The riders
The most portrayed riders almost all played an important, if not to say decisive role in the foundation of their nations. They are symbols of independence and nationalism.
Those who most frequently appear are as follows (all the numbers of statues in this chapter refer to original ones, that is exclusive of replicas):
1. Shivaji Bhonsle, 27 statues
2. Simon Bolivar, 21 statues
3. Jeanne d’Arc, 16 statues
4. Wilhelm I, 15 (remaining) statues
5 Giuseppe Garibaldi, 14 statues
6 Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, 13 statues
7 Lakshmibai, 12 statues
8/10 Vittorio Emanuele, José de San Martin, George Washington, 11 statues each
With no fewer than 27 equestrian statues, all in India, Shivaji Bhonsle is the most portrayed rider I know. His statues can be found in almost every town and city in India, particularly in the state of Maharashtra. Actually, Bhonsle is a little different from the others in the list, in the sense that he was not specifically a freedom fighter. He was a warrior king and aristocrat, who carved out an enclave from the declining Sultanate of Bijapur in 1674, thus forming the genesis of the independent Maratha Empire. He established a competent and progressive civil rule, with the help of a disciplined military and a well-structured administrative organization. Bhonsle revived ancient Hindu political traditions and court conventions, and promoted the usage of Marathi and Sanskrit, rather than Persian. His legacy gained increased importance with the emergence of the Indian independence movement, as he is seen as a proto-nationalist and hero of the Hindus (see Section 2.14.4).
Also from India on the list: Lakshmibai
Lakshmibai, Rani of Jhansi, was the queen of the Maratha-ruled princely state of Jhansi and one of the leading figures of the Indian Rebellion of 1857. For Indian nationalists, she is a symbol of resistance to the rule of the British East India Company. Equestrian statues of Lakshmibai can be seen in many places in India, often showing her on a rearing horse with her son tied to her back. There are at least 12 equestrian statues of her (see Section 2.14.3).
In South America: Simon Bolivar and José de San Martin.
Equestrian statues of these two military and political leaders, who played key roles in Hispanic America’s successful struggle for independence from the Spanish Empire, can be found not only in South America, but also in Europe and the US. I know of 21 equestrian statues of Simon Bolivar in 12 countries, and 11 of José de San Martin in six countries (see Section 2.13.2).
In France: Jeanne d’Arc.
She is the national heroine of the country. She gained prominence when she lifted the siege of Orléans and led the French army to several significant victories, thus paving the way for the coronation of Charles VII in Reims. There are at least 16 statues of her (see Section 2.3.3).
In Germany: Wilhelm I.
The first emperor from the start of the formation of the German Empire in 1871, thus symbolizing the unification of the German states. No less than some 40 equestrian statues of him were erected, and 15 of them survive today, all in Germany (see Section 2.7.1).
In Italy: Giuseppe Garibaldi and Vittorio Emanuele.
Giuseppe Garibaldi was the leader of the unification movement, the risorgimento, that unified the states of the Italian peninsula into one single nation: Italy. Vittorio Emanuele was its first king. Garibaldi has 15 equestrian statues (one of which is in Argentina, one in Brazil and the rest in Italy) and Emanuele has 11, all in Italy. There is one monument with both Garibaldi and Emanuele on horseback to commemorate their historical meeting in Teano in 1860 (see Section 2.1.6).
In Turkey: Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.
Atatürk (meaning Father of the Turks) was the founder and the first president of the Republic of Turkey after winning the war of independence. I know of 13 equestrian statues of Atatürk, of which one is in Japan and the rest in Turkey (see Section 2.16.2).
In the US: George Washington.
As Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, Washington led the first successful revolution against a colonial empire in world history, and he was the first President of the United States. This international icon for liberation and nationalism is honoured with 11 equestrian statues, one of which is in Paris (see Section 2.11.3).
Other people with a reasonable number of equestrian statues are mostly military leaders or royalty. The most notable are:
With ten statues, Pratap Singh, ruler of Mewar in Rajasthan. He is popular in India, as he is considered to exemplify qualities such as bravery and chivalry, to which rajputs (members of specific clans in India and Pakistan) aspire.
With nine statues, Emiliano Zapata Salazar, a revolutionary from Mexico.
With eight statues each, Basava (a philosopher and pioneer of Indian democracy), Edward VII from the UK (with statues in no less than five countries), Genghis Khan (with statues in China and Mongolia) and Morelos y Pavon (another Mexican revolutionary).
With seven statues each, Albert I of Belgium, José Doroteo Arango Arámbula (better known as Pancho Villa, a hero in Mexico and seen as a bandit in the US, with statues in both countries), Confederate General in the US Robert Lee and Kittur Chennamma and Bernardo O’Higgins, freedom fighters from India and South America respectively.
With six statues each: Prince Albert (with statues in two countries), Alexander the Great (in four countries), Diponegoro, a freedom fighter from Indonesia, Napoleon I in France and William III (in two countries).
With five statues each, Christian IX of Denmark, Ulysses S. Grant and Philip H. Sheridan (all in the US), Louis XIV in France, George Skanderbeg (in four countries), Antonio José de Sucre (in three countries), Alexander Suvorov (in four countries), Stephen I of Hungary (in two countries) and the Duke of Wellington in the UK,
By far the majority of riders are male. Only 4 per cent of them are female, and Jeanne d’Arc and Lakshmibai account together for 60 per cent of these. Special mention should be made of Nadezhda Durova. She was a woman who, while disguised as a man, became a decorated soldier in the Russian cavalry during the Napoleonic wars. Her equestrian statue is in Yelabuga (Russia).