Very enlightening, edifying and entertaining essay. I now expect nothing less. (Knew Walker's story, of course, given my three years in the jungles of Nicaragua. And yes, it occured to me, more than once—and always after imbibing too much Flor de Caña rum, that I could take the country over. But that's a story for another time.)
As you noted here, a validation of the African involvement in gathering other Africans and transversing them to the coast for European trade or purchase. And before that, to Arab buyers, a millennium or so ago.
"Long before Europeans started sniffing around Central Africa, much of the region was controlled by a very ambitious merchant warlord."
There were also frontier ladies, like Poolan Devi of India and the female jihadist bosses in Somalia. Even though great men of history-ism approach to historiography is junk it just is fact that on some very rare occassion absurd great men would appear and completely change everything
Good article, I’ve always found the Wa state in the Myanmar/China borderlands really intriguing, and tbh that region in general spits out some good frontier warlords, a la Khun Sa
This was an excellent survey. I didn't expect you would branch out to the 19th century already, JB. If we have you around long enough, we might get a complete picture of what I would call ahistorical historical actors.
Great Article ! I only knew in-depth the History of Bob Denard. A man who served in the "Troupes Coloniales", raised in catholicism and then converted to Judaism an then Islam, even at one point by the King of Morocco himself ... a special story. Fantastic to have also a perspective on these others pals
By the sound of it, the African examples achieved more than Shaka Zulu did and yet I never heard of them before and Shaka gets constantly over hyped. I'm guessing it's because the African fellows on this list ultimately lost to Europeans and were slavers before that.
Very enlightening, edifying and entertaining essay. I now expect nothing less. (Knew Walker's story, of course, given my three years in the jungles of Nicaragua. And yes, it occured to me, more than once—and always after imbibing too much Flor de Caña rum, that I could take the country over. But that's a story for another time.)
I occasionally think about taking over sovereign nations too. I hope the rum was hot and the burgers had no cheese.
My Man.
Add James Brooks, the White Raja of Sarawak to the list.
Going to look him up
Founded a dynasty, died in bed, one of the 19th century’s great closet cases.
As you noted here, a validation of the African involvement in gathering other Africans and transversing them to the coast for European trade or purchase. And before that, to Arab buyers, a millennium or so ago.
"Long before Europeans started sniffing around Central Africa, much of the region was controlled by a very ambitious merchant warlord."
A ton of history to learn pre Europe in Africa
Also, a lot to learn pre–Berlin Conference, as well.
It is not a pretty picture truth be told.
There were also frontier ladies, like Poolan Devi of India and the female jihadist bosses in Somalia. Even though great men of history-ism approach to historiography is junk it just is fact that on some very rare occassion absurd great men would appear and completely change everything
Glad that Veerapan made into this list. Still a notoriously name today here.
Good article, I’ve always found the Wa state in the Myanmar/China borderlands really intriguing, and tbh that region in general spits out some good frontier warlords, a la Khun Sa
This was an excellent survey. I didn't expect you would branch out to the 19th century already, JB. If we have you around long enough, we might get a complete picture of what I would call ahistorical historical actors.
Thanks for reading, Thane of Denmark
Great Article ! I only knew in-depth the History of Bob Denard. A man who served in the "Troupes Coloniales", raised in catholicism and then converted to Judaism an then Islam, even at one point by the King of Morocco himself ... a special story. Fantastic to have also a perspective on these others pals
By the sound of it, the African examples achieved more than Shaka Zulu did and yet I never heard of them before and Shaka gets constantly over hyped. I'm guessing it's because the African fellows on this list ultimately lost to Europeans and were slavers before that.
I agree. They were viewed as warlords and slave merchants and lumped into an “enemy” category depending on whose history you read.
Living the dream, I suppose...
A special kind of ambition
Just a few more and you would have had your own Dirty Dozen!
I thought Gabriele D'Annunzio would be included! We probably wouldn't have had Mussolini without that madlad
he plagiarized buddhism, so he’s a jew alright