Who were the greatest military leaders?

[DrD]

Hi All;

A while back, Joshua issued this challenge:

I am a big fan of battlefield experience that lead to adjustment of tactics. So often army's learn lessons on the battlefield and do not adjust their tactics to compensate for shortcomings. There also tend to be a problem of the transfer of battlefield experience between units say the Marines and the Army.

The more experienced the unit and its commanders , the more accurate can they read the "game" and do adjustments accordingly. This model as suggested in the video can never replace that. What it does imply is that it can confirm and to a lesser account predict trends on the behavior of enemy troops based on input data.

So DrD, here is the challenge. Develop a model that can incorporate battlefield experience with statistics

I took it, and rolled with it. We now have three Universities involved, and are expecting three more - two of which War Colleges. Joining also is one of my mentors, who happens to be a colleague of yours from Vietnam. For those of you who do know him, expect that he may be contacting you himself as well. Right now, we are doing a lot of background research. Joshua's challenge is special and non-trivial, because it requires taking the knowledge and thoughts of great military minds and somehow miraculously getting that info into a program in such a way that the program can be helpful in reading a given situation.

I am asking if you will be willing to share your thoughts and insights as we go along. If you are, my first question to you is:

Who were the greatest military leaders (as you would define greatness... not how a book would; and not constrained to any one branch, country, or time period)?

Thank you for your help.
DrD

[DrD]

Thank you, TC204!! I know... there are so very many. I have two assistants bogged down just getting military books. (Btw... thanks to all for the thoughts you gave on books on a different thread... awesome start to our list!!)

But, don't lay off just because it is a lot, please. As long as you all are willing to share your thoughts, that is... No one on this project is a rookie, and no one scares easy. Success comes only when all the quiet background work is done.

Thank you. :-)
DrD

[Chiron]

Alexander the Great

He united the Greeks and conquered from Greece to just inside India. His he was brilliant with the use of cavalry and his tactics where used as the example by many of the greatest. The Spartans refused to join in his campaign as they will not fight unless they are lead by a Spartan general and that’s why they where not involved in the conquest. Alexander did a very interesting and brilliant move as he conquered. He left the local governments of the people he conquered in charge to run the daily affairs but those officials had to report to his generals. We saw politics involved to ensure the Empire remained intact. After his death his generals vied for position to take over and that’s why the empire crumbled. Ancient Greeks where mostly fair hared and blue or green eyed. Today we see tribes in Afghanistan that still have elders that speak Greek and people with light collored eyes. Alexander was known to leave men behind to intermingle with the locals and even get married and remain. The head gear that the Afghn men wear today is from Greece. His tactics where far beyond military conquests, he literally won the hearts and minds of the people.

Attila the Hun

Was also considered a brilliant general. His use of alliances was brilliant. His Empire was comparable in size to that of Alexander. He also used cavalry but also had at his disposal breaching machines, as he had to fight armies behind walls. Nevertheless, he got the job done.

Leonidas King of Sparta

He as all Spartans was born and raised to fight. He had the military knowledge and guts to take his 300 and lead the delaying battle that will ultimately kill him and his men in order the rest have time to organise the final defeat of the Persians. With him remained at Thermopylae to fight to the death the 300 Spartans, 700 Thespians and 1000 Helots. The Helots where the slaves of the Spartans, they where released to go home but for the love of the Spartan ethos decided to stay and fight. The final battle at Thermopylae saw 2000 Greeks fight the massive army of Darius. All the Greeks were killed. I speculate that had it not been for Leonida’s foresight and sacrifice Darius may have reached Gaul and history would not have seen the raise of the Roman empire nor the raise of Attila and so on.


This was all out of memory If research some maybe I’ll post more.

[Baseplate]

Leroy Jenkins

[smokn38]

Admiral Hyman G. Rickover

[garyedolan]

General of the Army Douglas MacArthur

[panthersix]

Don't forget the Native American Warrior Leaders:

Geronimo
Sitting Bull
Chief Joseph
Crazy Horse
Cochise
TECUMSEH

Just to name a few.

[Jenny Lynn]

DrD,
Who were the greatest military leaders you asked...... I find I cannot help but wonder if many of the greatest are not talked about, in my humble opinion the most natural of leaders are quiet professionals who just go about their work not for the recognition, money, or status.... they simply do it to help keep the world a safer place for all to survive in.

Just my 2 cents, I hope you do not mind my post I am by no means an expert, just a civilian who is thankful for the brave men and women who serve to help protect our freedoms.

Thanks, Jenny

[K.Ingraham]

General of the Army Douglas MacArthur

One of the greatest phony self-seeking imitations of a good leader there ever was.
His rep as a good leader is unsupported by evidence!

Outstanding leader from his era, and one who stands up to any scrutiny is one of our greatest generals and one of the least known is Mathew Ridgeway.

[Slowpoke]

Don't forget the Native American Warrior Leaders:

Geronimo
Sitting Bull
Chief Joseph
Crazy Horse
Cochise
TECUMSEH

Just to name a few.

My picks also!

[panthersix]

DrD,
Who were the greatest military leaders you asked...... I find I cannot help but wonder if many of the greatest are not talked about, in my humble opinion the most natural of leaders are quiet professionals who just go about their work not for the recognition, money, or status.... they simply do it to help keep the world a safer place for all to survive in.

Just my 2 cents, I hope you do not mind my post I am by no means an expert, just a civilian who is thankful for the brave men and women who serve to help protect our freedoms.

Thanks, Jenny

You mean like Audie Murphy and Alvin York? :)

[DrD]

All;

Thank you!! This is fantastic. I am adding to my list as you add to this forum. I am noting the leaders that cause disagreement, so that I can circle back on those later.

Jenny Lynn;

Indeed. Precisely why I asked for greatness as they saw it. I am in no position to define a great military leader. :D

Best;
DrD