A distinguished international team of military historians provides an enthralling overview of the careers and leadership of the world's greatest military commanders on land, at sea and in the air, from Cyrus the Great in 6th-century BC Persia to Vo Nguyen Giap in 20th-century Vietnam. Truly global in scope, the book offers a 2,500 year history of warfare uniquely told from the viewpoint of the leading protagonists, shot through with informed insights about changes in the nature of war, tactics and strategies through time and varied issues of command. Richly illustrated with photographs, contemporary portraits and battle scenes, and images of weapons and uniforms, and featuring more than 120 specially commissioned full-colour campaign maps, battle plans and 3-D battle reconstructions, this book gets to the heart of what makes a `great commander' and is essential reading for anyone interested in military history.