincourt and Waterloo to El Alamein and Normandy.
Command Britain's greatest armies
Echoes of Battle brings the great battles of history to life, scene by scene on the real map. Join the list to be first when it launches.
