16 Deadliest Wars in Human History
with a Death Toll of Over 2 Million
The world's history is replete with wars that were fought for many reasons – religious, political or otherwise. Heavy consequences such as massive number of deaths, famine, displacement of population and terrible living conditions always followed them. They have re-drawn the boundaries of many countries, changed the world politics, cultures and trade, and affected the lives of many in innumerable ways.
The wars we have listed below are called the Deadliest Wars in Human History for a reason. They incurred a mean death toll of above 2 million and were fought at an unimaginable scale.
16. Hundred Years' War
Death Toll: 2.3 to 3.3 million; Period: 1337 to 1453; Warring Parties: Kingdom of England and Kingdom of France
The war was waged for 116 years for control over the Kingdom of France and spanned over five generations of kings. After the Norman Conquest, the kings of France were under feudal allegiance to kings of England. For a long time France tried to gain control over itself by decreasing the number of lands under England's control.
France also interfered whenever the English were at war with Scotland, its ally. This caused further conflict between the two kingdoms and renewed the assertion for claim over French throne by Edward III of England. After over decades of wars, both the kingdoms lost much. The depleted resources, famine and civil wars further put a stop to them.(source)
15. French Wars of Religion
Death Toll: 2 to 4 million; Period: March 1562 – April 1598; Warring Parties: Catholics and Protestants in France
The wars started with the Massacre of Vassy in March 1562 leading to open hostility between the two religions. Later the parties managed to grudgingly unite to fight against the English who occupied Le Havre. The entire period between 1562 and 1598 was filled with wars, truces, mostly temporary, and the struggle to establish monarchy as the dominant power.
The wars managed to weaken the monarchy during the rules of Francis II and Charles IX, and the famine and disease added to the existing problems. In 1598, it fell to Henry IV to undo all the damage the wars have done who barely managed to bring peace between the religions.(source)
14. Second Congo War
Death Toll: 2.5 to 5.4 million; Period: 2 August 1998 to 18 July 2003; Warring Parties: Democratic Republic of Congo, Tutsis, Hutus and a Neighbouring African Countries
The Second Congo War started a year after the First Congo War and in some part a continuation of fight over the same issues. Following the first war and the involvement foreign supporters such as Zimbabwe, Namibia, Angola, Chad and Sudan, the second war saw massive genocide and war crimes.
After the assassination of Laurent-Désiré Kabila, the president of Democratic Republic of Congo, his son, Joseph Kabila, was unanimously appointed the president of the Congolese parliament. In 2002, peace agreements were signed and plans were made for legislative and presidential elections within two years time. Later in 2003, the war officially came to an end with the establishment of Transitional Government.(source)
13. Yellow Turban Rebellion
Death Toll: 3 to 7 million; Period: 184 to 205 CE; Warring Parties: Peasants, Taoists and Han Dynasty
There was a time of famine because of which many peasants and soldiers had migrated from north to south of China. The landowners took advantage of the huge labor inflow to enrich themselves. They were further suppressed because of heavy taxes to fund constructions. Eventually they formed small bands armies, a force that Taoist leader Zhang Jue was quick to cash on to support his own uprising. The Han central government at that time was also weakening because of internal politics.
The rebels wore yellow cloths on their heads, which gave the rebellion its name. The rebels and Zhang Jue followers infiltrated the government but their plan went wrong when the rebel sympathizers were executed. Because of the sheer number of rebels and the victory was hard won for Han dynasty.(source)
12. Napoleonic Wars
Death Toll: 3.5 to 7 million; Period: 18 May 1803 to 20 November 1815; Warring Parties: France, led by Napoleon I and Many European Powers
Following the French Revolution, there was an increase in unprecedented compulsory mass enlisting of people into military service. With Napoleon conquering Europe, losing only 7 out of 60 battles he fought, the French Empire soon became very powerful. The confidence it gave him led to the conquest of Russia which failed because of harsh Russian winter and depleted resources.
A few other successive defeats caused the French to distrust his ideas and to finally exile him to the island of Saint Helena. The Napoleonic wars resulted in the break down the Holy Roman Empire and changes the political conditions of Germany and Italy.(source)
11. Thirty Years War
Death Toll: 3 to 11.5 million; Period: May 1618 to May 1648; Warring Parties:Habsburg States and Anti-Habsburg States
Ferdinand II, the newly elected Holy Roman Emperor, began to impose Roman Catholicism on his people to bring uniformity of religion. But the protestant population in the north of Europe felt this was against their rights to choose and formed Protestant Union. Also, the Bohemian protestants in Habsburg, Austria, elected Frederick V as their monarch instead which angered the Roman Catholic states in the south.
After that the Holy Roman Empire crushed the rebellion which led to majority of the countries in England taking sides. With soldiers looting and the famine war brought millions have died and entire regions were devastated.(source)
10. Russian Civil War
Death Toll: 5 to 9 million; Period: 7 November 1917 to June 16, 1923; Warring Parties: Red Army, White Army, Green Army and Others
After the Russian Revolution in 1917 and the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II, a rivalry broke out between many groups that wanted to lead the future Russia. The majority of casualties were civilians and it was considered the greatest catastrophe in European history.During this time several parts of the Russian Empire sought independence and were established as sovereign states.(source)
9. Chinese Civil War
Death Toll: 8 million; Period: 1 August 1927 to 22 December 1936 and 31 March 1946 to 1 May 1950; Warring Parties: Nationalists and Communists of China
The Chinese Civil War is a result of clash between the supporters of two political ideologies – Kuomintang's (KMT) nationalism under the leadership of Chiang Kai-shek and Communist Party of China's (CPC) communism under the leadership of Mao Zedong. The conflict resulted in establishing two separate governing states, the Republic of China which is functional in Taiwan and other outlying islands of China, and People's Republic of China in mainland China.
The two sides, however, ceased fighting for a brief period between 1937 and 1945 to fight Japanese Invasion. Though the battles stopped by 1950, there has never been a peace treaty signed by the two.(source)
8. World War I
Death Toll: 15 to 21 million; Period: 28 July 1914 to 11 November 1918; Warring Parties: Allied Powers and Central Powers
The war started with the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria who was the heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary. It set into motion a series of events which led to the rest of European countries choosing sides as Austria-Hungary declared war over the Kingdom of Serbia. The Central Powers included Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria. The Allied Powers consisted of a larger number of including the British Empire, the Russian Empire, France, and Serbia, later joined by Italy, Japan and the United States.
The war completely changed the political map of Europe with some nations gaining independence, others newly created and some empires completely gone. The economic depression and other issues brought on by the First World War soon led to discontent in Germany, eventually leading to the beginning of Nazism and the Second World War.(source)
7. An Lushan Rebellion or An Shi Rebellion
Death Toll: 13 to 36 million; Period: 16 December 755 to 17 February 763; Warring Parties: Yan Dynasty and Tang Dynasty
The rebellion started with the establishing of Yan dynasty when general An Lushan declared himself the emperor in Northern China. After 8 years of Yan fell but the rebellion continued after An Lushan's death by his son and his deputy. It took three generations of Tang emperors to completely eradicate the rebellion. By the end of it, Tang dynasty suffered serious losses, including the Western Regions, and subsequently weakened.(source)
6. Manchu Conquest of China or Qing Conquest of the Ming
Death Toll: 25 million; Period: 1618 to 1683; Warring Parties: Qing Dynasty and Ming Dynasty
In early 1600s the Qing dynasty, established by Manchus, was dominated by Ming dynasty. A leader of Qing dynasty, Nurhaci, demanded the Ming dynasty pay him tribute for the Seven Grievances caused by them to one of the Manchu clans. However, the Ming dynasty didn't take it too well, which led to war.
Ming dynasty was facing several other internal problems at that time – peasant rebellions, fall of Beijing, severe financial troubles and strained relations between royalty and military. In 1661, a new emperor ascended the throne of Qing dynasty and launched Great Clearance defeating the rest of resistance from Ming dynasty.(source)
5. European Colonization of Americas
Death Toll: 8.4 to 138 million; Period: 1492 to ; Warring Parties: Europeans and Native Americans
After Christopher Columbus' discovery of the Americas in the 15th century, Spain and Portugal began their conquests and colonization. British, Danish, Dutch, Scottish, French, Russian and other kingdoms were the others that colonized the continent. The first European explorations, however, happened as early as 10th century when Vikings came and settled briefly in Canada.
There were many factors that contributed to the death toll during colonization. Along with the brutality of the European conquerors many diseases spread during the Columbian Exchange resulted in such colossal destruction of indigenous population.(1 , 2
4. Mongol Conquests and Invasions
Death Toll: 30 to 40 million; Period: 1206 to 1337; Warring Parties: Mongol Empire and Surrounding Areas
Mongol conquests are the second largest conquests in history, the first being the British, and the first largest contiguous land empire. Throughout the 13th century the Mongolian Empire spread to almost all of Asia, except for southern most parts, and to Eastern Europe. The conquests started with the rise of Genghis Khan as the emperor. The first half of the century saw the empire spread to Central, Western, Eastern and Southeastern Asia. Though after that the empire started to become fragmented, they raided Russian states. The empire finally broke into separate entities by end of 13th century.(1, 2)
3. Three Kingdoms War
Death Toll: 36 to 40 million; Period: 184 AD to 280 AD; Warring Parties: The Chinese States of Wei, Shu and Wu
The actual period of the Three Kingdoms, though, is between 220 AD and 280 AD, before which the states were under Han dynasty and under Jin dynasty after. The division into tripartite happened after 220 AD after the fall of Han dynasty.
The Three Kingdoms is considered one of the deadliest war period in history and one of the bloodiest in Chinese history. Since around 184 AD the areas, which were yet to be divided, engaged in "chaotic infighting among warlords". From 220 AD it turned into a more organized militarily stable rivalry as they were divided into three clear rivals. In 263 AD Wei conquered Shu and was later overthrown by Jin dynasty in 265 AD. Jin also conquered Wu in 280 AD.(source)
2. Taiping Rebellion
Death Toll: 20 to 100 million; Period: December 1850 to August 1864; Warring Parties: Manchu-led Qing Dynasty and Christian Millenarians
In a town called Jintian of Guangxi province, a man called Hong Xiuquan declared himself the younger brother of Jesus Christ and the Heavenly King of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. His God Worshiping Society was attacked by the local officials of Qing Dynasty as part of a campaign against the Christian sect. This soon escalated to civil war as the society, also referred to as Taiping, started marching north, fighting and occupying some of the wealthiest areas of the province, including the capital Beijing.
A local army called Xiang Army fought the Taipings on behalf of the Qing imperial army and succeeded in weakening them by 1856. Finally in 1864, Hong's son, leading remaining forces of the Taipings, was captured essentially putting a close to the rebellion. The scattered forces were completely annihilated by 1866.(source)
1. World War II
Death Toll: 65 to 85 million; Period: 1 September 1939 to 2 September 1945; Warring Parties: The Allies and the Axis
The Second World War is the deadliest of all wars so far, resulting in the highest number deaths and involving majority of the countries in the world. It is officially said to have started when Germany invaded Poland and later declared war on France and United Kingdom. Germany and Soviet Union took over Finland, Romania and Baltic states along with Poland.
In Asia, Japan was at war with China by that time and was looking to dominate Asia and the Pacific. The aggressive advances of Germany, Italy and Japan, together forming the Axis, were unstoppable. To fight them Great Britain, France and Poland, and later the British Commonwealth nations, formed the Allies. The Soviet Union and United States joined after being attacked by Germany and Japan respectively.(source
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