This stunningly illustrated book chronicles the history of warfare as seen through the main protagonists of the great conflicts – leaders and rulers from Cyrus the Great to Admiral Nimitz at the Battle of Midway.

The book details the dramatic successes and failures of successive commanders across the globe – Hannibal, Saladin, Caesar, Nelson, Wellington, Ulysses S. Grant and many more. A distinguished team of historians provides insights into the motivations, objectives and tactics of the leaders whose names have become etched in history, and introduces less well known but equally influential figures like Janos Hunyadi, Hungarian leader of the Middle Ages, Toyotomi Hideyoyshi, the 'Napoleon of Japan' and Nader Shah, 18th century Persian conquerer.

This magisterial study is richly illustrated with photographs, portraits, battle scenes and specially commissioned maps, battle plans and 3-dimensional reconstructions.