February 02

Gotthard Kettler was born in 1517 into a noble family in the Holy Roman Empire. He became the last Master of the Livonian Order, a branch of the Teutonic Knights. After the dissolution of the Order in 1561, he negotiated the secularization of its territories. Appointed by the Polish king, he became the first Duke of Courland and Semigallia. He established a ducal lineage that ruled the region for centuries. His leadership marked the transition from ecclesiastical rule to a secular duchy in the Baltic.

Born in 1695, François de Chevert embarked on a military career in the French army, advancing through the ranks through distinguished service. He fought in the War of the Austrian Succession, demonstrating tactical skill and earning commendations for his leadership. Promoted to lieutenant general, he later commanded troops in the early campaigns of the Seven Years' War and was noted for his discipline and infantry tactics. Chevert also advocated for improved training and regimental organization, influencing military reforms in mid-18th-century France. His combination of courage and administrative ability made him a respected figure among his peers and soldiers. After retiring from active duty following the conclusion of the Seven Years' War, he returned to his estates and passed away in 1769. Chevert's career exemplifies the professionalism and evolving doctrines of the Ancien Régime's military forces.

Ernst Gideon von Laudon (1717–1790) rose from humble origins to become one of Austria’s most celebrated military commanders. He distinguished himself in battles against the Ottoman Turks during the Austro-Turkish Wars, earning rapid promotion for his tactical brilliance. During the Seven Years’ War, he led daring raids and achieved notable victories in Silesia against Frederick the Great’s forces. Laudon’s innovative use of light infantry and artillery demonstrated his adaptability on the battlefield. He was eventually appointed field marshal and continued to serve the Habsburg Monarchy until his death. His memoirs and military writings influenced future generations of officers across Europe.

Henri de Rigny (1782–1835) was a distinguished French naval officer who commanded squadrons in the Atlantic and Mediterranean during the Napoleonic Wars. After the Empire's fall, he transitioned to politics and was appointed Minister of War, overseeing military administration and naval reforms. De Rigny championed the modernization of the fleet and improvements in sailor welfare, earning respect from both officers and enlisted men. His balanced approach to strategic vision and practical reforms strengthened France's naval capabilities in the post-revolutionary era. He was elevated to the peerage and remembered for integrating military command with government service.

Albert Sidney Johnston (1803–1862) was one of the most senior Confederate generals killed in action during the American Civil War. His military career spanned service in the Texan Army, U.S. Army, and the Confederate States Army. Johnston led Confederate forces across the western theater and commanded at the Battle of Shiloh, where he was mortally wounded on the first day of fighting. Known for his leadership and tactical acumen, he was respected by soldiers on both sides for his courage. Prior to the Civil War, he fought in the Black Hawk War, the Mexican–American War, and served briefly as governor of the Oregon Territory. Johnston’s death was considered a turning point at Shiloh, and he is remembered as a talented but ill-fated commander.

Mikhail Frunze was a prominent Bolshevik revolutionary and Red Army commander during the Russian Civil War. He led Red Army forces to victory in Ukraine and southern Russia, playing a decisive role in consolidating Bolshevik control. As a military theorist, Frunze advocated for modern, disciplined armies and a professional officer corps. In 1924, he was appointed People’s Commissar for Military and Naval Affairs of the Soviet Union. His influential writings on strategy and organization shaped Soviet military doctrine for decades. Frunze’s career was cut short by his untimely death under suspicious circumstances in 1925.

Jean de Lattre de Tassigny was a senior French general who played crucial roles in World War II and postwar conflicts. A graduate of Saint-Cyr, he fought with distinction in World War I before advancing through the ranks. During World War II, he commanded the French First Army under Allied command, aiding the liberation of southern France and the advance into Germany. After the war, he served as Commander-in-Chief in Indochina, overseeing French forces in the early stages of the First Indochina War. De Lattre de Tassigny was celebrated for his leadership, tactical skill, and ability to unite diverse allied troops. He received numerous honors but died in 1952 before seeing the resolution of the conflicts he helped shape.

Damdin Sükhbaatar (1893-1924) was a central figure in Mongolia’s struggle for independence and is honored as the Father of the Mongolian Revolution. As a military commander, he led forces against both Qing and White Russian interventions during the 1921 Mongolian Revolution. Collaborating with the Soviet Red Army, he secured Mongolia’s autonomy and served as the first Minister of War in the newly established People’s Government. Sükhbaatar’s strategic vision and charismatic leadership united diverse Mongolian tribes in the fight for self-rule. He is celebrated as a national hero, with statues and memorials commemorating his contributions throughout Mongolia. Despite his premature death at age 31, his legacy endured in Mongolia’s political and social foundations.

Mary Ellis was born in 1917 in Leafield, Oxfordshire, and learned to fly in the early 1930s. When World War II began, she joined the Air Transport Auxiliary to ferry military aircraft from factories to airfields. Ellis flew more than 1,000 hours in fighters and bombers, becoming one of the most experienced female pilots of the war. After the conflict, she continued flying in civilian aviation and worked for air charter companies. Well into her nineties, she remained active in aviation communities and received honors for her wartime service. Ellis passed away in 2018, remembered as a trailblazer for women in flight.

Born in 1933, Than Shwe joined the Burmese military and rose through the ranks to become a general. He assumed top national leadership roles, effectively serving as Myanmar's head of state from 1992 to 2011. His tenure was marked by strict military control, political repression, and resistance to democratic reforms. Than Shwe oversaw the 2007 Saffron Revolution protests and managed the state's response. He orchestrated the transition to a quasi-civilian government while retaining significant military influence. Despite international criticism over human rights issues, he remains a pivotal figure in Myanmar's modern history.

Born on February 2, 1967, Laurent Nkunda served as a general in the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo before breaking away to form the CNDP rebel group. He claimed to protect the Tutsi minority in North Kivu, leading forces in conflicts against government troops and UN peacekeepers. Nkunda’s leadership was marked by both strategic military successes and accusations of human rights violations. In 2009, he was arrested and extradited, ending an insurgency that had destabilized the region for years. Nkunda remains a polarizing figure, seen by supporters as a defender and by critics as responsible for atrocities.