Book by military historian and writer A.V. Shishova is dedicated to the great heroes of different countries and eras. The chronological scope of this popular encyclopedia is from the states of the Ancient East and antiquity to the beginning of the 20th century. (A separate volume, and even more than one, could be dedicated to the heroes of the past century.) The word “hero” came into our understanding of the world from Ancient Greece. Initially, the Hellenes called the legendary leaders who lived on the top of Mount Olympus heroes. Later, this word began to be used to describe military leaders and ordinary soldiers who were famous in battles, campaigns and wars. Of course, all heroes are united by unparalleled valor, great dedication in the name of a high goal, and exceptional courage. Only this allows us to put together under the symbol of “heroism” Ilya Muromets and Alexander the Great, Attila and Milos Obilic, Alexander Nevsky and Jean Lannes, Lakshmi-Bai and Christian Devet, Jan Zizka and Spartak...