Favorite Military Leader...

of all time. From the Modern era to ages of antiquity. Please post who you find to be the most interesting military leader, or give us your top five. Also, please give us an example (such as a battle or whole war) where the person made his mark on military history.

No matter how much I read about military history and the people involved, two names always draw me back to study more. 

1. Genghis Khan; largest continuous land based empire. Who knows what might have happened to Europe if he didn't die. His military organization and the tactical ability of his units probably shook the Middle East and Eastern Europe/Russia much like the way the Germans did with their blitzkrieg. 

2. Hannibal Barca; Almost brought Rome to it's knees before it really even stood up. The Battle of Cannae, and the first documented usage of the double envelopment; 70,000 Roman Legionaries/Auxiliaries died in a few hours. His plundering of Roman territory, was a major cause for the Roman's to begin the process of becoming an Empire.     

1. Alexander the Great - Probably don't need to recount what he did.

2. Heinz Guderian - Developed armoured warfare tremendously and most of the Panzer tactics used by Germany came from him. It was also his suggestion/order that all Panzers be fitted with radios which allowed the high level of coordination Germans were famous for.

3. Henry V - Just because the Battle of Agincourt is so romanticised. Took some serious balls to stand and fight. The speech in Shakespeare's play is also pretty awesome.

4. Hannibal Barca - Military Genious. Probably the top tactician of all time.

5. Admiral Yamamoto - Knew his enemy and knew he couldn't defeat it but followed his orders to the best of his ability. Orchestrated the attack on Pearl Harbour which was a resounding military success but still couldn't stop the juggernaught of the US. Sense of duty and determination is pretty impressive.

Honourable mentions: Admiral Lord Nelson
                                Napoleon Bonaparte - Duh but not on the list cos French :P
                                Feldmarschall Paulus - For pissing off Hitler by not committing suicide
                                Marshall Zhukov - Grim determination and solid tactics to win at all cost. Also stood                          up to Stalin

These were some off the top of my head.

Last edited July 19, 2011 at 4:19 AM by GodlikeDennis

GodlikeDennis wrote:
1. Alexander the Great - Probably don't need to recount what he did.

Good list. What did you think of Oliver Stone's film Alexander if you've seen it?

It was alright, a bit long though. I felt it really dragged around the part where they were crossing the Hindu Kush. I thought the battle in India was really good though. Quite powerful when Alexander realises he's not invincible. Anthony Hopkins' narration was awesome too - really set the atmosphere.

I thought the movie really captured how Alexander felt he was a god and the battles were epic. However, his personal life wasn't relatable at all and his weird relationships weren't really explained well except for the one with his father.

Last edited July 19, 2011 at 12:35 PM by GodlikeDennis

Genghis Khan.  Biggest empire on earth.  EARNED it through merit (Unlike Guderian's Germany or Napoleon's France, Mongolia was not strong AT ALL before he came along) by using and developing superior tactics.  Fucked everyone's princess and didn't give a shit, and died doing it.

Conclusion: The man with the most badass balls-to-brain-ratio to ever live.

Last edited July 19, 2011 at 7:23 AM by Yauz

Alexander the Great ----> conquered almost everything except India and Roman Republic.

Not that he is anywhere near my favorite, but Stalin was able to "Conquer" peoples minds and free to think. SO that makes he a effective leader.

I don't really have a favorite leader though.

My favorite military leader is Thomas J.Jackson. Irish American, West Point, Class of 42(46?). His Valley Campaign of 1862 is still required reading there. During the Valley Campaign created a detour for over 100,000 men of the Army of the Potomac  on the Road to Richmond for four months. - Not even PADOT can do that!

Battles: Vera Cruz, Mexico City, Chapultepec-"the Halls of Montezuma", John Brown's Execution, Bull Run, Romney, Kernstown, McDowell, Franklin, Front Royal, Winchester, Cross Keys, Port Republic, Mechanicsville, Gaines Mill, Savage's Station, White Oak Swamp, Malvern Hill, Cedar Mountain, Second Manassas, Harper's Ferry, Antietam, Fredricksburg, Chancellorsville.

The most promoted American Soldier during the "War to Steal California from the Mexicans".

Advocated "Shooting the brave ones", Foot Cavalry and 12 Sarissa's -See Alexander the Great.

"Fool Tom", "Old Jack", "Robert E Lee's Hammer", "Lee's Right Arm", "Old Blue Light", "Stonewall".

A Presbyterian Deacon he believed in "keeping holy the Sabbath". He started many of his battles on a Sunday.

Final Words "Let us cross over the river, and rest under the shade of the trees... Send Forward A.P.Hill"

Last edited July 19, 2011 at 4:47 PM by Otto 213

1 - Ghengis Kahn

2 - Boudicca, the earliest leader that i can think of who was a woman and rose up against the empirical power of rome.

3 - Admiral Lord Nelson i don't know why but i just like him

4 - William Wallace, although only really won a single battle he became a man of legend among the population of scotland at the time and that makes him a respectable figure in my eyes.

THose interested in the career of Alexander should consult Arrian's Anabasis, Loeb Classical Library.

Leopold the theird . King of Belgium.

He fought during ww1 and when the germans invaded in 1940 he led the army as a true king!.. Well yeah they lost XD. But come on! A king commanding an army ! Its like a medieval war! A true man of the people! Hell, he deserves at least to be my favorite <3


Edit
He is quite handsome to !

Last edited July 19, 2011 at 6:04 PM by Sommarkatze

GodlikeDennis wrote:
It was alright, a bit long though. I felt it really dragged around the part where they were crossing the Hindu Kush. I thought the battle in India was really good though. Quite powerful when Alexander realises he's not invincible. Anthony Hopkins' narration was awesome too - really set the atmosphere.

I thought the movie really captured how Alexander felt he was a god and the battles were epic. However, his personal life wasn't relatable at all and his weird relationships weren't really explained well except for the one with his father.

Yeah good assessment. I think critic's and people who went into watch another Troy movie or whatever were just thrown off because of how they depicted his sexuality. It's just the way it was back then. The way they showed the first battle against the Persians was very cool. Alexanders vision of his empire really helps set him apart from other military leaders.

@Otto, never heard of Thomas J. Jackson until now. Will have to check him out, I went through an American Civil War phase when I was younger. He was in ALOT of battles.

Also, interesting note. I can't remember the exact number but 70 to 80 percent of people who live in East Asia and Central Asia have some genetic lineage to Genghis Khan. The man certainly like concubines and the old fashion rape method.

You wont be a great leader if you wont lead a great number of men. Mao wins.

As for the most favorite leader its commander Shepard - Eass Effect. :P

"I'm Commander Sheperd and this is my favorite store on the Citadel..."

Paciat wrote:
You wont be a great leader if you wont lead a great number of men. Mao wins.

My Favorite Partizan leader List
Geronimo
T.E.Lawrence
John Mosby
Francisco Pizarro
Turner Ashby

QuoteAs for the most favorite leader its commander Shepard - Eass Effect. :P

A meme is a terrible thing to waste.

Lol I choose Ho Chi Minh

Theres something to be said for kicking Americas ass, and I should know Im an Ami myself 8). The French would be a big deal but seriously who doesnt beat them? At least in the last Century.

Last edited July 21, 2011 at 1:03 AM by DrRockzo1986

Good call, much respect to the Vietnamese. French, US, China and many smaller incursions against Thailand and Cambodia. The only other nation that I can think of that has been in that many conflicts against varied enemies and still win, is Israel.

1. Gaius Julius Caesar

2. " "

3. lenin (can you count him as a military leader?)

4. Iosef Stalin

5. General George S. Patton

Good list Redguard. Think your the first to mention Caeser. As for Lenin, I'm unaware if he held any military rank, but he was a leader that vastly changed Russia forever. Could you give me/us some background on if he actively planned military operations? I'm pretty sure he did, just need some clarification.

No you cannot *chuckles like Dr. Hibbert*
my favorite leaders
1 Alexander the Great.
2 Genghis Khan. (He built an empire which didn't crumble after his death due to his reforms)
3 Napoleon. (Because of his height)
4 Indira Gandhi (Because I am Indian)

tigerclawstyle wrote:
Good list Redguard. Think your the first to mention Caeser. As for Lenin, I'm unaware if he held any military rank, but he was a leader that vastly changed Russia forever. Could you give me/us some background on if he actively planned military operations? I'm pretty sure he did, just need some clarification.

well he organized the october revolution which is disputed  but it was a military operation
he had his hands in almost every part of the new government after the overthrow including the military

lenin is usually overshaodwed by other leaders like stalin and trotsky

Just curious: can we count Hitler?

sure he was a military leader ???

Personally I wouldn't consider Lenin, Stalin or Hitler military leaders. If you include them you can include any US President since they're technically Commander-in-Chief or even the Queen.

GodlikeDennis wrote:
Personally I wouldn't consider Lenin, Stalin or Hitler military leaders. If you include them you can include any US President since they're technically Commander-in-Chief or even the Queen.

I think exactly the same.

Lenin and Stalin for debate I suppose. Hitler on the other hand was just a Corporal (heh) and should be ranked on the top of Worst Military Leaders of all time.

tigerclawstyle wrote:
Lenin and Stalin for debate I suppose. Hitler on the other hand was just a Corporal (heh) and should be ranked on the top of Worst Military Leaders of all time.

Leaders dont have to be good tacticions. Stalin and Churchill are also responsible for military catastrophes, not only in WWII but also 20 years earlier (Russo–Polish war 1919-1921 and Gallipoli Campaign 1915).

My first favourite is Hannibal, he had a nice name and win battles through tatic, but later research see how he failed in politic and build order make me forget about him.
So here is the list:
Julius Gaius Caesar (weird, I cant command him in Rome total war :P)
Alexander (the talk between him and his father in "Alexander" is awsome)
Ho Chi Minh (not because I'm a Vietnamese, yes I'm a Vietnamese, he made things from NOTHING dude!)
and the last one is Cao Cao in Chinese Three Kingdoms Era :P

The Politico-Military Leader list:
1. Saladin - THe Madrasa, Cairo, unification of the Middle East, wore a helmet: Horns of Hattin, Jerusalem
2. Buonaparte - Metric system, Napoleonic Law Code, Rosetta Stone, crowned himself: Austerlitz, Jena-Auerstadt, Marengo -He was a corporal too.
3. George Washington: Laissez Faire government, sensible foreign policy, bloated expense accounts, refused to be crowned: Fort Necessity, Siege of Boston, Trenton, Yorktown
4. Octavian: Pax Romana, tax reform, created standing army, bought the crown: Actium, Phillipi
5. Ieyasu Tokugawa: Brought stability to Nippon for 242 years, Gamer, didn't need a crown: Segihara, Osaka

Cao Cao! Sun Ce is my favorite.

stavka88 wrote:
Ho Chi Minh (not because I'm a Vietnamese, yes I'm a Vietnamese, he made things from NOTHING dude!)

You choose Ho Chi Minh becouse you actually learned about him in school becouse you are Vietnamese. If I would say Piłsudski (not because I'm a Polish, yes I'm a Polish, he stopped the Red Army Revolution (for 20 years at least) from spreading west to other nations of Europe) would you belive me? Well you actually wouldnt care but I would probably get a reply from a guy from Russia becouse the Russo–Polish war is looked at a different perspctive there.

If you were Japanese from US would he be your favorite leader? :-\

As many of you have mentioned the guys I know I will mention a different ones :D!

1- Erwin Rommel
2- Emiiano Zapata
3- Francisco Villa
4- José Ma. Morelos

As mexican I have to mention Emiliano Zapata. Yey!! :D

The only one that really cared for his people when fighting against the goverment.

@ BlackBishop: don't forget  Ignacio Zaragoza Seguín

The Polish list:
Józef Poniatowski -Top of List
Jan Sobieski - Stopped the Turks at Vienna
Tadeusz Kościuszko
Kazimierz Pułaski
Henri the Pious, Grand Duke of Poland. Drove away the Mongols at Liegnitz, almost united Poland
on a technicality: Erich von Manstein (born Fritz-Erich von Lewinski – Brochwicz)

THis is more fun than Random Word Game.

Trust me, in VietNam you will learn not much about him, history is always a joke of VietNam's education , I have to research myself about him like every other leaders. That's why I wrote "not because I'm a Vietnamese", it basically has nothing to do with my nationality from the beginning. Just explaining :P

I'm surprised no one mentioned Sun Tzu.  The guy who wrote The Art of War, the book that half of the people mentioned here learned from?

He's overrated. Hehe Just kidding. Mandatory reading for any soldier or future officer. Chinese officers are said to have it completely memorized, and every war since its inception has followed its guidelines to some degree or another. Great addition Yauz.

One more for the list that hasn't been mentioned.

Scipio Africanus. Defeated Hannibal, and never lost a battle.

@Tigerclawstyle: There are only 138 different "words" in The Art of War, Shouldn't be that hard to memorize if you know Kanji.

Unmentioned list:
China Gordon : Khartoum 1885(?)
Phil Sheridan
Von Luck

@Yauz: I think Sun Tzu has to be added to the list of armchair generals. The prevailing scholarly opinion is that Sun Tzu was never a military commander. THe debate still rages(?). I think most of us will agree the "concubine" story is just a legend.

stavka88 wrote:
Trust me, in VietNam you will learn not much about him, history is always a joke of VietNam's education

History is a joke in the USA educational system too. I recently read that in the 12 year secondary education system curricula less than seven minutes time is spent on Vietnam, period.

History in Australian schools is a joke too. We spent years on a few leaky prison boats landing in Sydney and didn't ever have Vietnam mentioned.

cephalos wrote:

GodlikeDennis wrote:
Personally I wouldn't consider Lenin, Stalin or Hitler military leaders. If you include them you can include any US President since they're technically Commander-in-Chief or even the Queen.

I think exactly the same.

do they command the armed forces? yes they do, and they out-rank all officers and have the final say. sounds like a military leader to me

but thats just common sense

Not my favourite but surely high on the list:
The combination of William the silent (William of Orange), Maurice of Nassau, and Frederick Henry. These are the leaders of the Dutch armies during the eighty years war. The country became independent under their rule.

Where I live they have a saying: "If you ain't Dutch, you ain't much."  :P
THe political leaders should be evaluated differently from the strictly military leaders. Hiram Grant was a masterful military leader. THe years he spent in the White House were a gilded  age of corruption, and genocide. He can't be lauded on that account. Lenin is another oddball case. IIRC he didn't have any military experience but he knocked Russia out of WWI pretty much singlehandedly. He is high on the list of MAster Strategists in history and one of the most important leaders of the Twentieth Century. In the long run did he do the Soviet Peoples any good?

Last edited July 21, 2011 at 1:19 PM by Otto 213

Lol you might want to call him Ulysses or ppl wont know who you're talkin about. I think Robert E Lee (before Jackson was killed) or even Thomas Jackson were better commanders than Grant. You are right tho History here in america is kinda lacking, If I hadn't taken that elective on Vietnam I still wouldnt know anything about it. I just learned about the War of 1812 a coule weeks ago. And brits thought they were so tuff 8). Lol jk

So is Pyrrhus of Epirus a good tatician and Zhuge Liang a good strategist?

Pyrrhus of Epirus' reputation as a general today rests primarily on three battles fought against the Roman Republic: Heraclea, Asculum and Beneventum. He is credited as having won the first two engagements and lost the third. He twice conquered Macedon, overran the Carthaginians in Sicily and defeated the Spartans in open battle. He was unsuccessful in besieging Sparta and died fighting in the Streets of Argos. He was skilled in use of the phalanx, cavalry and innovated the use of War Elephants in Europe. In battle he was the new Achilles. During one battle he was severely wounded. He later accepted the challenge of an enemy hero and split him into two pieces, head to crotch with one blow. Hannibal of all great commanders esteemed Pyrrhus for skill and conduct the first, Scipio the second, and himself the third. Antigonus, of Macedon, being asked who was the greatest soldier, said, "Pyrrhus, if he lives to be old." Antigonus also compared him to a player with dice, who had excellent throws, but knew not how to use them. I tend to agree with Antigonus.

Zhuge Liang, "the Sleeping Dragon", was by any measure a master strategist. An extremely able military administrator he directed military matters for Liu Bei during the Later Han Dynasty and the Three kingdoms era. He provided military advice to both the Shu and Wu Kingdoms in their struggles against Cao Cao of Wei. He worked hard to unify the Shu State. He led campaigns against Wei, and the Southron Barbarians. The Battle of Red Cliffs is the most famous battle he was involved in. History, Legend and Myth all combine to confuse issues when it comes to the Life of Zhuge Liang. Zhuge Liang was believed to be the inventor of steam buns, the landmine, the wheelbarrow, a semiautomatic crossbow, (or improvements thereto), and a hot air balloon used for military signalling, known as the Kongming lantern. Books popularly attributed to Zhuge Liang can be found today: Mastering the Art of War. , and The Thirty-Six Stratagems. "The Empty Fort Strategy" is probably of Zhuge Liang's devising. Tokugawa Ieyasu used the tactic during his retreat in the Battle of Mikatagahara. Zhuge Liang was considered by some to be a Taoist Sorcerer, (a term of contempt and fear when used by Confucians). He is credited with constructing the mysterious Stone Sentinel Maze, an array of stone piles that is said to produce supernatural phenomenon, located near Baidicheng. This is an application of Ba Gua; elsewhere cited in Chinese military lore as a puissant tactic.

Some prefered leaders:
-George S. Patton
-Erwin Rommel
-Genghis Knan
-Gerory Zhukov
-Alexander the Great
-Shi Huang Di (Despite the fact most ppl know him as a ruler, he had to conquer the whole of China first. And he was the first to implement "shocktroopers")

These aren't military leaders due to the fact they didnt lead an official state military but they deserve honorable mention for their leadership at the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

*Sitting Bull

*Crazy Horse

*Chief Gall

Ppl outside the US may not know what Im talking about. As Ive said before anyone who can boast a victory against the US gets major points in my book.

What I read from Otto, some of it is not in Wiki, that's cool ;D but poor for him, another ill-fated general like Hannibal. But did Zhuge Liang after attack Wei 7 times, he sucked dry the treasury and later his successor Jiang Wei failed to defended lead to later Han dynasty's downfall?

stavka88 wrote:What I read from Otto, some of it is not in Wiki, that's cool but poor for him, another ill-fated general like Hannibal. But did Zhuge Liang after attack Wei 7 times, he sucked dry the treasury and later his successor Jiang Wei failed to defended lead to later Han dynasty's downfall?

Quote    There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your Wikipedia.

I use many references for my posts. Plutarch's Lives was used for Pyrrhus. Plutarch was a wonderful historian but makes for tedious reading. In English the Dryden translation is the "best of rotten apples".The Longzhong Plan was a strategic plan developed by Zhuge Liang to secure of a viable regional base in southern China, followed by a two-pronged attack to conquer the Wei. It has been heavily criticized by Chinese Scholars for centuries. Not all Strategies work.The "The Empty Fort Strategy" cited was very risky. When all is said and done Zhuge Liang attacked Wei many more then seven times. The treasury issue is subject for a debate on administrative skills. Liu Bei and later his son should be considered responsible for the down fall of Shu-Han. Not all of the Later Han's leaders were as able as Zhuge Liang or Chang Fei.[/]

DrRockzo1986 wrote:[]These aren't military leaders due to the fact they didnt lead an official state military but they deserve honorable mention for their leadership at the Battle of the Little Bighorn.*Sitting Bull*Crazy Horse*Chief GallPpl outside the US may not know what Im talking about. As Ive said before anyone who can boast a victory against the US gets major points in my book.+1[/]

[]During the First American Revolution There was no official state. Various Indian groups were considered Nations, and the USA negotiated treaties with many. Give Crazy Horse and Gall their due. Sitting Bull was not a warrior. He was a Peace Chief.

[/]

Fishhunterx wrote:... -Shi Huang Di (Despite the fact most ppl know him as a ruler, he had to conquer the whole of China first. And he was the first to implement "shocktroopers")

Can you elaborate on the Shocktroopers citation?

Lol sorry I couldnt remeber who led the battle for the Native Americans

@ Otto213: Can you show me more source about generals, taticcians and strategists, please :P This is my most drawback, I only have wikipedia as the main source.

+1 Native Americans!!!! woo woo woo woo woo woo woo