There is no agreed upon set of principles. Most nations wage warfare based on a number of different factors.

However there are several highly influential works that have had tremendous influence on the battlefield.

The legend goes that Sun Tzu was born into minor nobility in what is now Shandong, a part of China north of Shanghai. Born "Sun Wu", he was given a good education and wrote a military treatise in order to get noticed and hired by royalty. Sun Wu expanded his 13 chapter Art of War into 82 chapters and trained the army. Commanded armies in battle. Sun Wu's name was changed to Sun Tzu on the Art of War as a sign of his status a master of philosophy. The "Tzu - " is similarly shared with Lao Tzu - , and Confucius (whose Chinese name is Kon Tzu - ).

Prussian soldier of middle class origins. Fought against Revolutionary and Napoleonic French armies. Began as a cadet at 13 and rose to a Major General at 38. Writes some of the most influential work regarding warfare and its use in the political world. On War 1832, was his most famous work. It was unfinished at the time of his death.

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Today the U.S. Army utilizes 9 principles of war based on Sun Tzu and Clausewitzs ideas. Objective Offensive Maneuver Mass Economy of Force Unity of Command Security Surprise Simplicity