Naval History Forums

Gentleman here is my top 10 greatest military leaders of all time.

1. Alexander the Great
2. Napoleon
3. Julius Caesar
4. Hannibal Barca
5. Erwin Rommel
6. Robert E. Lee
7. Genghis Khan
8. Attila the Hun
9. George S. Patton
10. Lawrence of Arabia

Any comments?

I would strike out Rommel and Lawrence of Arabia. In Rommel´s place I will put Erich von Manstein, a real genius or Guderian or Hoth, the panzer masters. In Lawrence´s place, and in a much higher postion I will place Nelson.

No mention of Wellington nor of Nimitz or Togo or Frederick the Great.

I would place Caesar as first one. Genghis Khan as second.

Not a single military leader after WWII could be mentioned with the exceptions, I think, of:

Moshe Dayan, a real conventional war commander

Vo Nugyen Giap, the guy that won the Vietnam War (against the french was easy but the US was a lethal enemy)

Karl, Rommel was a legend and deserves a place in the top 10. Other generals might have been more capable but ask yourself how many people know Manstein? How many people know Rommel? Bismarck wasn't the largest nor the most powerful either still is considered the greatest by many. Same with Rommel.

I didn't put any admirals but I agree Nelson could be there. Take Lawrence out.

I forgot about Frederick the Great. He can take the place of Attila.

Romel may have been a legend but does that doesn't mean he deserves a place in the top 10. Depending on your criteria others that may not really fit are Ceasar, Lee, and Patton.
Other possible candiates: Tokagawa, Scipio, Pyhrus, Saladin, Richard III, Rorbert the Bruce, Edwin I and III, Alfred the Great, Karl der Grosse, Ogedai, Batu, Shaka, and Subotai.
There are probably a lot more from Asia but I'm not as familiar with them as I would like.

Where is Sun Tzu anyway? He IS the TOP ENCHILADA!

Karl Heidenreich wrote:Where is Sun Tzu anyway? He IS the TOP ENCHILADA!

From what I've read he may not even have been a general. Certainly he understood warfare very well and wrote an excelent book.

lwd wrote:

Karl Heidenreich wrote:Where is Sun Tzu anyway? He IS the TOP ENCHILADA!

From what I've read he may not even have been a general. Certainly he understood warfare very well and wrote an excelent book.

To be considered a military leader one should command an army in the battlefield. Sun Tzu, Carl von Clausewitz, B.H. Liddell-Hart, or Machiavelli were good military theorists, but I don't think they ever led men into battle.

I can't believe no one has mentioned Genghis Khan!

He is easily in 2nd in my book with Alexander the Great being 1st.

Kyler wrote:I can't believe no one has mentioned Genghis Khan!

He is easily in 2nd in my book with Alexander the Great being 1st.

Was Ghengis Khan a military genious, or was he just blessed with a hoard of light cavalry which completely outclassed anything else they encountered? How many serious challenges to his army did he have to deal with?

I do regard Genghis Khan as a real military genius. The problem is that western "view" of how a genius must be need to give him some kind of humanitarian characteristics which, obviously, is false. A man can be a butcher and a genius at the same time.

Genghis controled his "islamic" problems quite well and after a campaign (ruthless) he left "that" aside in order to address more important issues. As a matter of fact Colonel Harry Summer in his book about Irak refered to that. It´s late at night but if required tomorrow I will find the precise quote.

Kyler is right: Genghis Khan must be in the list on the side of Alexander and Caesar.

I was one wrong he was posted once, but at #7.

Genghis Khan conquered more terroritory then any other man in history. The only reason why I would say Alexander the Great is better leader is because from historical sources he was more of tactical leader then Genghis. Alexander lead his soldiers into battle himself. Genghis definately had strategic abilities in bringing together Mongol nomads into a massive effective fighting force.

There are all types of military leaders like shrewd politicians like Caesar, tacital geniuses like Alexander, Brutal leaders like Khan & Attila, and Saviour leaders like Cyrus the Great (1st Persian Empire).

Just because someone mite not be likeable doesn't mean their not a great military leader.

Kyler wrote:Just because someone mite not be likeable doesn't mean their not a great military leader.

That is true. Did someone say otherwise?

What do you guys think of Shaka Zulu?

Kyler wrote:I can't believe no one has mentioned Genghis Khan!

He is easily in 2nd in my book with Alexander the Great being 1st.

He was NO 7 on the original list. I'd put him above Alexander.

Bgile wrote: Was Ghengis Khan a military genious, or was he just blessed with a hoard of light cavalry which completely outclassed anything else they encountered? How many serious challenges to his army did he have to deal with?

He was in deed a military genius note that he basically started from scratch as an outcast. He went on to rule the Mongols and a good portion of the world. He created a military that in some respects wasn't equaled until Napoleon. Areas like logistics. signaling, maneuvers, training (to include at least a basic war college). His kingdom actually survived him by decades as well rather than months like Alexander.