national heroes
Celebrated patriotic figures
National heroes are figures celebrated for extraordinary service to their country—military leaders, independence fighters, social reformers, or others whose actions shaped national identity.
Most nations formally designate such figures or honor them with monuments and holidays.
The term can be used loosely for anyone who captures public admiration: After the rescue, firefighters were hailed as national heroes.
- Abraham LincolnCivil War era leader
- Ho Chi MinhVietnamese nationalist leader
- revolutionary leadersThose heading radical change
- Emiliano ZapataAgrarian reform martyr
- Alexander the GreatMacedonian empire builder
George Washington · Harriet Tubman · Che Guevara · Cesar Chavez · Nelson Mandela · Simon Bolivar · folklore · history books · Florence Nightingale · Joan of Arc · folk heroes · Sun Yat-sen · Mahatma Gandhi · Rosa Parks · patriots · fallen soldiers · liberators · Malala Yousafzai
- Filipino Heroesrevolutionaries, patriots, freedom fighters, revolutionary leaders, revolutionary figures
- Greek Independenceuprising, Greek War of Independence, liberation struggle, revolt, revolutionaries
- Slovak People
- Turkish FiguresErdogan, Suleiman, sultans, pashas, grand viziers
- South Sudaneseindependence leaders, freedom fighters, military commanders
- heroesheroes, heroine, heroines, superhero, superheroes
national heroesvillains
Evil characters in narratives
notorious criminals · war criminals · despots · tyrants · oppressors
national heroestraitors
Those who commit disloyalty
turncoats · defectors · quislings · collaborators · enemies of the state