Croesus, last king of Lydia from c560 BC. Defeated and imprisoned by Cyrus the Great 546 BC. Legend has it that Croesus was put on funeral pyre and when fire took hold he called on Apollo for help and rain fell, putting out fire.

William III (1650-1702), King of Great Britain, The Protestant William at the Battle of the Boyne, Ireland where he defeated supporters of the deposed Roman Catholic James II, John Leech, (1817-1864 British) , Hand-coloured wood engraving

William III (1650-1702) King of Great Britain and Ireland from 1689, William at the Battle of the Boyne (1690) where he defeated supporters of the deposed James II, Hand-coloured engraving

Old Bridge of Stirling dating from the 15th century, site of the battle of Stirling in 1297, where Wallace defeated English troops, Stirling, Scotland, United Kingdom, Europe

The Tomb of the Madhi (1947), the self proclaimed Muslim ruler who defeated the British at Khartoum and created Madhist rule of the Sudan for 13 years. In 1898 Anglo-Egyptian forces led by Kitchener were victorious whereupon Kitchener ordered the destruct

The Battle of Evesham, 4 August 1265. (c1800). Evesham marked the end of the Second Barons War. Royalist forces led by Prince Edward (Edward I) defeated Simon de Montfort (c1208-1265) who was slain in the battle. Here Henry III (1207-1272) who had been Montforts prisoner, stumbles through the battle

Battle of Vigo Bay, Spain, 12 October 1702. Spanish treasure fleet defeated by combined English and Dutch fleets. War of the Spanish Succession 1701-14. Dutch plan of the engagement. Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris.

French Revolutionary Wars: Battle of the Pyramids 21 July 1798. Napoleon defeated Mamelukes. Painting by Louis Francois Lejeune (1776-1848/French), Oil on canvas

Cetewayo (c1826-1884) King of Zululand, South Africa During the Anglo-Zulu war of 1879 Cetewayo was defeated at Ulundi and taken prisoner. Here he is shown under guard in the British army encampment on the Black Umvolosi Frank Dadd (1851-1929 British) Engraving

English Civil Wars: Oliver Cromwell (1599-1658) at Battle of Marston Moor, 2 July 1644. Parliamentarians defeated Royalists under Prince Rupert. Engraving

Arthur, 6th century semi-legendary Christian king of Britons, United Britons against Saxons whom he defeated c516 at battle of Badon Hill, After late 14th century tapestry,

Tourists climb the 200 steps up Butte du Lion in Waterloo. The site marks where the British and Prussian's defeated the French army of Napoleon.

Battle of Lepanto, October 1571. Fleets of Spain, Venice and the Pope, under command of Don John Juan of Austria, defeated the Turks in the last great sea battle involving Galleys. Artist unknown. Oil on canvas. National Maritime Museum, London

Ruins of the 12th century Cistercian Byland Abbey, destroyed by Scottish army in Battle of Byland 1322, when Edward ll was defeated, Coxwold, North York Moors National Park, Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom, Europe

American War of Independence. Battle of Bennington, 16 August 1777. British defeated by colonials under General John Stark. Engraving

Ruins of the 12th century Cistercian Byland Abbey, destroyed by Scottish army in Battle of Byland 1322, when Edward ll was defeated, Coxwold, North York Moors National Park, Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Charles Martel (c688-741) 'The Hammer'. Frankish king, grandfather of Charlemagne. Defeated Moors at battle of Tours, near Poitiers 732. 19th century chromolithograph

Spartacus (d71 BC) Roman gladiator, Leader of the slave army eventually defeated by Marcus Licinius Crassus, Late 19th century impression of Spartacus victorious in the arena,

Battle of Lens' 28 August 1648. Louis II de Bourbon, Prince de Conde (1621-1686), Grand Conde, defeated the Spanish. Jean Pierre Franque (1774-1802) French historical painter, Galerie des Batailles, Versailles