In his illustrious career as a barbarian, he manages to travel throughout the known world and has many occupations including a thief and outlaw, a mercenary, a mercenary commander, and a pirate.
Over time, he begins building larger units of men, aiming for greater territorial ambitions, meeting with little success. However, in his forties, he finally succeeds in becoming king of Aquilonia, the most powerful kingdom of the age, after strangling the ruler on the steps of the throne. In his sixties, Conan leaves his country—never to return—to seek new battles in the uncharted west.
Conan is a formidable and ferocious combatant both armed and unarmed and is very difficult to defeat in hand-to-hand combat. Although Conan is described as being very muscular and possessing great physical strength. The character is also known for his speed and agility. Howard frequently compares his agility and way of moving to that of a panther.