Warlord A warlord is a person with power who has both military and civil control over a subnational area due to armed forces loyal to the warlord and not to a central authority . The term can also mean one who espouses the ideal that war is necessary , and has the means and authority to engage in war . Today , the word has a strong connotation that the person exercises far more power than their official title or rank legitimately permits . Under feudalism , by contrast , the local military leader may enjoy great autonomy and a personal army , and still derive legitimacy from formal fealty to a central authority . Warlordism is a term coined to describe chaos at the end of the Qing Dynasty and the birth of the Republic of China , from the death of Yuan Shikai in 1916 until 1928 . This period is called the " warlord era of China " . It can however be used to describe similar periods in other countries or epochs such as in Japan during the Sengoku period , or in China during the Three Kingdoms , or in Somalia during the Somali Civil War . The word " warlord " entered the English language as a translation from the German word " Kriegsherr " , which was an official title of the German Emperor . Its use for Chinese military commanders who had a regional power base and ruled independently of the central government dates from the early 1920s , with Bertram Lenox Simpson being one source , according to the Oxford English Dictionary . Modern usage . Warlordism frequently appears in failed states , states in which central government and nationwide authorities have collapsed or exist merely formally without actual control over the state territory . They are usually defined by a high level of clientelism , low bureaucratic control , and a high motivation to prolong war for the maintenance of their economic system . Examples : China . Warlords exercised widespread rule in China several times in Chinese history — notably in the period starting from the Xinhai Revolution , when numerous provinces rebelled and declared their independence from the Qing Dynasty in 1911 , and especially after Yuan Shikai ' s death , until the Northern Expedition in 1927 . This was a period known as the Warlord era . Despite the superficial unification of China in 1927 under the rule of the Kuomintang ( KMT ) under Generalissimo Chiang Kai - shek , warlordism remained a problem until the victory of the Communist Party of China in 1949 . 618 – 907 . The Tang Dynasty had the highest number of warlords in Chinese history , and in turn has become known as the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period . Republic of China . There were twelve warlords who served as Area Commanders officially : Europe . Warlordism in Europe is usually connected to various mercenary companies and their chieftains , which often were " de facto " power - holders in the areas where they resided . Such free companies would arise in a situation when the recognized central power had collapsed , such as in the Great Interregnum in Germany ( 1254 – 1278 ) or in France during the Hundred Years ' War after the Battle of Poitiers ; and in the Kingdom of Scotland during the Wars of Scottish Independence . Free company mercenary captains , such as Sir John Hawkwood , Roger de Flor of Catalan Company or Hugh Calveley could be considered as warlords . Several condottieri in Italy can also be classified as warlords . Ygo Gales Galama was a famous Frisian warlord , and so was his cousin Pier Gerlofs Donia , who was the leader of the Arumer Black Heap . The Imperial commanders - in - chief during the reign of Emperor Maximilian I did hold the title " Kriegsherr " of which the direct translation was " warlord " , but they were not warlords in sense of the word defined . Russian Civil War . Warlordism was widespread in Civil War - era Russia ( 1918 – 1922 ) . Many territories weren ' t under control of either Red government in Petrograd ( later in Moscow ) or White governments in Omsk and Rostov . These territories were controlled by warlords of various political colors . Anarchist warlords Nestor Makhno , leader of Free Territory , and his ally Maria Nikiforova operated in Ukraine . The Cossack ataman Semyonov held territories in Transbaikalia region , and the " Bloody Baron " Ungern von Sternberg was the dictator of Mongolia for a short time . Note that the White generals such as Kolchak or Denikin are not considered warlords , because they created a legitimate , though ramshackle government and military command . Japan . During most of the 16th century , before the Tokugawa era , Japan was tormented by repeated wars among rival warlords ( see Sengoku Era ) . Each warlord had several castle s , neighbouring land with peasants and a private army of samurai . Korea . During the last years of the Kingdom of Silla , also known as the Later Three Kingdoms , various warlords rebelled against the government and were in de facto control of the Korean Peninsula . The warlordism in Korea plagued the nation until Goryeo Dynasty finally defeated and merged all the warlords and united the country once again . Vietnam . Twelve warlords war . A historical era between 945 AD to 967 AD ended by Đinh Bộ Lĩnh , a retainer of the warlord Trần Lãm . Lý dynasty . Toward the end of the Lý dynasty , the central government failed to execute its legitimate authority , giving rise to many local warlords , later conquered by chancellor Trần Thủ Độ of the Trần clan . Lê dynasty . Years of unrest and civil war between Lê and Mạc courts during the 16th century saw many warlords ' rise and fall . The Vũ clan in Tuyên Quang enjoyed their autonomy for 200 years before subdued by Lê force . The Nguyễn clan took control of Thuan Hua , paved way for the Dang Trong entity . Mongolia . After the fall of the Mongol Empire , Mongolia was divided between the Eastern and Western Mongols . At the time of disintegration , many warlords tried to enthrone themselves or rule the khanate jointly , however , there had been powerful de factos in all parts of the Mongol Empire before .