Michael Collins (Vive l'Emperor)

Michael Collins was born on october 16th 1890, at a small farmstead in county cork, the irish republic. He joined the army as a captain in 1908 (he was able to buy himself a comission in the then 18,000 strong irish army). He soon proved to be a good tactician and a strong leader. Upon the outbreak of war in 1914 ireland remained neutral, but rapidly expanded its army in an attempt to deter a possible British invasion, consequently Collins was promoted to Major (1914) and then colonel (1916). In March 1917 he became a major general, and that november he became a full general, commander of the dublin guard forces.