10 Greatest But Little-Known Conquests From History

In an age of seemingly endless wars—where nations can no longer even say when they’ve achieved their objectives, let alone satisfying victories—it’s tempting for military students and history enthusiasts alike to look to the past. Historians have drawn us neat, definitive maps and provided clear start and end dates. Ancient campaigns often seem refreshingly complete. The boundaries change, the victors are crowned, and the losers are crushed. What’s more, these stories bring a vicarious sense of power and accomplishment for anyone projecting themselves onto the victors.

We all know the big ones—the Mongol conquests, the Roman Empire’s rise, Napoleon’s campaigns—but history is littered with lesser-known wars of staggering scale and ambition. These conquests changed cultures, redrew maps, and reshaped civilizations. And yet, few people talk about them.

Here are ten massive but underappreciated historical conquests that deserve your attention:

1. The Umayyad Conquest of Hispania (711–718 CE)

Most people associate Islamic expansion with the Middle East and North Africa, but one of the most astonishing campaigns was the swift and almost complete takeover of the Iberian Peninsula by Muslim forces. In just seven years, a relatively small force of Berbers and Arabs under the Umayyad banner crushed the Visigothic Kingdom and seized control of nearly all of present-day Spain and Portugal.

What made it even more remarkable was its speed. With only around 15,000 troops initially, the Muslims took advantage of internal Visigothic strife, including a civil war, to blaze across the peninsula. It laid the groundwork for centuries of Islamic presence in Europe and would shape the culture, language, and architecture of Spain for generations.

2. The An Lushan Rebellion (755–763 CE)

Though technically a civil war, the An Lushan Rebellion against China’s Tang Dynasty saw one of the largest military mobilizations and death tolls in pre-modern history. At its height, An Lushan declared himself emperor of a new dynasty and controlled a swath of territory stretching from modern-day Beijing to the Yellow River basin.

The rebellion drew in millions of soldiers and civilians. Estimates of deaths vary wildly, but many scholars place the toll as high as 36 million—up to a sixth of the world’s population at the time. Though it ultimately failed, the rebellion permanently weakened the Tang Dynasty and shifted the trajectory of Chinese history.

3. The Sui Conquest of the Chen Dynasty (589 CE)

Before China was unified under the Tang Dynasty, the Sui Dynasty executed one of the most successful reunification campaigns in Chinese history. The Sui conquest of the Southern Chen Dynasty in 589 marked the end of three centuries of division following the fall of the Han.

With a powerful northern army and effective use of riverine warfare, Emperor Wen of Sui orchestrated a rapid and overwhelming victory. Though the Sui Dynasty itself would not last long, this conquest laid the foundation for the Tang Golden Age and the long-term unification of China.

4. The Oyo Empire’s Expansion (17th–18th Century)

West Africa is too often left out of discussions of great historical empires, but the Oyo Empire, centered in present-day Nigeria, was a military powerhouse. Using a well-organized cavalry and tributary system, the Oyo expanded dramatically in the 17th and 18th centuries, stretching from the savannah into the tropical forests.

Their dominance over regional trade routes—particularly in kola nuts, slaves, and salt—allowed them to amass wealth and influence. At its height, the Oyo Empire controlled territory across modern Benin, Togo, and western Nigeria. Their political and military legacy would influence the Yoruba people and West African politics well into the colonial period.

5. The Timurids’ Conquests (1370–1405)

Timur (Tamerlane) is sometimes remembered as a pale shadow of Genghis Khan—but that does him a disservice. Timur’s campaigns were staggering in scope, ranging from Anatolia to Delhi. His conquests left a trail of crushed cities and shattered armies, including the defeat of the Ottoman Sultan Bayezid I, who was captured and humiliated.

Though Timur’s empire fractured quickly after his death, his campaigns devastated several of the most powerful states of the time, including the Delhi Sultanate, the Golden Horde, and the Mamluk Sultanate. The cultural and demographic consequences of his wars were felt for centuries.

6. The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth Expansion (16th Century)

At its height, the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth was one of the largest and most populous states in Europe, stretching from the Baltic to the Black Sea. While it’s often overshadowed by the powers of Western Europe, its conquests during the 16th century included vast swaths of Ruthenian (modern Ukrainian and Belarusian) lands.

What made this expansion unique was its blend of military might and diplomatic federation. The Union of Lublin in 1569 created a dual monarchy, and the Commonwealth expanded not just by war, but by complex political integration. Still, its military campaigns—particularly against the Teutonic Order and Muscovy—were decisive in shaping Eastern Europe.

7. The Khmer Conquest of Funan (6th Century CE)

In Southeast Asia, the rise of the Khmer Empire is often associated with Angkor Wat, but few realize that its origins lie in the conquest of the older Funan civilization. Located in the Mekong Delta, Funan was an early trade power influenced heavily by Indian culture.

The Khmer’s subjugation of Funan in the 6th century marked a turning point in Southeast Asian history. It shifted political gravity inland and allowed for the eventual rise of one of the most architecturally and culturally rich empires of the medieval world. Their conquests laid the foundation for centuries of dominance in the region.

8. The Ayyubid Conquests under Saladin (1171–1193)

Saladin is remembered for his role in the Crusades, but his wider conquests are often overlooked. After toppling the Fatimid Caliphate in Egypt, he founded the Ayyubid dynasty and expanded rapidly across the Levant, Hijaz, and parts of Mesopotamia.

His military campaigns reunited much of the fractured Muslim world at a time when Crusader states were firmly entrenched. His most famous victory—the recapture of Jerusalem in 1187—was only part of a much larger, impressive imperial campaign. Unlike many conquerors, Saladin combined religious legitimacy with military brilliance.

9. The Gorkha Unification of Nepal (1743–1775)

Modern Nepal owes its existence to the Gorkha king Prithvi Narayan Shah, who launched a bold and sustained campaign to unify dozens of small Himalayan kingdoms into one state. Using mountain warfare and alliances, the Gorkhas overcame larger and better-armed foes.

The campaign included the capture of Kathmandu in 1768, which became the new capital. Despite limited resources, the unification was thorough and relatively fast. It created a centralized state capable of resisting both British and Chinese encroachments—a rare feat in South Asia during that period.

10. The Seljuk Conquest of Anatolia (11th Century)

Before the Ottomans, it was the Seljuk Turks who began the Turkification of Anatolia. After defeating the Byzantines at the Battle of Manzikert in 1071, they launched a slow but steady conquest of central and eastern Anatolia.

This marked a major demographic and cultural shift in the region. Greek Orthodox populations were gradually displaced or assimilated, and Turkic Muslim culture took hold. Though not a sudden blitz, the Seljuk expansion permanently altered the character of what is now Turkey and paved the way for the rise of later Turkish empires.