12 thinkers, books, and ideas connected to this field.
Prussian general and military theorist who wrote On War — the most comprehensive philosophical analysis of war ever written — articulating that war is the continuation of politics by other means and that 'fog of war' and 'friction' make perfect strategy impossible in practice.
Prussian king who built Prussia into a great European power through military genius (the oblique order), administrative reform, and philosophical enlightenment — transforming Prussia from a minor German state into the nucleus of what would become Germany.
Carthaginian general who crossed the Alps with elephants and won the three greatest tactical victories in military history (Trebia, Lake Trasimene, Cannae) against Rome — whose double envelopment at Cannae remains the most studied tactical achievement in military history.
French military commander and military theorist who served as Marshal of France and was considered the greatest European general between Marlborough and Frederick the Great — and whose Reveries on the Art of War synthesized his experience into strategic principles.
Thomas Phillips's 1940 anthology collecting the foundational military strategy texts — Sun Tzu's The Art of War, Vegetius's Military Institutions of the Romans, Maurice de Saxe's Reveries on the Art of War, Frederick the Great's Military Instructions, and Napoleon's Maxims — making the canon of military strategy accessible in a single volume.
Confederate general who conducted the Shenandoah Valley Campaign (1862) — tying down 60,000 Union troops with 17,000 Confederate soldiers through rapid movement and deception — and who was Robert E. Lee's most essential corps commander until his accidental death at Chancellorsville.
British army officer who led the Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire and wrote Seven Pillars of Wisdom — a masterwork of both military memoir and English prose.
Collection of 115 military maxims attributed to Napoleon Bonaparte — compiled after his death from his letters and campaign notes — which distill his approach to warfare: speed, concentration of force, attacking the enemy's weakest point, and maintaining the initiative.
J. Christopher Herold's 1955 compilation of Napoleon's quotes, maxims, and reflections — drawn from his letters, conversations, and proclamations — providing the closest available window into Napoleon's thinking on war, leadership, politics, and human nature.
Late Roman military writer whose Epitoma Rei Militaris (Military Institutions of the Romans) was the primary military manual of the European Middle Ages — cited by commanders from Charlemagne to Napoleon — preserving Roman military doctrine when the legions had collapsed.
Frederick Kagan's 2007 AEI report and book that laid out the blueprint for what became the Iraq Surge. Argued that a significant increase in US troop levels, combined with a shift to population-centric counterinsurgency strategy, could reverse the deteriorating situation in Iraq.
American defense policy analyst and resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, known for work on US military strategy, NATO policy, and defense transformation. Collaborator of Frederick Kagan and prominent neoconservative voice on military affairs.