Top 20 Most Popular and Influential Revolutionaries

Like it or not, revolutions are a part of human history. Revolutions always represent new beginnings for good or for worse. Nevertheless, one thing is certain, the men and women who started revolutions are courageous and there is no doubt about that. Therefore, today we are going to present the top 20 most popular and influential revolutionaries to ever live.

20. Leon Trotsky

We are going to kick things off with none other than the famous Leon Trotsky. He was a firm believer in the Marxist theory and he had such a massive impact on Russian history that Stalin himself had to run him out of Russia.

19. Pancho Villa

Pancho Villa is another famous revolutionary and he is known in the history books by his full name, Jose Doroteo Arango Arambula. Pancho Villa was one of the brightest generals in the Mexican revolution.

18. Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara

You knew that Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara had to appear on our list. He is hands down, the most famous revolutionary to ever live and he is infamous for being one of the strongest opponents that the US has ever had to face.

17. Rosa Luxemburg

Just like Trotsky, Rosa Luxemburg was a follower of the Marxist theory and she used her influence in order to start a mass strike for the sole purpose of achieving the rights of the working class. Rosa Luxemburg was a brave woman and there is no doubt about that.

16. Meena Keshwar Kamal

Meena Keshwar Kamal was commonly known in Afghan as “Meena” and she is famous for fighting for women’s rights and for founding the “Revolutionary Association of Women’s Rights” group. Unfortunately, Meena didn’t live a long life since her activism put a big target on her back.

15. Toussaint L’Ouverture

Toussaint is the one who led the Haitian revolution back in 1791 which took place in the French Colony of Saint-Dominique. This man is responsible for the abolition of slavery in the Republic of Haiti.

14. Emiliano Zapata

Emiliano Zapata was such an important figure in the revolution of Mexico that he is remembered as a hero and an icon in the history books. He fought for peasant rights and for land reforms, something which the government didn’t like too much.

13. Emilio Aguinaldo

Just to get an idea of how important this revolutionary was to the Philippines, you should know that he is recognized officially as the first president of the Philippines. He is the one who led the revolution against the United States.

12. Jose Maria Pino Suarez

Jose Maria Pino Suarez was a statesman and more importantly, a famed revolutionary. Unfortunately, his “side job” put a big target on his back and he lost his life while fighting for democracy and social justice in Mexic.

11. Mahatma Gandhi

Gandhi is the one who led the Indian Independence movement back in 1947 which resulted in freeing India. Gandhi was renowned throughout the world for being a visionary and for doing everything in his power to bring peace.

10. Maximilien Robespierre

There are many French boulevards named after Maximilien Robespierre and this is all thanks to the fact that this man led the great French Revolution which opposed the Girondin revolutionary factions. This revolution started wars all throughout Europe.

9. Mary Harris ‘Mother’ Jones

Mary Harris ‘Mother’ Jones was once known as “the most dangerous woman in America” despite being a teacher and dressmaker by trade. The reason why she is known as ‘Mother’ is that she fought against child labor and helped miners start strikes all throughout the US.

8. George Washington

As we are sure everyone knows by now, George Washington was the Commander in Chief of the Continental army during the American Revolutionary War. George Washington is always going to be remembered in the history books for defeating the British.

7. Sandor Petofi

Sandor Petofi was a poet by trade, but he did much more than write poems. Sandor Petofi is one of the most important figures in the Hungarian Revolution that took place back in 1848 and he is considered a national hero.

6. Sun Yat-Sen

When it comes to Chinese revolutionaries, Sun Yat-Sen is one of the most important ones. He is commonly known as the “Father of the Nation” in China. The interesting thing here is that Sun Yat-Sen is both loved and hated in China.

5. Mao Zedong

Even though Mao Zedong is a highly controversial figure in China’s history, we had to include him on our list since he is a famous revolutionary. Despite the political problems that he caused, Mao Zedong’s primary goal has always been to make China strong.

4. Lord Byron

Lord Byron is another famous revolutionary and he was involved in the Greek War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire. Lord Byron is recognized as a hero and national hero in Greek history books.

3. Pierre Beaumarchais

Pierre Beaumarchais has cemented his name in history by playing a critical role in the French revolution. He was the one who lobbied the French government on behalf of the American colonies when they asked for independence.

2. Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela has one of the most inspiring life stories that you will ever hear. However, Nelson Mandela prides himself the most with the fact that he became President of South Africa and for fighting against racism.

1. Karl Marx

Karl Marx is not just one of the most famous revolutionaries to ever live, he is the one who inspired a large part of all the other revolutionaries with his ideas and philosophies.