In order to achieve success and earn a high military rank today, you need to at least get a higher education, length of service, go through the entire career ladder. But in the past, everything was different - military calling was transmitted on an estate basis, from son to father, and sometimes severe circumstances developed so that the young man had to lead a huge army at a very young age. Or even not a young man, but a girl. At what age did people become military leaders in the past, from what years could one claim this position?
Having considered only two historical examples on this subject, one can seriously be surprised. How to cope with numerous military duties and led the armies of those who in the modern sense remain a child?
Jeanne d’Arc - French Saint
Women in medieval Europe could not engage in military affairs at all. However, the 17-year-old Jeanne was not embarrassed by this fact, she put on armor and led the French army in 1429. She defeated the British, who lost their positions near Orleans. Not everything is known about Jeanne, but it is generally accepted that Joan of Arc was a young peasant woman from the village of Domremi, who began to receive visions at the age of 12.
Got the right to ride with the army, presenting herself in front of the royal court, and Karl the Seventh granted her a knighthood and armor, impressed by her predictions.It is possible to remove the siege from Orleans, the girl becomes a real heroine, continues to fight with the British. In 1430 she was captured by the English, recognized as a witch and burned at the stake. In 1920, she was canonized as a saint.
Young Temujin - Genghis Khan
Temuchin was raised as a leader since childhood, since he was the son of one of the leaders. In the biography of this man there are many white spots, however, there is evidence that Genghis Khan became a commander at the age of 13 - starting to avenge the poisoning of his father and humiliation over himself. To begin with, the young man united the Mongols of different tribes, was able to recruit an army of those who were positive about his family and, in fact, him. It was necessary to act from scratch, and he was able to achieve an incredible result.
Having conquered one ulus after another, he got rid of enemies - Tatars, then, in order to consolidate the result and gain final power over the country, he gathered kurultai, where he was given the title of Great Khan (Genghis Khan). After that he continued his work, fighting not on the territory of the country, but outside it, subjugating neighboring states. The global task was then continued by his descendants.
Genghis Khan Reforms
Genghis Khan was a reformer, he put in order a special order in his army, where only loyal people were leading the tumens, and each warrior was assigned to a certain tumen, and could not change it. He mixed representatives of different clans and built his own order, where no one could unite against him. The power of the khan became virtually sacred.Genghis Khan carried out all the reforms and fundamental conquests at a very early age.
This is not too surprising, since in the times during which the life of the Great Khan fell, people were considered adults quite early in the modern framework. By the age of 13-14, the young man was already considered a full-fledged warrior and could have his own victories over enemies. At this age they became fathers, heads of families. The military genius manifested itself at that age among many famous historical characters, beginning with Alexander the Great. And because Teymuchin can not be called one of a kind exception, there are similar examples in many countries around the world, starting from Japan and ending with Europe.
