conqueror
n.a person who takes control of a country or city by using force. It usually refers to a leader who wins a war and gains new land.
n.a person who overcomes an adversary or takes control of a territory by military force. Often used in historical contexts to describe leaders who expanded their empires through warfare.
“The conqueror led his army into the capital city.”
“History books often describe William the Duke of Normandy as a famous conqueror of England.”
“The local population viewed the arriving general not as a liberator, but as a ruthless conqueror intent on erasing their cultural heritage and imposing new laws.”
Commonly followed by the preposition 'of' to specify the territory or people defeated.
“England may have backed the wrong pope during a bitter religious power struggle, giving Pope Alexander II a political reason to support William the Conqueror’s invasion.”