Warlord
From Free net encyclopedia
Warlord is a term that refers to one who has de facto military control of a subnational area, due to a military force which is personally obedient to that warlord. The term must be clearly differed from European Feudalism during the Middle Age. In historic literature warlordism before the Chinese Republic 1911-1949 where the term first formally appeared is usually referred to in context of Japan during the Sengoku period or China during the Three Kingdoms, not really in other examples.
Today, warlords refers to military leaders which control subnational territories in so-called failed states, meaning states where political authority has collapsed and been replaced by anarchy.
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Historical warlordism in Europe
Warlordism in Europe is usually connected to various mercenary companies and their chieftains, which often were de facto powerholders in the areas in which they resided. Such free companies would arise in a situation when the recognized central power had collapsed, such as in the Great Interregnum in Germany (1254-1278) or in France during the Hundred Years' War after the battle of Poitiers 1356. Free company mercenary captains, such as Sir John Hawkwood, Roger de Flor of Catalan Company or Hugh Calveley could be considered as warlords. Several condottieri in Italy can also be classified as warlords.
The Imperial commanders-in-chief during the reign of Emperor Maximilian I did hold the title Kriegsherr (direct translation "warlord"), but they were not warlords in the definitive sense of the word.
Historical warlordism in Japan
During most of the 16th century, before the Tokugawa era, Japan was tormented by repeated wars among rival warlords (see Sengoku Era). Each warlord had several castles, neighbouring land with peasants, and a private army of samurai.
Powerful Japanese warlords
Historical warlordism in China
Warlords exercised widespread rule in China several times in Chinese history, notably in the period from the overthrow of the empire in 1911 until the Northern Expedition in 1927. This is also the time when the term "Warlord" first appeared. Despite the superficial unification of China in 1927 under the rule of the Guomindang, warlordism remained a problem unsolved until the victory of the Chinese Communist Party in 1949. The chinese warlords are depicted in the computer games "Hearts of Iron" and "Hearts of Iron 2", which both are banned in China.
Another Era in Chinese History well-known for the dominance of warlords is the era of the Three Kingdoms
Famous warlords during the Three Kingdoms (220-280)
Powerful warlords during the Jin Dynasty (1115-1234)
Powerful Chinese warlords during the Republic of China
- Zhang Zuolin (Chang Tso-lin) -- "Old Marshal", "Rain Marshal" or "Mukden Tiger".
- Zhang Xueliang (Chang Hsüeh-liang) -- "Young Marshal".
- Zhang Zongchang (Chang Tsung-ch'ang) -- "The Dogmeat General".
- Feng Yuxiang (Feng Yü-hsiang) -- "The Christian General".
- Bai Chongxi (Pai Ch'ung-hsi) -- "The Muslim General".
- Yan Xishan (Yen Hsi-shan) -- "The Model Governor".
- Wu Peifu -- "The Jade Marshal".
- Mao Tse Tung -- "The Communist Warlord".
Warlordism in the world today
Warlordism appears in so-called failed states - states in which central government and nationwide authorities have collapsed or exist merely formally without actual control over the state territory.
Examples:
Somalia: With the collapse of the central government, groups of rival warlords constitute the only form of authority in some parts of the country.
Other regions and countries with warlords include Afghanistan, Chechnya, Burma, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Pakistan.
See also
fr:Seigneur de la guerre ko:군벌 it:Signore della guerra nl:Krijgsheer ja:軍閥 zh:军阀