When people think of the greatest military minds in history, names like Napoleon Bonaparte, Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan, and Julius Caesar come to mind. Their stories are immortalized in history books, their legacies praised for their strategic brilliance and conquests. But what if I told you that one of the greatest generals to ever live came from a small, often overlooked country—Haiti? And what if I told you that he led one of the most significant and just causes of liberation in history? His name is Toussaint Louverture.
History’s Forgotten Heroes
I am no military expert, nor do I have formal training in warfare. But one thing has always puzzled me: Why do we celebrate conquerors who built empires through violence, yet barely acknowledge those who fought for justice and true liberation? Why do we glorify force and ingenuity when it benefits a select group but ignore the same qualities when wielded by Black leaders?
Toussaint Louverture led the only successful slave revolt in history, defeating the French, Spanish, and British to establish the first free Black republic. His military genius was so profound that even Napoleon himself admitted, in his memoirs, that killing Louverture was one of his biggest mistakes. Toussaint Louverture even defeated Napoleon himself. Yet, Louverture’s name is often left out of mainstream discussions on history’s greatest generals.
And he was not alone. Across the world, powerful Black leaders led revolutions, defended their people, and changed history—only to be erased from the narrative. Let’s change that.
The Women Warriors History Overlooked
Black history is full of fearless leaders who resisted colonial rule and oppression with unmatched strategy and courage. Yet their names remain unfamiliar to most. It’s time to shine a light on them. Here’s a few:
- –Queen Amanirenas
- The warrior queen of Kush who successfully resisted Roman rule and defended her kingdom against Emperor Augustus himself.
- –Queen Nzinga Mbande
- A fierce strategist who fought against Portuguese colonizers and their transatlantic slave trade, refusing to bow to European power.
- –Queen Amina of Zazzau
- She led an army to expand the Hausa kingdom in what is now Nigeria, proving that leadership had no gender.
Why Are These Names Missing From History Books?
Some argue that figures like Napoleon had better marketing, that their stories were more widely promoted. But the truth is deeper. Colonialism and systemic erasure ensured that Black heroes were written out of history or reduced to footnotes. Even when these stories were told, they were often delegitimized, dismissed, or buried under narratives that upheld European dominance.
But history is not just what we are told—it is what we choose to seek. So I challenge you: don’t just take my word for it. Google these names. Read their stories. Question what you’ve been taught. And ask yourself—if true greatness is measured by the ability to fight for justice, freedom, and the dignity of all people, then why aren’t these leaders at the top of every history book?
It’s time to reclaim these stories. Their legacies live on—not because history preserved them, but because we will.
Until next time,
Xoxo, JP
