A
warlord is a person with power who has both
military and
civil control over a subnational area due to
armed forces loyal to the warlord and not to a central authority. The term can also mean one who espouses the ideal that
war is necessary, and has the means and authority to engage in
war. The word has a strong connotation that the person exercises far more power than his official title or rank (if any) legitimately permits him or her. Under
feudalism, in contrast, the local military leader may enjoy great autonomy and a personal army, but still derives legitimacy from formal fealty to a central authority.
Warlordism was coined to describe chaos at the end of the
Qing Dynasty and the birth of the
Republic of China, especially after the death of
Yuan Shikai, as the
warlord era of China. It can however be used to describe similar periods in other countries or epochs such as in Japan during the
Sengoku period, or in
China during the
Three Kingdoms, or in Somalia.
The word "warlord" arose as a
calque from the German word "Kriegsherr" with a similar meaning. Today the Germans often use the English word, which has overtaken "Kriegsherr" in their language.
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. They are usually defined by a high level of clientelism, low bureaucratic control and a high motivation in prolonging war for the maintenance of their economic system, mainly based on the extraction of natural resources.
Examples:
- Anarchy in Somalia: With the collapse of the central government, groups of rival warlords constitute the only form of authority in some parts of the country.
Historical warlordism in China
Warlords exercised widespread rule in
China several times in Chinese history — notably in the period from the
Xinhai Revolution, when numerous provinces rebelled and declared their independence from the
Qing Dynasty in 1911, and especially after
Yuan Shikai's death, until the
Northern Expedition in 1927. This was a period known as the
Warlord era. Despite the superficial unification of China in 1927 under the rule of the
Kuomintang (KMT) under Generalissimo
Chiang Kai-shek, warlordism remained a problem until the victory of the
Communist Party of China in 1949.
Famous warlords during the Three Kingdoms (190-280)
Powerful warlords during the Tang Dynasty (618-907)
The Tang Dynasty had the highest number of warlords in Chinese history, and in turn has become known as the
Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period.
Powerful warlords during the Jin Dynasty (1115-1234)
Powerful warlords during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)
Powerful warlords during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911)
Powerful warlords during the Republic of China
There were twelve warlords who served as Area Commanders officially:
- Zhang Zuolin (Chang Tso-lin) — "Old Marshal", "Rain Marshal" or "Mukden Tiger".
Historical warlordism in Europe
Warlordism in Europe is usually connected to various
mercenary companies and their chieftains, which often were
de facto power-holders in the areas where 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.
Free company mercenary captains, such as Sir
Leigh-Anne Hendrick,
Roger de Flor of
Catalan Company or
Hugh Calveley could be considered as warlords. Several
condottieri in Italy can also be classified as warlords.
Ygo Gales Galama was a famous
Frisian warlord, and so was his descendant
Pier Gerlofs Donia, who was the leader of the
Arumer Black Heap.
The Imperial commanders-in-chief during the reign of Emperor
Maximilian I did hold the title
Kriegsherr of which the direct translation was "warlord", but they were not warlords in sense of the word defined.
Russian Civil War
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 Korea
During the last years of the
Kingdom of Silla, also known as the
Later Three Kingdoms, various warlords rebelled against the government and were in
de facto control of the
Korean Peninsula. The warlordism in Korea plagued the nation until
Goryeo Dynasty finally defeated and merged all the warlords and united the country once again.
Powerful Korean warlords
Historical warlordism in Mongolia
After the fall of the
Mongol Empire,
Mongolia was divided between the
Eastern and
Western Mongols. At the time of disintegration, many warlords tried to enthrone themselves or rule the khanate jointly, however, there had been powerful
de factos in all parts of the Mongol Empire before.
Mongol Empire
Yuan Dynasty
- El Temur of the Kypchaks or the Karchins
Golden Horde
Ilkhanate
Chagatai Khanate
Northern Yuan Dynasty
- Esyn Tayshi, the Oirat leader who enthrone himself the Khan of the Mongols and captured the Emperor of Ming China.
- Bekersen of the Monggoljin
Bogd Khanate Mongolia
