November 30

Giovanni dalle Bande Nere, born Ludovico de’ Medici in 1498, was a renowned mercenary captain and scion of the Medici family. He gained fame for his fearless cavalry raids and innovative military strategies, fighting for various Italian states and the Papacy. He earned his nickname 'dalle Bande Nere' (of the Black Bands) from the black mourning bands on his troops’ armor. Mortally wounded during a skirmish in 1526, his death marked the end of the era of independent condottieri in Italy, and he is remembered as one of its greatest leaders.

Patrick Cleburne was born in County Cork, Ireland, in 1828 and emigrated to the United States in 1849. He served in the Mexican–American War before settling in Arkansas. During the American Civil War he rose to become a Confederate major general, renowned for his tactical skill at battles such as Shiloh and Chickamauga. Cleburne earned the nickname 'Stonewall of the West' for his steadfast defense of key positions. In 1864 he controversially proposed the emancipation of slaves to bolster the Confederate ranks. He was killed in action at the Battle of Franklin, Tennessee, and is remembered as one of the war’s most capable commanders.

Vladimir May-Mayevsky was born in 1867 and served as an officer in the Imperial Russian Army. He gained prominence during World War I and later joined the White movement in the Russian Civil War. May-Mayevsky led White forces in southern Russia, winning key battles at Odessa and Kherson under General Anton Denikin. Despite his early successes, he struggled with supply shortages and disagreements with other commanders. His leadership was both praised for bold offensives and criticized for harsh discipline. After the White defeat, he fled to Constantinople, where he died of illness in 1920.

Arthur Currie was born in 1875 in Napperton, Ontario, and rose through militia ranks before WWI. He became the first Canadian commander of the Canadian Corps in 1917, leading key victories at Vimy Ridge and Amiens. Currie's emphasis on meticulous planning and intelligence set new standards for battlefield tactics. After the war, he served as chief of the general staff and contributed to military education. He remains one of Canada's most celebrated military leaders, passing away in 1933.

Marina Popovich was a pioneering Soviet test pilot, aerospace engineer, and military officer. Born in 1931 in Leonenki, Ukraine SSR, she graduated from the Zhukovsky Air Force Engineering Academy. Nicknamed “Madame MiG,” she set more than 100 world aviation records across over 30 types of aircraft. Popovich served as an officer in the Soviet Air Force, testing cutting-edge jets and rocket planes during the Cold War. She authored books on aeronautics and UFO phenomena, combining her technical expertise with popular science. Popovich received numerous honors, including the Order of Lenin and the title of Honored Test Pilot of the USSR. She passed away on November 30, 2017, leaving a lasting legacy in aviation history.