Many illustrious military leaders throughout history have possessed famous steeds, charging into battle and achieving remarkable victories.
The Most Famous Warhorses in the World
1. Chetak
Chetak is one of the most renowned warhorses in history, owned by King Maharana Pratap, the great monarch of the Rajputs and one of the legendary warriors in Indian history.
In the battle between the Rajputs and the Mughal Empire, Chetak fell in the Battle of Haldighati while fighting alongside King Pratap on June 21, 1576. Subsequently, the king erected a memorial in honor of his valiant horse at the site of its death, known as Haldighati.
The valiant warhorse Chetak has also inspired poetry and appears in many ballads and local folklore. Poets have written about Chetak, describing it as “the blue horse.”
2. Marengo
Marengo is one of the most famous warhorses of French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. The horse was named after the Battle of Marengo, where Napoleon achieved a resounding victory against Austria in 1800. During that battle, Marengo showcased its exceptional abilities and helped the emperor return safely from the battlefield.
Marengo was imported from Egypt to France in 1799. Napoleon rode this warhorse in numerous battles, including the Battle of Austerlitz, the Battle of Jena-Auerstedt, the Battle of Wagram, and the Battle of Waterloo. However, in the Battle of Waterloo, Napoleon was defeated by the British forces.
After this defeat, Marengo was captured and fell into the hands of William Henry Francis, the 11th Baron Petre. Upon returning to England, the baron sold Marengo to Colonel Angerstein of the Grenadier Guards. By 1837, Marengo died of old age, and its skeleton is preserved at the National Army Museum in Chelsea, London, United Kingdom.
3. Copenhagen
Copenhagen is one of the most renowned warhorses in the world, owned by Duke Arthur Wellesley, who led the charge against Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte in the Battle of Waterloo. The warhorse was named Copenhagen to honor the British victory in the Second Battle of Copenhagen.
The Duke owned Copenhagen from 1813 and participated in many famous battles together. One of Copenhagen’s greatest accomplishments was helping Duke Arthur Wellesley navigate through the fire of the French army, leading to a resounding victory for the British in the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.
Copenhagen “retired” after the war ended and was kept on a farm in London, where it died on February 12, 1836.
4. Bucephalus
As the beloved warhorse of Alexander the Great, Bucephalus originally belonged to the King of Macedonia when Alexander was just 12-13 years old. He won this horse in a bet with his father.
Bucephalus was a gigantic horse with one blue eye. Its name means “ox head,” due to a cowlick on its forehead.
Alexander fought many battles alongside Bucephalus. Historians believe it died from injuries sustained in the Battle of Hydaspes against King Porus of Paurava, while others argue it died of old age. Regardless of the cause, it passed away during Alexander’s campaign in Punjab. In 326 BC, Alexander founded a city by the banks of the Hydaspes River, naming it Bucephala in memory of his beloved horse.
Bucephalus became one of the most famous horses in classical culture, alongside legendary steeds like Pegasus and the Trojan Horse. Due to its fame and Alexander the Great’s renown, Bucephalus became the standard for generals to showcase their prized horses.
5. Palomo
The liberation campaign led by Simón Bolívar, the famous Venezuelan revolutionary, made him well-known throughout Latin America for many years. Throughout this campaign, he always rode the stallion Palomo. It was a tall, white warhorse with a tail that nearly touched the ground, standing out among the ranks of the liberation forces.
Palomo was gifted to Bolívar by an elderly farmer in Santa Rosa de Viterbo in 1819, just before the Battle of Boyacá. Unfortunately, this famous horse passed away during a long campaign after Bolívar lent it to an officer. It was buried next to a small church, and its hooves are displayed at the Mulalo Museum.
6. Traveller
Born in 1857, Traveller was initially an American mule named Greenbrier, named after a county in Virginia. This horse stood 163 cm tall, weighed 500 kg, and had a strong appearance with gray coat and black spots along with a long tail and mane.
In February 1862, General Robert E. Lee, commander of the Confederate Army during the American Civil War, purchased him for $200 and renamed him Traveller. General Lee took great pride in this horse, particularly because of its coat color. Traveller accompanied General Lee in numerous battles during the Civil War.
However, during the Second Battle of Bull Run, while crossing a bridge, Traveller became frightened and reared up, causing General Lee to fall and break both arms, forcing him to lie on a stretcher.
At General Lee’s funeral in 1870, Traveller followed the casket with a black cloth on the saddle. A year later, Traveller contracted a tetanus infection in its hoof and was euthanized to relieve its suffering.
