Although money, military equipment, and manpower are crucial factors when fighting a war, the greatest generals in history have demonstrated that strategy and tactics can be just as decisive (and destructive). These extraordinary men have stood out due to their innovative strategies, intelligence, and their ability to lead their troops to victory. Their actions often changed the outcome of critical battles and sometimes entire wars, turning them into well respected and admired historical figures.
Over the years, the nature of warfare has changed dramatically, and with it, the role of generals in the army. Today, they rarely appear on the battlefield and their freedom of action is much more limited than in the past, when rulers trusted their generals absolutely, allowing them to do as they deemed necessary. Thus, it wouldn’t be far-fetched to assume that the greatest generals in history carried out their duties far before our time. This does not mean that contemporary armies lack capable generals, but it is evident why they get far less credit for their actions than those who fought major battles in the past.
The greatest generals in history were able to reach this status by fighting in a time when conquering land and expanding one’s territory was common practice. In this sense, some of them benefited greatly from belonging to the 10 greatest empires in history, which we covered in a previous post, since they were constantly exposed to military conflicts. Hence, their participation in numerous conflicts, gave the generals the chance to devise new tactics and find innovative ways to achieve victory.
As stated above, the greatest generals in history are often admired for their achievements and extraordinary ability to improvise on the battlefield. Nevertheless, some of these men also proved to be ruthless, showing no mercy towards their enemies and even conducting massive slaughters.
Yet whether they deserve our admiration or not, learning more about the ten greatest generals in history is surely worthwhile. Check out these great leaders of men.
10. Themistocles
When the Persians faced the Athenians in the Battle of Salamis in 480 BC, Themistocles devised a brilliant strategy to defeat the numerically superior enemy. The Athenian general left the Persians no choice but to fight in a narrow strait, where they were defeated with ease.
9. Ramses II
Ramses II was not only a great warrior and general, but also one of ancient Egypt’s most treasured pharaohs. His victories were countless and led to a huge expansion of the kingdom.
8. Hannibal Barca
Although the Roman Empire brought most of its enemies to their knees, the Carthaginian general was not one of them. Hannibal Barca’s military cunning allowed him to deal several blows to the Romans, before he took his own life in order to avoid capture.
7. Khalid ibn al-Walid
Nicknamed “The Sword of Allah”, Khalid ibn al-Walid was a brilliant general who fought in the name of the prophet Muhammad. Apart from numerous military triumphs, his leadership paved the way to the unification of Arabia.
6. Julius Caesar
Julius Caesar was probably the most successful general the Roman Empire saw in its history. Apart from defeating the mighty Gauls, and reaching Britain for the first time, he used his cunning to position himself as dictator of the Republic.
5. Napoleon Bonaparte
Napoleon Bonaparte is probably one of the smartest and most innovative generals on this list. His military victories allowed Napoleon to rise rapidly through the ranks, eventually achieving the title of Emperor of France.
4. Alexander the Great
Alexander the Great was not like most kings, in the sense that he fought his battles personally, risking neck and limb to achieve victory. In just a few years, he was able to create a huge empire, which stretched from Italy to India.
3. Genghis Khan
Genghis Khan is as well known for his military achievements, as he is for being ruthless. After taking over most of China, he continued West until the Mongol Empire covered almost all of Asia.
2. Cyrus the Great
The military victories of Cyrus the Great paved the way for the expansion of the Achaemenid Empire, which was founded by Cyrus himself. Apart from creating one of the largest empires in history, this great general put an end to the famous Babylonian Captivity.
1. Sun Tzu
Although Sun Tzu didn’t create a huge empire or win countless battles, he certainly deserves to be considered one of the greatest generals of all time. The strategies and tactics presented in his famous book The Art of War, have been studied for centuries and are even deemed relevant for modern warfare.
