Greatest military leader of all time?

I'm a bit confused by the mixed responses I'm seeing. Is there really a choice here? I think it's obvious which option is correct. If you are having troubles though, ask yourself this: which of these guys has not 1, but 2 sweet websites? ...yeah, Mr. Great and the Honorable Khan couldn't even spell web page!

Clearly, it's me. I mean, would I even be here if I thought otherwise?

I predict world domination in 10 years or so. When the purges begin in 2017, I will try to remember my days as an O-Nerd moderator and spare those who did not displease me.

I was wondering if anyone has seen the recent Alexander the Great movie by Oliver Stone? I happen to think that Alexander was certainly one of the most dynamic military figures in all of history. One wouldn't know that, however, if you saw that movie. There is no treatment of his early victories, prior to Guagamela (or Arbela if you prefer). I was also hoping to see something about the siege of Tyre or perhaps a detail of the battle of Issus. But such was not to be. Instead I witnessed several hours of homoerotic tension. Alexander's role as a military genius was almost an afterthought.

I will say that the depiction of the battle of Gaugamela was wonderfully done and was surprisingly accurate, as far we know. The rest of the movie did not live up to that scene.

What does this have to do with the poll? Very little, but I thought I would mention my disappointment with that particular film.

When Napoleon has his own movie he'll get a lot more votes from all you O-Nerds.

The bare fact that he led a country with an otherwise dismal military history--France--to dominate Europe for nearly two decades should give Monsieur l'Emperor the top spot.

Paul Johnson, in his excellent Penguin Lives biography of the short Corsican, says Nap was Hitler without the holocaust. Kind of a new look at someone generally regarded as the greatest military leader of all time, Oliver Stone movies notwithstanding.

I vote for Major Payne! His absence from that list must have just been an oversight.

"There's gotta be somebody that needs some killin!"

"You know you remind me of the Dough Boy. If I poke your stomach will it make you go 'oooo'?"

I am surprised that one of the greatest military geniuses in our country to date, has received such a low percentage of the vote. Robert E.Lee is one of the most respected figures in our history. He led the Confederates in the face of staggering odds. His character was and remains impeccable, unlike the unscrupulous mercenaries with whom he is listed. (excluding Mark...I think)

Not only did he win the hearts and minds of his own men, but the respect of the northerners as well. In fact, the whole entire country was enamored of this gentle man. He was admired by his "enemy," and opposing general, Grant... who said he had never had such a formidable foe as Lee. Gen. Lee was an intelligent man, who was singled out at West Point by his peers for his brilliance. He never smoked, drank, or cussed. (can hot guy on guy Macedonians compete with his moral character...I think NOT! Yes, I add my thanks, as well, to Dilly for a great line that I WILL use when appropriate or not)

He has been highly praised for his valor, courage, and great skill as a leader. He didn't believe in slavery, and had freed all of the slaves that he had inherited, years before the war.

So, I base my vote on the character of the man AND his military prowess.

Napoleon. Alexander. Robert E. Lee. Even Mark A McBride. Great military leaders- yes. But none are as great as the greatest unsung military leader ever: Ryan Bortnyk. Those who've only know Bortnyk since becoming an Army officer may scoff, but they weren't there, side by side with Bortnyk as he engineered the most stunning military victory of our time. I was there, and now I will tell you all of the days of high adventure...

Know, O...O-nerds, that in the Northeast Pennsylvannian county of Wyoming, in the time between the coming of the Chinese Buffets and the construction of the bypass, there was an age undreamt of. Hither came Bortynk, cowboy wannabe, reaver, slayer, of curly hair and boyish good looks, to tread the jeweled thrones of NEPA beneath his combat booted feet...

Bortnyk first came to prominence in the year of 1992, during the Wyoming County Civil War. The towns of Meshoppen and Noxen, long stewing in their resentment of the county seat of Tunkhannock (Native American for "unpronounceable") for it's culture, ample parking, and many, many bars- declared war, intent on seizing and dividing the Jewel of the Endless Mountains for themselves. I served with Bortnyk in the Lemon Township Irregulars, and during much of the war we were relegated to the hinterlands of Centermoreland, fighting mostly skirmishes with the Noxeneers.

However, one fateful night, Tunkhannock was left virtually undefended (mostly because of the Triton Hose Company's Annual carnival) and it was left to us Irregulars to keep watch. Soon, however, our scouts reported our worst fears realized: Meshoppen was advancing from the North, and Noxen from the East. Outnumbered, we all thought our only choices were to stand, fight and die, or run and leave the town undefended. Bortnyk had another option.

Advertisements for 10 cent Genesee drafts at the Wagon Wheel were quickly placed all along Mile Hill, and the entire Meshoppenite Army veered off of Main Street and into the waiting arms of sweet, sweet alcohol induced oblivion. The Noxeneers were another matter- Bortnyk knew that this fearsome horde would not be dissuaded by the promise of cheap redneck beer (Noxen had it's own Legion Post.) Remembering the Noxeneers Sack of Noxen in '82 (in which Noxen intended to sack, loot, plunder and pillage Centermoreland, but got turned around in a church parking-lot and mistakenly sacked themselves), Bortnyk had us turn all of the road signs pointing to Tunkhannock around, so that again, the Noxeneers ended up sacking themselves. With peace once more descending on Wyoming County, we all went back to our regular lives. However, the call to war would once more be answered by Bortnyk and me, this time in '95 during the Pizza Hut/McDonald Wars, but that is a tale for another time...

I mean for real guys, we all know that its Mark, he's a MCBRIDE duh! That is all he needs to be the greatest, plus the fact that he has an awesome sister. Sorry had to put a little something fun on here! Love ya Bro!

he led the U.S. to defeat the "unbeatable" British army, had amazing strategy, was witty, and would never give up knowing that if his country lost, he'd be hung for being a traitor.

clearly the greats who fought wars using music and words-bob marley, nelson mandela,martin luther king jr...

As the current results would have it, their is not one mention of any number of the Britions who, through military might, forged the largest empire ever. The poll contains Napoleon, Genghis Khan and Ceaser, yet figures even greater have been omitted. The Duke of Wellington defeated Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo. While he may not have been pillaging Europe for the past decade, the result shows that Wellington was the greater of the two. Lord Nelson, the hero of the waves, never once lost a battle and ensured France and the rest of the world would bow down before Brittania's naval might for a century. Robert Clive took India and The 1st Duke of Marlborough, John Churchill, of whom Winston Churchill is a descendant, never lost a battle large or small in his life at home or on the continent. Also, think of Sir Francis Drake, who, through a combination of odds, including weather, led the English fleet to victory over the superior Spanish Armada. The poll, as it is, is completly inaccurate and some of the greatest figures ever are overlooked. Oh, and for the record, and for the incompetent person who finds George Washington a great leader, bear in mind he possessed no military ability and that victory in the War of Independence only came about due to the French ensuring supplies could not reach the British. As it was, his ability to lead and his ability to plan and as a strategist wavered often and was usually unsuccessful and led to great defeat.

needs to be up there before any of the older leaders (Hannibal, Julius Caesar) all they basically had to do was move over terrain with theire troops, they had absolutely no frethought involved in it.

Have you ever heard of the Prime minister of the Shu Kingdom in the three kingdoms period of China around 200 AD ? His name was Zhuge Liang, a very smart strategist, inventor, prophet, astronomer. There are many story regarding his achievement in ancient history of china yet not many people are aware of that. I just thought it would bring another topic for discussion here if i mention his name here. Any information about Zhuge Liang can be found at google or yahoo search engine.

Who is Mark McBride? and how did Napoleon get ranked so high. What about Patton? or Hitler?

i think that hanibal is a greater military general than alexander of macedon ( the great ) because although he inflicted many crushing defeats to the persians this was largly to do with his army. Also the persians relied upon numbers were as the romans which hanibal faced were much more of a skilled fighting force.i would however place alexander within my top three greatest generals but because he led a superb army anyway i do not believe he should be given full credit.

hanibal on the other hand took a medium sized army ( mostly celts and spanish who were not as well trained nor disaplined as the macedonians ) across the alps and won many victorys including three massive ones, the most famous being cannae against a well trained and huge roman army.

my final decision is that hanibal should be the greatest military general of all time becuase he led an army mostly of unskilled barbarians and was able to inflict uncomparable defeats upon the romans who unlike the persians that alexader faced were much more of foe.

from anonymous

i think that hanibal is a greater military general than alexander of macedon ( the great ) because although he inflicted many crushing defeats to the persians this was largly to do with his army. Also the persians relied upon numbers were as the romans which hanibal faced were much more of a skilled fighting force.i would however place alexander within my top three greatest generals but because he led a superb army anyway i do not believe he should be given full credit.

hanibal on the other hand took a medium sized army ( mostly celts and spanish who were not as well trained nor disaplined as the macedonians ) across the alps and won many victorys including three massive ones, the most famous being cannae against a well trained and huge roman army.

my final decision is that hanibal should be the greatest military general of all time becuase he led an army mostly of unskilled barbarians and was able to inflict uncomparable defeats upon the romans who unlike the persians that alexader faced were much more of foe.

from anonymous

i must say i highly respect robert e lee in how he led his men...

As a leader he terrorized the Roman world for nearly two decades. even though they died early in the campaign, bringing the elephants across the alps was courageous in itself. Not only did he defeat armies much larger, he used methods which were way before his time; the flanking technique by the strong numidian cavalry at cannae won the battle for the Carthaginians in my opinion, and the battle is still studied in military academies around the world. another thing to bare in mind is the fact that he managed to maintain a large proportion of his mercenaries for near enough the whole campaign, which shows they must have wanted to fight for such a great leader.

Ok yes all of these guys are great leaders, but the ultimate leader has to be Hitler. He had people kill for him, worship him, and die for him. He brainwashed a whole country into his beliefs. He pretty much ruled over Europe and those who were not under his power were for him ( ex Italy, Spain). Yea the guy was an ass but he sure was a overwhelming leader.

In my opnion the greatest general was the portuguese Nuno Alves Pereira cause in the battle of aljubarrota he was outnumberd 5 to 1 plus all the spanish soldiers were better plus they were helped by frnech knights.which were considered some of the best in the worldplus he eventually showed his respect for god by becoming a monk.