The Most Famous Military Campaign, Ranked

Voting rules: Choose the military campaign you think is the most famous!

Updated on May 3, 2024 06:58

In the study of history, the impact of military campaigns often shapes the way we understand the world and its complex past. By ranking these significant events, we gain a clearer view of which conflicts have resonated most through the ages, shaping societies and global relations. This dynamic ranking is shaped directly by your votes, emphasizing community engagement in historical discourse. Casting a vote on these campaigns not only contributes to a broader consensus on their historical significance but also affords everyone a chance to reflect on the often profound consequences of these events. Whether you are a history enthusiast, a scholar, or just curious, your participation helps paint a more nuanced picture of history. Join in and see where your perspectives align with others from around the globe.

Which Is the Most Famous Military Campaign?

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LordLiberty · CC BY-SA 4.0

World War II

This was the largest and deadliest military campaign in human history, involving the majority of the world's nations and resulting in an estimated 50 to 85 million fatalities. It had a profound impact on the course of human history and reshaped the global geopolitical landscape.
World War II, also known as the Second World War, was a global conflict that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved many countries around the world, with the two main opposing military alliances being the Allies and the Axis powers. The war was primarily fought between Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, and Imperial Japan on one side, and the United States, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and China on the other. It was one of the deadliest conflicts in human history, resulting in the deaths of approximately 70-85 million people.

Duration: 1939-1945

Main Opposing Alliances: Allies vs Axis powers

Countries Involved: Multiple countries around the world

Main Axis Powers: Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, and Imperial Japan

Main Allied Powers: United States, Soviet Union, United Kingdom, and China
World War II in other rankings
- Position 1 of 10 in Most popular historical event
- Position 6 of 10 in Most popular Wikipedia article
- Position 6 of 10 in Most popular era
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The Napoleonic Wars

Napoleon Bonaparte

These were a series of conflicts waged by France under the leadership of Napoleon Bonaparte against various European powers from 1799 to 1815. They had a major impact on European politics and culture, and laid the groundwork for the modern nation-state system.
The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars fought in Europe between 1803 and 1815. They were primarily fought between Napoleon Bonaparte's French Empire and an array of European powers that formed various coalitions against him. The wars had a significant impact on European politics, society, and military tactics, and they marked the end of the French Revolution and the beginning of the rise of nationalism in Europe.

Duration: 1803-1815

Main belligerents: French Empire vs. European Coalitions

Number of nations involved: Over 30

Major battles: Battle of Austerlitz, Battle of Waterloo, Battle of Borodino

Treaties involved: Treaty of Tilsit, Treaty of Chaumont
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The American Civil War

This was a major conflict fought between the United States and Confederate States from 1861 to 1865, resulting in an estimated 620,000 to 750,000 fatalities. It had a profound impact on American society and politics, and led to significant changes in the country's social and economic structures.
The American Civil War was a significant military campaign fought between the years 1861 and 1865 in the United States. It stemmed from longstanding tensions between the Northern and Southern states, primarily over issues related to slavery and states' rights. The war resulted in the preservation of the United States as a single, undivided nation.

Duration: 1861-1865

Parties Involved: Union (Northern states) vs. Confederacy (Southern states)

Casualties: Approximately 620,000 soldiers died

Key Battles: Battle of Gettysburg, Battle of Antietam, Battle of Bull Run, Siege of Vicksburg, Battle of Fredericksburg, and many more

Emancipation Proclamation: Issued by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863, it declared all slaves in Confederate-held territories to be free
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Hohum · Public domain

World War I

This was a global conflict fought from 1914 to 1918, involving the majority of the world's great powers. It resulted in an estimated 8.5 million to 16 million fatalities, and had a profound impact on the course of human history. It is often seen as a turning point in the modern era, marking the end of the old European order and the beginning of the modern age.
World War I, also known as the Great War, was a global conflict that lasted from 1914 to 1918. It involved major powers from around the world and was primarily fought in Europe, although it also spread to other regions. The war was triggered by a complex web of political alliances, imperial ambitions, and an escalating arms race. It is considered one of the deadliest conflicts in human history, resulting in millions of deaths and widespread devastation on both sides.

Duration: 1914-1918

Primary Location: Europe

Countries Involved: Over 30 countries participated, including major powers such as Germany, Austria-Hungary, France, Russia, United Kingdom, and the United States.

Casualties: An estimated 8.5 million military deaths and over 13 million civilian deaths.

Trench Warfare: The war saw the widespread use of trench warfare, where soldiers battled from elaborate systems of trenches dug into the ground.
World War I in other rankings
- Position 8 of 10 in Most popular historical event
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The Peloponnesian War

This was an ancient Greek conflict fought between Athens and Sparta from 431 to 404 BCE. It had a major impact on Greek culture and politics, and is often seen as a defining moment in the history of Western civilization.
The Peloponnesian War was a famous military campaign that took place from 431-404 BCE. It was fought between two main alliances, the Delian League led by Athens and the Peloponnesian League led by Sparta. The war involved most Greek city-states, with Athens and Sparta being the primary rivals.

Duration: 431-404 BCE

Main alliances: Delian League (Athens) and Peloponnesian League (Sparta)

Primary rivals: Athens and Sparta

Involvement: Most Greek city-states

Causes: Conflicts over power, wealth, and rivalries between Athens and Sparta
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anonymus · Public domain

The Crusades

These were a series of religious wars fought by European Christians against Muslims in the Holy Land from the 11th to the 13th centuries. They had a major impact on European culture and religion, and led to significant changes in the political and social structures of the Middle East.
The Crusades were a series of military campaigns organized by European Christians during the Middle Ages in order to regain control of the Holy Land from Muslim rulers. These campaigns took place between the 11th and 13th centuries and had a significant impact on medieval Europe, the Middle East, and the broader world.

Duration: 1096 - 1291

Objective: To recapture the Holy Land, especially Jerusalem, from Muslim control

Participants: European Christian forces, including knights, nobles, and commoners

Opponents: Various Muslim rulers and armies

Number of Crusades: Traditionally, there were eight major crusades, along with several minor ones and smaller campaigns.
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The Mongol Conquests

Genghis Khan

This was a series of military campaigns launched by the Mongol Empire from the 13th to the 14th centuries, resulting in the largest contiguous empire in human history. It had a major impact on the cultures and societies of Eurasia, and helped to shape the modern world.
The Mongol Conquests were a series of military campaigns launched by the Mongol Empire under the leadership of Genghis Khan and later his successors. These conquests lasted from the early 13th century to the mid-14th century, resulting in one of the largest land empires in history.

Duration: From the early 13th century to the mid-14th century

Leader: Genghis Khan and later his successors

Area Conquered: Largest contiguous empire in history, stretching from Eastern Europe to Asia

Tactics: Effective use of cavalry and mobility, terror tactics, psychological warfare, siege warfare

Innovation: Creation of a vast network of trade routes (Silk Road)
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The Thirty Years' War

This was a major conflict fought in Europe from 1618 to 1648, involving many of the continent's major powers. It resulted in an estimated 4.5 million to 8 million fatalities, and had a profound impact on the political and religious landscape of Europe.
The Thirty Years' War was a major military conflict that took place in Europe from 1618 to 1648. It originated in the religious tensions among Catholics and Protestants, but quickly escalated into a large-scale political and territorial struggle involving various European powers.

Duration: 1618-1648

Location: Europe

Causes: Religious tensions, political rivalries, territorial disputes

Main parties: Catholic forces (led by the Holy Roman Empire and Spain) vs. Protestant forces (led by Sweden, Denmark, and various German states)

Key events: Defenestration of Prague, Battle of White Mountain, Edict of Restitution, Swedish intervention, Peace of Westphalia
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The War of 1812

United States of America

This was a conflict fought between the United States and Great Britain from 1812 to 1815, resulting in an estimated 15,000 to 30,000 fatalities. It had a major impact on American society and politics, and helped to shape the country's identity as a nation.
The War of 1812 was a military conflict between the United States and the British Empire. It lasted from 1812 to 1815 and primarily took place in North America. The war was sparked by a combination of trade restrictions imposed by Britain, American expansionist goals, and ongoing tensions between the two nations. It is often referred to as the second War of Independence for the United States.

Duration: 1812 - 1815

Location: North America

Primary adversaries: United States vs. British Empire

Causes: Trade restrictions, American expansion goals, and ongoing tensions

Outcome: Status quo ante bellum (pre-war conditions maintained), no boundary changes
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The Vietnam War

This was a major conflict fought between North and South Vietnam, with the support of various other nations, from 1955 to 1975. It resulted in an estimated 1.3 million to 3.8 million fatalities, and had a major impact on American politics and culture. It is often seen as a defining moment in the history of the United States, and a turning point in the country's involvement in global affairs.
The Vietnam War was a major military conflict that took place from 1955 to 1975 in Vietnam. It was fought between North Vietnam, supported by Communist allies, and South Vietnam, supported by the United States and other anti-communist countries. The war is often regarded as a proxy battle of the Cold War, with the American involvement driven by the fear of communism spreading in Southeast Asia. The conflict was characterized by guerilla warfare, heavy bombing, and a high civilian death toll. The war ended with the fall of Saigon in 1975 and the reunification of Vietnam under Communist rule.

Dates: 1955-1975

Location: Vietnam

Belligerents: North Vietnam, South Vietnam, United States, and other international participants

Casualties: Approximately 1.3 million deaths, including both military personnel and civilians

Key Figures: Ho Chi Minh, Ngo Dinh Diem, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon

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About this ranking

This is a community-based ranking of the most famous military campaign. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or campaign is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!

Statistics

2180 views
217 votes
10 ranked items

Voting Rules

A participant may cast an up or down vote for each campaign once every 24 hours. The rank of each campaign is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.

More information on most famous military campaign

The history of military campaigns is vast and varied, with countless battles and wars taking place throughout human history. From ancient times to modern conflicts, military campaigns have shaped political and social landscapes, and have had a profound impact on the course of human events. One of the most famous military campaigns in history is undoubtedly the invasion of Normandy during World War II. This massive operation, which took place on June 6, 1944, involved the coordinated efforts of thousands of Allied troops, and was a crucial turning point in the war. Other famous military campaigns include Alexander the Great's conquest of Persia, which paved the way for the spread of Hellenistic culture throughout the ancient world, and the Napoleonic Wars, which saw the rise and fall of one of history's most enigmatic and controversial figures. Whether you're interested in ancient battles or modern conflicts, military campaigns provide a fascinating glimpse into the forces that have shaped our world. So, which is the most famous campaign of them all? Cast your vote and let us know what you think!