armed forces, armed services, military, military machine, war machine - the military forces of a nation; "their military is the largest in the region"; "the military machine is the same one we faced in 1991 but now it is weaker"

leader - a person who rules or guides or inspires others

warlord - supreme military leader exercising civil power in a region especially one accountable to nobody when the central government is weak

Jeanne d'Arc, Joan of Arc, Saint Joan - French heroine and military leader inspired by religious visions to organize French resistance to the English and to have Charles VII crowned king; she was later tried for heresy and burned at the stake (1412-1431)