The Most Famous Horses In History
Throughout history, horses have been central to our evolution as individuals and as a society. Beyond their strength and physical beauty, it was the nobility of their character that made them admirable and majestic companions.
In this article, we will look at the most famous horses in history and some equines that have also excelled in literature.
7 famous horses in history and literature
1. Bucephalus (Alexander the Great)
Bucephalus was the name of Alexander the Great’s most famous and beloved horse. It is estimated that this noble horse lived from 335 BC until 326 BC His death would have occurred during the battle of Hispades, in the current territory of Pakistan.
Some theories claim that his body was buried on the outskirts of Jhelum, in a town called Jalapur Sharif. However, there is another hypothesis that Bucephalus rests peacefully in Phalia, a region of Pakistan.
2. Marengo (Napoleon Bonaparte)
Marengo was the faithful companion of Napoleon Bonaparte and has gone down in history as one of the most famous horses in the history of the world. Its name was a tribute to the battle of Marengo (Italy), from which the French imperial army emerged victorious.
Marengo accompanied the Emperor in various historical battles, including Waterloo, Austerlitz, Jena and Wagram. It is estimated that he lived between 1793 and 1831. Today, his skeleton is kept in London, at the National Army Museum in Chelsea.
According to historical accounts, Napoleon was a great admirer of horses. Over 100 horses have been registered in his personal stable, among which Marengo, Bianco and Vizir stood out.
3. The Mare Babieca (El Cid)
Probably, many of you know the story of the great Cid Campeador, but few know the story of his famous mare Babieca. It is said that when El Cid was still a child, his stepfather took him to the stables of the monastery where they lived. One day he asked his stepson to choose the horse he liked best.
To everyone’s surprise, El Cid chose the ugliest and humblest horse in the entire stable. According to his stepfather, the horse (in fact it was a mare) was “a Babieca”, because it did not possess any attributes for being a great conqueror.
Nonetheless, history has shown El Cid’s wisdom and also the merits of his great mare. Together they won numerous battles and Babieca enjoyed a great longevity: she died at 40. The story of El Cid and Babieca reminds us that the real value does not lie in the physical aspect, but in the nobility of the spirit.
4. Palomo (Simón Bolívar)
Palomo was the most famous horse of the liberator Simón Bolívar, one of the most important figures in South America. It is said that the equine was given to Bolívar before the Battle of Boyacá, which took place in 1819, in the present territory of Colombia.
Since then, Palomo has accompanied his heroic knight on all his national liberation campaigns. Currently, his irons are exhibited with honor at the Mulaló Museum, located in the city of Tumbo, Colombia.
5. Pegasus (Zeus)
Pegasus is the famous winged horse of Zeus, a white stallion born from the blood shed by Medusa. Besides being a famous horse in Greek mythology and international literature, Pegasus was the only horse that “lived” among the Olympian gods.
6. Rocinante (Don Quixote)
Rocinante is one of the most famous horses in world literature, also represented in cinema and on television. Its name derives from the Spanish term “rocín”, used to refer to the horses that did heavy work in the countryside.
Unlike the great riders who have chosen noble names for their horses, our favorite rider chooses to call Rocinante his companion. More than by his appearance or his lineage, Rocinante was eternalized by his incomparable loyalty.
7. The Trojan horse
Although it didn’t really exist, the Trojan horse is undoubtedly one of the most famous horses in history. This huge wooden horse was built by the Greeks and sent as a “gift of surrender” to the Trojans.
As we know, it was a clever strategy to get through the huge walls of Troy. The wooden horse opened and from its doors the Greek soldiers came out, who eventually won the battle and conquered the city.
Since then, the Trojan horse has been remembered in popular culture as a symbol of cunning (in a positive sense) but also betrayal (in a negative sense).
