When it comes to grand strategy, some say that looking back in History and observing its patterns helps us make better decisions about the future. For example, "never invade Russia in winter!", "moral decadence is a symptom of a declining culture!" and "if you want your Empire to fall, invade Afghanistan!" are almost common sayings. But are there any actual historical recordings of anyone who took this principle seriously and applied this methodology into their strategies? Someone who would base most or at least part of their decisions on their knowledge of History? If yes, how did that work out?
Maybe not in the form of fixed maximes, but studying past experiences is crucial in geopolitics/military strategy.